Meditation

02/07/2023

“‘Return, faithless people,’ declares the lord, ‘for I am your husband. I will choose you—-one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. ‘Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.’ In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘men will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. At that time they will call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord.’ No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.” (Jeremiah 3:14-17)

God chose to start over with a small remnant He would lead out of captivity. The promises of the old covenant would be superseded by the promises of the new covenant. Gentiles would come to Zion in a fellowship where evil would not exist. Election purposes hold true even when election people are faithless and have to be rejected for a remnant.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Dear Abba, in this Scripture from Jeremiah, it states that You decided to use a remnant, to begin again in the training of Your people and to be their Shepherd that they would understand your teaching and retain its meaning. Once again, you name Jerusalem as the “Throne of the Lord,” that we might finally understand what and where it is that You were taking the remnant and to what extent their faith must grown and believe that He is our God; not theoretical or close to describing, but exactly what You are saying for our benefit. Help us to learn to read Your Word not as a book, but as message of clarity of all of our faith and what it is we believe. In the meantime, our hope for a peaceful solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We pray for the innocents caught in the middle of this conflict and for You to end this conflict now, and let us all praise Your Holy Name. We also pray for those around this country and around the world who are suffering under persecution and the damages caused by the recent cold front snow and ice. We also pray for those who are suffering from the loss of loved ones, for all who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, and for those we don’t know. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.”

KNOWING GOD:

“No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord. ‘This is what the Sovereign lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.” (Ezekiel 28:24-26)

Israel’s existence after the Exile was due to God’s holy love and power. He proved faithful to His elect people and restored their fortune. God created the remnant to have a people who would recognize Him as their God. For want His people to live in trusting security not in fear of punishment.

SECOND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10)

Obedience to Pharisaic laws did not determine the elect remnant of Israel. Salvation came to even a sinner like Zacchaerus, when he repented and committed himself to God. Election does not point to people who have achieved righteousness. In love and through Jesus Christ God elects sinners and saves them from a life-style of sin and alienation. Jesus’ mission was to lead people to a saving relationship with God. Such a relationship delivers from sin and selfishness to service of God and other people.