Connecting the Dots…

Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the Lord. When I would gather them, declares the Lord, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them.” (Jeremiah 8:10–13)

Consequences. If I do this, what will happen? When the news reports the latest decisions by political or business decision makers, it seems far too many of them guess what will happen next based on their hopes rather than historical evidence or popular thinking. While ‘time while tell’ no one can predict the future.

The OT people who read this warning from God must not have believed Him concerning this as well as concerning obedience. Think of a child whose parent threatens punishment for misbehaving but the child simple keeps on doing what they are doing, or refusing to do what they should be doing. This child is not only willful but does not see the rationale or love in the commandment. “Don’t touch the stove” is heard as “Touch the stove” because of that immature and selfish attitude of “I want what I want when I want it.” 

Not only that, some will connect the consequences to something other than their own actions. The stove was hot because mother left it on, or no one informed them about burns and pain. Multiply this simple example by the complexity of life and no wonder so many folks are surprised and upset with what is happening in our world and in their lives.

Personally, I cannot be responsible for much of it. Even my own live demands decisions with unknown results. What can I do to have assurance the results will be okay? This comes to mind:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

A small example. Last night we were invited to the home of friends. We had not eaten and thought to grab a hamburger on the way. My hubby decided the Lord was telling him not to do that but stay for a short visit and perhaps eat on the way home. When we arrived, our hostess had prepared a fantastic meal for us — which we would have missed if we had followed our original plan. 

Jesus, if I don’t listen to You, the results may not show up right away. I’ve learned that the hard way. Keep me tuned in to You, trusting You for consequences that are a blessing, or at least a strong lesson in Your power to use my obedience for Your glory.

Pride ignores rebukes

One life event can became a negative to the rest of life. In high school, I did so well that if my marks were less than 100% in pop quizzes, the rest of the class made fun of me. This treatment, plus my pride, affected my view of being corrected. Correction didn’t happen very often but when it did, I dismissed it. Instead of seeing it as helpful, it seemed like mockery. Looking back, I can remember a few times that I should have listened and didn’t, resulting in life-long problems.

Today’s reading reflects how I feel now about being corrected for mistakes I’m making. It remains a rare thing, mostly because my pride also keeps me from listening. Not only that, a few times I’ve asked for help and my request backfired. Once I asked a friend about a problem and her advice was “try harder” and not at all what I needed to hear. Self-effort (pride again) instead of trusting the Lord was causing the problem in the first place. Trying harder would increase it.

Finally, I realized that God reproves me for my sins and this is a comfort. What would I be if my Savior did not show me my faults and give me a desire to get rid of them? Of course I would rather see my own faults than have anyone else should see them, but God can use others in His work of rebuking sin to bring comfort to a soul disappointed in itself. I’ve learned:

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:6)
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it…. (Psalm 141:5)

The psalmist also says he does not want to consort with evil people or listen to them or be involved in evil with them. I agree. Sin is easy, but the consequences are never worth it.

Today’s reading also says I need the Holy Spirit’s comforting all the more because I am not worthy. Christ came into the world to save sinners not good people, and my unworthiness is my greatest claim for His salvation. Note this passage (personalized) that shows His attitude toward the unworthy, and what He does about it:

For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for her spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. Because of the iniquity of her unjust gain I was angry, I struck her; I hid my face and was angry, but she went on backsliding in the way of her own heart. I have seen her ways, but I will heal her; I will lead her and restore comfort to her and her mourners, creating the fruit of her lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal her.” (Isaiah 57:16–19)

I’ve often said that I could not worship a God who didn’t care about my sinfulness, who didn’t love me enough to correct me. Yes, correction is often painful, and my history has made some of it hard to accept, but love changes my receptivity. I pray with a group of ladies, and one of them is particularly good at loving correction, easy to listen to because the Holy Spirit is using her to gentle tell me when I get off base. She, and others who love God’s people, bring the consolations of God that result in a far higher and better thing than the things I lose to receive them.

PRAY: Lord, sometimes correction from people still stings because I feel mocked instead of ministered to, but when You are using those stings to change my life and make me more like You, I need to welcome them, pay attention, confess the sins and welcome Your forgiveness and cleansing. Grant me the grace to be better at receiving Your loving rebukes.