What God Does for Us – Jeremiah 32:40

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 32:40 (NIV)

 “I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.”

Jeremiah 32:40 (MSG)

“What’s more, I’ll make a covenant with them that will last forever, a covenant to stick with them no matter what, and work for their good. I’ll fill their hearts with a deep respect for me so they’ll not even think of turning away from me.”

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“I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will do them good and not turn away from them; and I will put in their heart a fear and reverential awe of Me, so that they will not turn away from Me.” -AMPLIFIED

“God goes beyond the original promise (covenant).  He will not only be their God, but also they will forever have a heart turned towards Him to love, fear, and obey Him.  This will bring great joy to God and great goodness to the Jews.” ~Melissa Beaty

The Lord desired Israel to have a singleness of heart, to be united in heart and action for one purpose, to fear and respect Him. And He was willing to do the work for them, for their own good.

“I will give them integrity of heart and action so that they will fear me always, for their good and for the good of their descendants after them.” -Jeremiah 32:39 (CSB)

The Lord told Jeremiah that He would do the work needed in order to help the people have singleness of heart. He doesn’t stop there though. In today’s text, we find the Lord continuing to speak of what He will do for the people, so that they will respect Him and never turn away from Him again. God’s Message:

“I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop blessing them with good things, and I will put in them a fear and respect of Me so they will not turn their backs to Me again.” -(VOICE)

We find the Lord listing three things that He will do for Israel and Judah in this passage:

1.) “I will make an everlasting covenant with them…” -(TLV)

2.) “I will never turn away from doing good for them.” -(TLV)

3.) “I will put My fear in their hearts…” -(TLV)

God tells us that He would do this so that they would never turn away from Him, or turn their backs on Him, ever again. This was for their good.

“A further aspect of the new covenant is that the disposition of God towards His people would be changed; instead of judgment, He would rejoice over them to do them good. God was so zealous to accomplish this that He promised to perform it with all My heart and all My soul.” ~David Guzik

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, promising never again to desert them but only to do them good. I will put a desire into their hearts to worship me, and they shall never leave me.” -(TLB)

“See how God puts his whole heart to the work when he is blessing his people. When he forgives sin, it is with his whole heart and soul. May we, with our whole heart and soul, repent of our sin; and then, with all our heart and soul, serve the Lord!” ~Charles Spurgeon

Too often we get hung up on what we must to “give up” as a Christian. How we have to do this or do that…and we forget to be grateful for all that God does for us, and He does so much too! Let’s take the time to remind ourselves of just a few of the things God does for us:

1.) He loves us, despite our tendency towards sin: “But think about this: while we were wasting our lives in sin, God revealed His powerful love to us in a tangible display—the Anointed One died for us.” -Romans 5:8 (VOICE)

2.) He is working on our behalf: “I’ll anticipate their prayers and respond before they know it; even as they speak, I will hear.” -Isaiah 65:24 (VOICE)

3.) He is always working behind the scenes, even if we do not see it: “For the vision points ahead to a time I have appointed; it testifies regarding the end, and it will not lie. Even if there is a delay, wait for it. It is coming and will come without delay.” -Habakkuk 2:3 (VOICE)

4.) He is our Protector, even when we do not know we need protecting: “He who takes refuge in the shelter of the Most High will be safe in the shadow of the Almighty. He will say to the Eternal, “My shelter, my mighty fortress, my God, I place all my trust in You.” For He will rescue you from the snares set by your enemies who entrap you and from deadly plagues. Like a bird protecting its young, God will cover you with His feathers, will protect you under His great wings; His faithfulness will form a shield around you, a rock-solid wall to protect you.” -Psalm 91:1-4 (VOICE)

5.) He created all things, and He holds all things together: “It was by Him that everything was created: the heavens, the earth, all things within and upon them, all things seen and unseen, thrones and dominions, spiritual powers and authorities. Every detail was crafted through His design, by His own hands, and for His purposes. He has always been! It is His hand that holds everything together.” -Colossians 1:16-17 (VOICE)

6.) He cares about what happens to us: “Cast your troubles upon the Eternal; His care is unceasing!
He will not allow His righteous to be shaken.” -Psalm 55:22 (VOICE)

7.) He does not give us what we deserve: “Thankfully, God does not punish us for our sins and depravity as we deserve. In His mercy, He tempers justice with peace.” -Psalm 103:10 (VOICE)

