Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the Lord says, O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful I will not be angry with you forever. Jeremiah 3:12 (NLT)
One of the greatest struggles of the heart is obedience. We wrestle with it to the point that we are led astray by our own pursuits. I recall a point in my life when I would made ungodly decisions. I didn’t take the time to check in or pray about any decisions I have made. I simply move forward with my plans and essentially live in regret because it never turns out as planned. I recall studying for a degree in nursing when the Lord approached me to respond to the call of teaching. Yes, I argued with God. To be quite honest I didn’t respond right away yet He relentlessly pursued me again I failed to respond. Essentially, that wasn’t the right choice, little did I know that God does not take no for an answer, and I began to face setbacks in way that I couldn’t imagine. I fell to my knees and responded to the call. Yes, that decision ultimately changed my outlook on my circumstances because the grace of God has given me new eyes to see my life from his perspective and not my own.
Looking further in the text on Jeremiah 3:16-18, my heart stirred at how God wanted his people to respond to him, to forget their old ways, and sins that beset them. He went as far as wanting them to forget the ark of the covenant, he wanted to give it a new name, “The Throne of the Lord because he desired them to focus on him in a new way so that they would live a life of purpose and commitment to the Lord. Jeremiah being the messenger tried, but Israel failed as they always did to respond to the command.
I have failed at responding to God’s command many times in my life. I have failed to let go off old nature, old wounds of the past, and old mindset. It took some time for me to get it together and show up for what God want me to do. As a people, we are responding with a heart of disobedience towards God’s instruction like the children of Israel. We continue to sin against God and fail to respond to his command, but God’s grace continues, and his mercy endures with us. God has a perfect plan for our lives, we simply must change our hearts and respond to his command.
What is your response to God’s command? Are you listening and responding to those whom he sends as messengers? God is gracious and reveal his will for our lives time and time again he never gives up on us. He is a forgiving God, a God of second chances. His grace continues even when we disobey his command. He desires us to acknowledge our faithlessness and disobedience and respond to him. Whether it’s disobedience or sin, let us open our hearts to God’s grace toward us.
Father, we acknowledge that we are disobedient. We acknowledge that we walk in disobedience towards you. Change our hearts that we would return to you. Give us new eyes to see you clearly. We thank you for your amazing grace that continues in Jesus name amen.
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