Thought for the Week - 7th March
Jeremiah 33: 9
“Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honour before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.”
These are the words of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah speaking of the restoration of the city of Judah and children of Israel, after they had been left destroyed and desolate by the Chaldeans. God had allowed for this to happen, His children had fallen wilfully into the clutches of sin and had turned their backs on He who had freed them from captivity and led them to the land of promise and abundant blessing. God continued to love them and even though they had rejected Him, He provided a way back. He restored, cleansed, and forgave them; they became a joy to Him once more and a people in whom His goodness could be seen to all around.
Has God not taken us from a desolate place and provided a way through Christ to complete cleansing, restoration, and renewing?
Many of us know the freeing and healing power of Christ as truth in our lives, and some will have learned the hard way, falling time and time again until we have the revelation of the graciousness and goodness of the God we sin against.
We are brought out into the light, forgiven, saved, and clothed in His righteousness, but have you considered that in this you are a joy to God? He knows you, every thought and breath, and just as it would bring us joy to see a loved one no longer hurting, He rejoices as he sees us come out from the bondage of sin, and receive the love He has had for us all along. It is a wonderful thing to catch sight of this, a moment in which you rejoice in His goodness as you see Him rejoice in you His child.
As Christians we are to walk confidently in the revelation that we do not have to dwell in the desolate places, but we dwell with our Father who looks on us with joy, Who we no longer want to sin against, and Whose goodness should be evident in us and our lives for those around to see.
Thank you for sharing. I loved reading this thought, really appreciated it.