8.) He is our Helper: “Do don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.” -Isaiah 41:10 (VOICE)

9.) He guides our steps: “Your ears will hear sweet words behind you: “Go this way. There is your path; this is how you should go” whenever you must decide whether to turn to the right or the left.” -Isaiah 30:21 (VOICE)

10.) He is working all things out for good: “We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.” -Romans 8:28 (VOICE)

“God is making things happen for you. Even when you don’t see it, Even when you can’t feel it, Even if its not evident. God is working on your prayers.” ~UNKNOWN

My friend, God is for us, not against us. He wants what is best for us. He loves us deeply. He cares about what happens to each of us, and He is working behind the scenes, guiding our steps, working all things out for our good and His glory. Give thanks and be grateful for the fact that He loves you so much.

“We are undeserving of everything God does for us. What we receive from God isn’t based on our own merits but on His never-ending grace.” ~Gabby Abigail

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, you do indeed do so much for me. Loving me, even when I was a sinner. You took the initiative to do for me what I could not do for myself. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for all that you do for me, even those things that I am unaware of, behind the scenes. When I reach Heaven, I am looking forward to learning about all those times you stepped in and protected me, helped me, provided for me, and just cared for me, because I know there are so many times that I am unaware of. Lord, you are so good to me, and I am so thankful you are. ❤

Singleness of Heart: Part 2 – Jeremiah 32:39

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 32:39 (NIV)

“I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.”

Jeremiah 32:39 (MSG)

“I’ll make them of one mind and heart, always honoring me, so that they can live good and whole lives, they and their children after them.”

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“…and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may [reverently] fear Me forever, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.” -AMPLIFIED

“As with other new covenant passages, God promised inner transformation that would bring blessing to successive generations (for the good of them and their children).” ~David Guzik

The Lord has reminded Jeremiah that He will renew His covenant with the people, declaring:

“They will be my people, and I will be their God.” -Jeremiah 32:39 (CSB)

As we look at today’s text, we will further give attention to what being single of heart means, for we find the Lord stating:

“I will unite them behind a single desire and purpose: to revere and worship Me forever for their own good and for the good of all who will come after them.” -(VOICE)

Immediately we can learn a few things from the Lord’s Message about singleness of heart:

1.) It will be the Lord who does the work that brings about singleness of heart.

2.) Singleness of heart brings unity.

3.) Singleness of heart reminds us of our purpose, to worship the Lord.

The Lord will bring about a change in heart, a new way of thinking, of acting, a new attitude.

Let’s take a look at how a few of the other translations convey this change of heart and mind:

“I will make their thoughts and desires pure. Then they will realize that, for their own good and the good of their children, they must worship only me. They will even be afraid to turn away from me. I will make an agreement with them that will never end, and I won’t ever stop doing good things for them. With all my heart I promise that they will be planted in this land once again.” -(CEV)

“I will make them want to be truly one people. They will have one goal. They will truly want to worship me all their lives. They will do this for their own good and for their children after them.” -(ICB)

“…and I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.” -(NASB)

Let us have singleness of heart, not a heart that is looking elsewhere for satisfaction, fulfillment or anything else. Because a heart that is double-minded seeks its own way, not the Lord’s.

“One heart—all seeking the Lord with one accord, in contrast to their state when only scattered individuals sought Him. ~Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

“And I will give them one heart and mind to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.” -(TLB)

“One heart, and one way. Under the new covenant they will with one consent walk in the one narrow path of right-doing Matthew 7:14. Forever, i. e., every day, constantly.” ~Albert Barnes

Scripture speaks a lot about the heart and what it should and should not be like. It should be duly noted that when there is any change in the heart, it happens because the Lord is at work in that heart.

