Skip to main content

Tuesday... Yes, we really do have the power to choose.


Jeremiah 4:1b (NLT), "If you wanted to return to me, you could."

Tuesday... Yes, we really do have the power to choose.

And our choice does make a difference.


The book of Jeremiah tells of the choices Israel and Judah make and of course of the consequences, and there are consequences both in good and bad wants and choices. Jeremiah reminds them in 4:1b (NLT) of what the LORD says, "If you wanted to return to me, you could." There is definite power both in good and bad in our wants. The LORD is faithful to tell us.

Have you stopped and analyzed some of the outcomes of your wants that you chose to do? And it is so important for us to realize the power we have in our wants. Yes they could blame God for all that was going to happen to them but Jeremiah reminds them, "If you wanted to return to me, you could." The first part of verse 1 says, "'O Israel' says the LORD, 'If you wanted to return to me, you could.'"

Now along with an if comes a then and the thens are so important.

Verse 1 says, "'O Israel,' says the LORD, 'If you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more.'" There is a choice. He goes on in verse 2, "Then when you swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives.' you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise my name."

Now God knows us and he loves us and he gives us choices and chances. Yes, he really does know us. Verse 22 says, "'My people are foolish and do not know me,' says the LORD. 'They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong but they have no idea how to do right.'" But he still does not give up on us.

David writes in Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing."

Remember, "If you wanted to return to me, you could." Yes, there are choices and yes, so many times we are stupid children. But we don't have to be. Yes, "If you wanted to return to me, you could." So let's choose to "Taste and see that the LORD is good." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thursday... Maybe we need this word today.

Psalm 57:1b (NIRV), "There I will stay until the danger is gone." Thursday... Maybe we need this word today. There are words in life that give us confidence no matter what we are facing. Now we have to believe them in order for them to have an impact. David wrote Psalm 57 while he was in a cave hiding from Saul who wanted to kill him and he says in the last part of verse 1, "There I will stay." It was a safe place and Saul didn't know that he was there. But he doesn't stop there. With confidence he said, "There I will stay until." And until is definitely a word of faith and confidence. "There I will stay until the danger is gone." Do we need that today? Let me give you the whole verse. In verse 1 David says, "Have mercy on me, God. Have mercy on me." And that is a great place to start in times of trouble. Maybe that is what we need to pray today, "Have mercy on me, God. Have mercy on me." It is so great to have someone...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tuesday... We just have trouble listening.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT), "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." Tuesday... We just have trouble listening. Over in Jeremiah 25:4 (NLT) it says, "Again and again the LORD has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention." And Jeremiah went on to tell what was going to happen. There will be consequences if we do not listen to what God says through his Word. Now the Apostle Paul over in 1 Corinthians was having a problem with some professed Christ followers who were having trouble at listening. And we too can have problems at listening. We can think that being a Christ follower means we do a lot of finger pointing and we give up on people who don't do what we say. We can even do that in our families. But Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT), "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." In verse ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Friday... It is so exciting but wait a minute.

Proverbs 19:2 (NLT), "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." Friday... It is so exciting but wait a minute. This time of the year is so exciting. We get our paycheck from work and then we head to the store or Amazon and buy and buy and buy all those presents and then our check is gone Proverbs 19:2 (NLT) says, "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." But buying gifts can be so much fun and seeing how happy they are when opening those presents makes us feel so good. But then verse 3 says, "People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then they are angry at the Lord." Now for some that is their life. They get money and they spend it on their wants with no thought of what needs to be paid. An important lesson that we have learned is just because you have money in the bank doesn't mean you must spend it. But our enthusiasm takes over. But the problem is when it is gone and there is no money to pay th...
Post a Comment
Read more