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I was challenged today by the sermon I heard at our church. Our pastor's message was titled "how people change" and he used the text Jeremiah 17:5-10:
This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
"I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."
It was a great encouragement in light of the recent election and the economic state of our country/world, etc. We seek comforts in this world (which can turn into idols if our heart isn't focused on Christ) and when those comforts are threatened we fear, are anxious, complain and worry. But as our pastor said today our "true comfort is that He (God) is shaping us into the image of Christ." No matter what the circumstances are, our comfort is found in the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work in us...even when everything else seems so unstable.
Our pastor went on to say that there will be heat (trials) which can reveal what our hearts truly believe...sometimes producing thorns when we are putting our hope in something else rather than God. But the cross (God's grace) brings about transformation of our hearts that will then produce fruit from a heart that is centered on Christ...and not on the the circumstances that aren't going as we had hoped or planned.
It's so easy to lose focus of the greater picture of life (being obedient to what God has called us to be, furthering His kingdom and bringing glory to Him) and forget that God's plan is greater and has more purpose than anything we could come up with. Thank goodness we don't have to fear this world. Thank goodness that God is always with us; growing and molding us; and that He "works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
"I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."
It was a great encouragement in light of the recent election and the economic state of our country/world, etc. We seek comforts in this world (which can turn into idols if our heart isn't focused on Christ) and when those comforts are threatened we fear, are anxious, complain and worry. But as our pastor said today our "true comfort is that He (God) is shaping us into the image of Christ." No matter what the circumstances are, our comfort is found in the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work in us...even when everything else seems so unstable.
Our pastor went on to say that there will be heat (trials) which can reveal what our hearts truly believe...sometimes producing thorns when we are putting our hope in something else rather than God. But the cross (God's grace) brings about transformation of our hearts that will then produce fruit from a heart that is centered on Christ...and not on the the circumstances that aren't going as we had hoped or planned.
It's so easy to lose focus of the greater picture of life (being obedient to what God has called us to be, furthering His kingdom and bringing glory to Him) and forget that God's plan is greater and has more purpose than anything we could come up with. Thank goodness we don't have to fear this world. Thank goodness that God is always with us; growing and molding us; and that He "works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
2 comments:
Thanks for your thoughts Erin. I appreciate hearing the good reminder. Our small groups are going through the book this year. I have been challenged in many ways - the trick is applying what I'm reading!
I was challenged as well. It's tough when I have to practice what the Pastor preaches. ;-)
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