God will not tolerate a divided heart, or a double minded one:

“Their heart is divided (faithless); now they must bear their guilt and punishment. The Lord will break down [the horns of] their altars; He will destroy their idolatrous pillars.” -Hosea 10:2 (AMP)

“The splinter of divided loyalty shatters your compass and leaves you dizzy and confused.” -James 1:8 (VOICE)

A stubborn and unrepentant heart is an invitation for God’s judgement:

“But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” -Romans 2:5 (AMP)

God cannot stand a heart that is divided down the middle:

“Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands; you have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart, because your mind is split down the middle, your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other.” -James 4:8 (VOICE)

God desires to remove the heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh, He wants to give us a heart transplant:

“I will give them a new will—an undivided heart—and plant a new spirit within them; I will remove their cold, stony heart and replace it with a warm heart of flesh. Then they will follow My commands and uphold My laws and actually do as I say. They will be My people, and I will be their God.” -Ezekiel 11:19-20 (VOICE)

Our prayer should echo the Psalmist, who prayed that the Lord would give them a clean heart, and a deeper desire to know Him:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; restore within me a sense of being brand new. Do not throw me far away from Your presence, and do not remove Your Holy Spirit from me. Give back to me the deep delight of being saved by You; let Your willing Spirit sustain me.” -Psalm 51:10-12 (VOICE)

“Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.” ~Jesus (Matthew 5:8 VOICE)

My friend, we all need a change of heart. We must allow God to remove that heart of stone within and allow Him to replace it with a heart of flesh, otherwise we will never be able to please Him. If you are asking for Him to create within you a clean heart, then submit to Him. May our prayer echo that of Jesus’ “Yet not My will, but Your will, be done.”

“God is the shaper of your heart. God does not display his work in abstract terms. He prefers the concrete, and this means that at the end of your life one of three things will happen to your heart: it will grow hard, it will be broken, or it will be tender. Nobody escapes.” ~Ravi Zacharias

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I need a heart change. I realize the fact that there are times that I still insist on doing things my own way, not yours. I have been stubborn, and disobedient. Please forgive me Lord. Change my heart. Help me to be transformed, undivided, not double-minded. I choose to submit to your will in my life, help me to walk in your ways. “Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again.” -(CEV) Thank you, Lord.

Personal Accountability – Jeremiah 31:29

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:29-30 (NIV)

“In those days people will no longer say, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’”

Jeremiah 31:29-30 (MSG)

“When that time comes you won’t hear the old proverb anymore, “Parents ate the green apples, their children got the stomachache.”

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“In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’” -AMPLIFIED

 “Jeremiah quoted what apparently was a common proverb in his day that promoted the idea that God was punishing Judah for the sins of their forefathers, and they themselves were relatively innocent. God clearly denied this, showing that He will judge individuals for their own sins.” ~David Guzik

We have been learning about the Master Gardener, and how He works in lives. God’s Message to Judah and Israel was this:

“Just as I watched over them to uproot and to tear them down, to demolish and to destroy, and to cause disaster, so will I watch over them to build and to plant them”—this is the Lord’s declaration.” -Jeremiah 31:28 (CSB)

The Lord would do the work in them. For they were His garden, and He would rebuild and replant in their lives. And one day, this proverb that had made its way into their way of thinking, would no longer be applicable.

“The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” -Complete Jewish Bible

“In those coming days, people will no longer speak the proverb, “Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge.” -(VOICE)

Apparently, there had come about a misunderstanding of both Exodus 20:5 and Numbers 14:18 among the people.

• “You are not to bow down and serve any image, for I, the Eternal your God, am a jealous God. As for those who are not loyal to Me, their children will endure the consequences of their sins for three or four generations.” -Exodus 20:5 (VOICE)
• “I am slow to get angry and overflow with consistently boundless love. I forgive wrongdoing and waywardness, but I don’t overlook the necessity for justice, so I punish the guilty ones’ third and fourth coming generations.” -Numbers 14:18 (VOICE)

The people of Jeremiah’s time were blaming their ancestors for what was happening to them. It was their parents’ fault, their grandparents, or possibly even their great-grandparents fault that they were experiencing the discipline of the Lord, that they were taken into captivity, and being exiled far from home.

The Lord wanted them to understand that they were accountable for their own sin, not the sins of their ancestors. And they were not blameless. In fact, they had ignored the warnings of the Lord too many times to count.

If we flip over to the book of Ezekiel, we find the Lord reprimanding Israel for using this proverb:

“The word of the Eternal came to me with a message.” Eternal One: “Why do you people continually quote this proverb about Israel: “Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge?” As surely as I live, I, the Eternal Lord, declare you will not quote this proverb in Israel anymore. For every living being belongs to Me—parent and child alike. You will die for your own sins, not because of what your ancestors did.” -Ezekiel 18:1-4 (VOICE)

It was time for each person to take responsibility and be accountable for their own actions and choices. They needed to stop blaming others for their own personal sin.

