"It's My Way, or the Highway" - Part II (Continued from Monday)

God's response to sin has not changed. It is when we choose to live outside of God's will and independent of his Word that we reap the sour results of our ungodly choices. Jeremiah probed his people to consider why she was suffering: "Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me" (Jer 2:19b). Reading Jeremiah is a reminder of how easily we can replace the ways of God with our own idols. God often whispers into our hearts our secret sins, whatever they may be, hoping to gently tug our hearts and move us back to love and obedience. He wants us to confess our sins and to not live in them (See 1 John 2:1: 3:1-2). He wants those who have fallen into a sinful pattern to repent and turn completely away from their sinful practices and begin to live obediently.

Proverbs 19:3 reminds me of what Jeremiah told Judah about the consequences of her sins. The writer wrote: "A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD" (Pro. 19:3). If I can deviate for a moment, as you carefully analyze this chapter in Proverbs you will notice how Prov 19:3 sets the theme and the rest of the verses are its sub-points, or explanations (See 19:16, 20, 23, 27, 29). Our folly, our decisions to live according to our ways instead of seeking to honor the Lord with our lives, will brings us down.

But there's something else that should lead us to keep close watch over our sins. Reading Jeremiah is also to read about the goodness and tenderness of the God who redeemed us. It is to hear the cry of God over the sins of his people who forsook him. Over and over again God asks, "What fault did your fathers find in me?" (Jer 2:5); "Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, 'I will not serve you!'" (2:20); ". . . "But you said, 'It's no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them'" (2:25b); "Why do my people say, 'We are free to roam; we will come to you no more'?" (2:31); ". . .Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number" (2:32). God's heart breaks over the sins of people, especially of those who are his children.

When we forsake the Lord and his ways we do so to our detriment. When our ways are preeminent, we set ourselves up for the fall. Great are the woes of those who think that their ways are better than the Lord's. May we choose this day to honor God for who he is, for his love, and live according to the teachings of his Word.
Por Su Gracia y Su Poder