A message from the Lord to the King via Jeremiah:
“Be fair minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who
have been robbed; recue them from their oppressors.
Quit you evil deeds! Do
not mistreat foreigners, orphans and widows.
Stop murdering the innocent.”
A timely message for our leaders, for us all.
(Jeremiah 22:3)
Grace – the undeserved favour of God
Religions of all sorts have proven that humanity is unable to reach
God’s holy standard. The ten commandments show the holiness of the Lord God,
but also verify the verdict of God – ‘All have sinned and come short of the
glory of God’.
God has a better way:
He in His mercy and GRACE , offers free forgiveness and acceptance
to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.
All believers are transformed by God’s Holy Spirit to live for God –
not seeking acceptance, but because of acceptance into the family of God.
Bible quote:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all
people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self controlled , upright and godly lives in the present age. Waiting for the
blessed hope , the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus
Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself
a people for His own possession who are zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11)
This is true grace . We can choose self justification, or we can
choose justification through faith by Grace. Those who despise God’s undeserved
favour will miss heaven and their proud thanklessness will incur the wrath of
God.
“The law was given by Moses,
Grace and Truth came by Jeus Christ.”
(John 1:17)
My
daily readings in Jeremiah have exposed
underlying problems.
-
He
highlights ‘pretending to be sorry’ (Jeremiah 3:10} – some are sorry to be
caught doing the wrong thing. Other are sorry that they did not get their own
way. Some are sorry that God has no tolerance
for evil! Some speak words without reality.
-
So
many people live , as in Jeremiah 2:31 – “The people say ‘ At last we are free
from God’” I fear this is the attitude of so many in Australia!
-
And
then they dare to blame God for wars, blame God for sickness, blame God for
failed relationships, blame God for business failures etc etc
-
When
people choose their own way instead of God’s way, HE often ‘lets them go ahead….’
(Romans 1:24) . The consequences are just, the outcomes are tragic for
themselves and others around them and maybe for generations to come.
-
It
is now common to change the rules, to call sin pleasure, to call evil good, to
call rebellion normal.
-
Is
their any hope?? Yes – by repentance. –
turning to God, acknowledging He is the Just One and His way is truth.
-
I
quote Jeremiah again:
-
“Acknowledge
your guilt, admit your rebellion, confess your refusal to follow Me, throw away the idols, live good , honest
lives and uphold justice. Cleanse your minds and hearts before the Lord”
(Chapter 3:13)
It all seems so hopeless until you go back to the beginning of the
chapter. The Lord God was/is willing to break His own rule to recover, restore,
redeem, revive, regenerate the unworthy who are genuine in repentance.
“I will heal your wayward hearts.” (3:22)
Is this hope just for Israel. Rather
this call to repentance has been granted to us Gentiles (Acts 11) and
the hope of forgiveness, justification and glorifcation is promised to all.
This is the meaning of “Grace”
It was Jesus who said “Repent and believe the Gospel”