“The people shall no longer quote this proverb—“Children pay for their fathers’ sins.” -(TLB)

“People will not say that they have inherited a sour fate or wait on edge to pay the price for their parents’ sins because each person will be accountable for his own sins; individuals, not the nation as a whole, will be punished for their sins.” ~Melissa Beaty

Scripture tells us that each of us is accountable personally for our own sins, we will answer for our own choices, not someone else’s.

“So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” -Romans 14:12 (AMP)

Scripture also tells us that each of us will have to stand before God Almighty and will have to explain our choices to God:

“Non-believers think it is strange that you do not do the many wild and wasteful things that they do. And so they insult you. But they will have to explain about what they have done. They must explain to God who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” -1 Peter 4:4-5 (ICB)

Scripture tells us that when the time comes, we will be judged for how we have chosen to live our own personal lives, and we will not be judged for anyone else’s actions or choices:

“In time we will all stand in judgment before the throne of the Anointed, the Liberating King, to receive what is just for our conduct (whether it be good or bad) while we lived in this temporary body.” -2 Corinthians 5:10 (VOICE)

Scripture tells that how we choose to build on the foundation, Jesus, will have a lasting effect on our eternity:

“The foundation has already been built. No one can build any other foundation. The foundation that has already been laid is Jesus Christ. Anyone can build on that foundation, using gold, silver, jewels, wood, grass, or straw. But the work that each person does will be clearly seen, because the Day will make it plain. That Day will appear with fire, and the fire will test every man’s work.” -1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (ICB)

And finally, Scripture tells us that if our name is not written in the Book of Life, we will spend an eternity separated from the Lord, an eternity in hell:

“I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence, but no place was found for them. I saw the dead, both important and unimportant people, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened, including the Book of Life. The dead were judged on the basis of what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead. Death and hell gave up their dead. People were judged based on what they had done. Death and hell were thrown into the fiery lake. (The fiery lake is the second death.) Those whose names were not found in the Book of Life were thrown into the fiery lake.” -Revelation 20:11-15 (NOG)

Jesus explained personal accountability to His followers in this way:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. “‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’  “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’ “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’ “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” -Matthew 25:31-46 (CSB)

“We live under a personal dispensation, there is no such thing as hereditary godliness or salvation by proxy. Every man must for himself repent, and for himself believe. Vain and foolish is the idea that, because we have had Christian parents, therefore we also are Christians.” ~Charles Spurgeon

My friend, it is time that we stop blaming others for the choices we have personally made. We will not be held accountable for the actions and choices of others, and they will not be held accountable for ours. One day we will each stand before the Throne of God, and He will ask, “Why should I allow you into my Kingdom?” The only right answer is, “Because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and my name is written in the Book of Life.” If we can answer in that way, we can expect Him to reply to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” -Matthew 25:23 (NIV)

“We need to realize that in all things our first duty and responsibility is to God Himself.” ~Harry Ironside

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I am reminded once again that I am responsible and accountable only for my choices, not the choices of others and I am so grateful for this fact. As I journey through this life, I ask that you help me to live a life that is holy and acceptable to you. When I am tempted, allow your Holy Spirit to remind me that I need to make choices that lead to life, not death. I am patiently waiting for that day when I stand before your Throne, because I know my name is written in that Book of Life, and I am expectantly waiting to hear you say those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!“ Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

The Lord Knows and is Witness -Jeremiah 29:23

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 29:22-23 (NIV)

“For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it,” declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 29:22-23 (MSG)

“Those two men, sex predators and prophet-impostors, got what they deserved. They pulled every woman they got their hands on into bed—their neighbors’ wives, no less—and preached lies claiming it was my Message. I never sent those men. I’ve never had anything to do with them.” God’s Decree. “They won’t get away with a thing. I’ve witnessed it all.”

