READING: Jeremiah 27-29, Titus 3
“I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.”
Jeremiah 29::2
Every time I read the Old Testament, I’m reminded of God’s incredible grace. Yes, He demanded that His people follow Him fully. Yes, He expected them to be holy—distinct from all the other nations. Yes, He held them accountable when they didn’t live up to His standards. And yes, He sent them into exile at the hands of the Babylonians. They were carried away from the land God had given them. But, today’s reading also reminds us of these words to the people:
- “They shall be carried to Babylon and remain there until the day when I visit them, declares the Lord. Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.” (Jer. 27:22)
- “I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.” (Jer. 29:2)
- “I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” (Jer. 29:14)
God judged His people through exile, but He would also keep His hand on them. He would bring them to repentance. They would call upon Him, and He would hear; they would seek Him, and He would be found. Somehow, the God His people had rejected would not reject His people. An incredibly powerful, holy, all-knowing Creator would welcome sinful people home.
These truths – ones that I’ve read many times and known many years – still make me want to follow God even more completely. I don’t want to so disobey Him that He must send me into some kind of exile to turn me back to Him. Instead, I want to obey Him today . . . and tomorrow . . . and every day that He gives me. I pray I will seek Him with all my heart.
ACTION STEPS:
- Seek God with your whole being today. Confess to Him anything that hinders your walk with Him.
- Thank Him for being a God of second chances.
PRAYER: “God, You love me more than I love You. Thank You. Help me to follow you fully today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Jeremiah 30-31, Philemon 1