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“…because they have acted foolishly in Israel and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and in My Name have spoken false and concocted words, which I did not command them. I am He who knows and I am a witness,” says the Lord.’” -AMPLIFIED

“The Jews in captivity are fully aware that Zedekiah and Ahab are false prophets.  They will become so notorious for their sins that their names will be used in cursing.  Noteworthy is that God Himself is a witness against sinners.” ~Melissa Beaty

Ahab and Zedekiah were two false prophets that had been taken into captivity but continued in their sin of spreading false prophecy. The Lord declares that these two charlatans would have a bad end because of their bad choices and their bad reputations. God’s Message to them:

“Based on what happens to them, all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will create a curse that says, ‘May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire!’” –Jeremiah 29:22 (CSB)

Ahab and Zedekiah had failed to remember that God is Omniscient, All-Knowing, nothing is hidden from Him, and He had witnessed their sinful acts. The sins that they thought they had committed in secret God now reveal publicly. God says through Jeremiah to all the exiles:

“These men have engaged in disgraceful acts among My people Israel. They have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and told lies in My name, prophesying when I never gave them a message. I know this because I am a witness to all they have done,” so says the Eternal.” -(VOICE)

This is what these two men have done, and these actions are disgraceful:

1.) “They are guilty of adultery with their neighbors’ wives.” -(ICB)

2.) “They have also spoken lies.” -(ICB)

3.) “And they said those lies were a message from me, the Lord.” -(ICB)

Then the Lord makes this declaration, “I did not tell them to do that.” Adonai makes it known that the messages that these two were delivering were NOT from Him.

This verse closes out with this attestation and warning: “I know what they have done. I am a witness!” -(ICB)

“God is omniscient and knows everything. He has known everything from the beginning. Nothing is a surprise to God, nor does He ever come into possession of new knowledge. Thus, God knows all people.” ~J.P McBeth

” For these men have done a terrible thing among my people. They have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have lied in my name. I know, for I have seen everything they do, says the Lord.” -(TLB)

“These men were unfaithful with their lives and with their words. Though their unfaithfulness was perhaps not public knowledge, God was a witness to it all and would hold them to account.” ~David Guzik

Scripture is very clear about the fact that God sees, God hears, and God knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him. He is a witness to everything. Take a look at these Scriptures that remind us that God is Omniscient:

• “No creature can hide from God: God sees all. Everyone and everything is exposed, opened for His inspection; and He’s the One we will have to explain ourselves to.” -Hebrews 4:13 (VOICE)

• “O Eternal One, You have explored my heart and know exactly who I am; You even know the small details like when I take a seat and when I stand up again. Even when I am far away, You know what I’m thinking. You observe my wanderings and my sleeping, my waking and my dreaming, and You know everything I do in more detail than even I know. You know what I’m going to say long before I say it. It is true, Eternal One, that You know everything and everyone.” -Psalm 139:1-4 (VOICE)

• “The Eternal can see all things; His gaze is fixed on both the evil and the good.” -Proverbs 15:3 (VOICE)

• “It is I, the Eternal One, who probes the innermost heart and examines the innermost thoughts. I will compensate each person justly, according to his ways and by what his actions deserve.” -Jeremiah 17:10 (VOICE)

• “We cannot wrap our minds around God’s wisdom and knowledge! Its depths can never be measured! We cannot understand His judgments or explain the mysterious ways that He works! For, who can fathom the mind of the Lord? Or who can claim to be His advisor? Or, who can give to God in advance so that God must pay him back? For all that exists originates in Him, comes through Him, and is moving toward Him; so give Him the glory forever. Amen.” -Romans 11:33-36 (VOICE)

“The fact that God sees every aspect of our lives may, at first, leave us afraid and eager to hide from God rather than in awe, wanting to embrace Him. But the fear of the Lord makes us aware both of God’s holy purity and hatred of sin and His holy patience and forgiveness. When we remember both, we have no reason to run in fear, especially since there is no place to run beyond the gaze of God. Instead, as we look at the Lord, we see that He invites, cleanses, and empowers us to grow in holiness.” ~Edward Welch

My friend, God is Omniscient, nothing is hidden from Him. There are no surprises for Him, ever. He knew us before we were formed. He knew who we would be, the choices we would make. He knows what our thoughts will be even before we think them. He knows us that intimately. Yet, He loves us…think about that! While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God knew our disgrace, our sin, our hopeless estate, and He decided to take matters into His own hands and sent His Son, Jesus to die for us. How wonderful is our Omniscient God!

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite” (Ps. 147:5). God not only knows whatsoever has happened in the past in every part of His vast domains, and He is not only thoroughly acquainted with everything that is now transpiring throughout the entire universe, but He is also perfectly cognizant of every event, from the least to the greatest, that ever will happen in the ages to come. God’s knowledge of the future is as complete as is His knowledge of the past and the present, and that, because the future depends entirely upon Himself. Were it in anywise possible for something to occur apart from either the direct agency or permission of God, then that something would be independent of Him, and He would at once cease to be Supreme.” ~A. W. Pink

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, the fact that you are Omniscient moves me to live a life that is holy and acceptable to you. I am humbled in knowing that there is nothing hidden from you, there are no secrets with you. You know me inside and out, and yet you still love me. WOW! I am so grateful for this Truth. Help me to live transparently before you, Lord. Remind me that you are well aware of every word, thought, and action, already, even before they take place. And there is nothing that I could do that would ever cause you to love me any less. In knowing this fact, help me to live my life as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to you. May I be holy and acceptable to you, Lord.

A Change of Heart – Jeremiah 29:12-13

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

Jeremiah 29:12 (MSG)

“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “

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“Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ” -AMPLIFIED

“After this time of discipline, they will be in a better condition to enjoy true fellowship with God in their homeland again.” ~Donald Flemming

As we studied Jeremiah 29:11 yesterday, we were reminded that God has not forgotten us, just as He had not forgotten the exiles in Babylon. To them He declared:

“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11 (CSB)

I have heard people say that this promise in Jeremiah 29:11 was specifically for the Jews who were in Babylon, they argue that this promise is not for everyone. Part of that argument may be true, it was God’s Message to the exiles, written by Jeremiah and delivered by Elasah and Gemariah, but God character does not change. Keep in mind this statement given to us in Malachi: “For I am the Lord, I do not change [but remain faithful to My covenant with you]…” -Malachi 3:6 We too can hold on to the promises contained in this verse.

As we turn now to verses 21 and 13 today, we are reminded that God was looking for a change in heart from the exiles. When that happened, when they repented, and called to Him, then He would listen. When they truly, sincerely looked for Him, then they would find Him. God’s Message to them was this:

“At that time, you will call out for Me, and I will hear. You will pray, and I will listen. You will look for Me intently, and you will find Me.” -(VOICE)

Verse 12 begins a little oddly: “Then you will call upon Me…” -(NASB)

When is then? Then is after the 70 years, at the end of their time of discipline. Then the people will have a change of heart and mind. Then they will turn from their sin, and no longer live in a state of rebelliousness. Then they will humble themselves before God. And then…God will hear, He will listen to their cries.

This passage echoes a warning that Moses gave to the people, recorded in Deuteronomy 4. Make note of the highlighted area.

“It would be disastrous if, after you’ve lived in the land for a long time and had children and grandchildren, you made an idol in any form. You know the Eternal your God considers this an evil thing to do, and it would make Him furious. I call the heaven and the land as witnesses against you today, that if you do this, even though you’re going to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land, you won’t last long on it. You will die quickly—you will certainly be destroyed. The Eternal will scatter what’s left of you among all the other nations. Only a few of you will be left in each of the nations He takes you to. And there you will worship useless items made of wood and stone carved by human beings, so-called “gods” that can’t see or hear or eat or smell. But when you’re there, you’ll look for the Eternal your God. If every part of you is invested in the search, heart and soul, then you’ll find Him. When you’re in trouble in those days yet to come because of all these things, you’ll come back to the Eternal your God, and you’ll listen to His voice. He is a compassionate God. He won’t abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant He made with your ancestors—He swore to them that He’d keep it! It would be disastrous if, after you’ve lived in the land for a long time and had children and grandchildren, you made an idol in any form. You know the Eternal your God considers this an evil thing to do, and it would make Him furious. I call the heaven and the land as witnesses against you today, that if you do this, even though you’re going to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land, you won’t last long on it. You will die quickly—you will certainly be destroyed. The Eternal will scatter what’s left of you among all the other nations. Only a few of you will be left in each of the nations He takes you to. And there you will worship useless items made of wood and stone carved by human beings, so-called “gods” that can’t see or hear or eat or smell. But when you’re there, you’ll look for the Eternal your God. If every part of you is invested in the search, heart and soul, then you’ll find Him. When you’re in trouble in those days yet to come because of all these things, you’ll come back to the Eternal your God, and you’ll listen to His voice. He is a compassionate God. He won’t abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant He made with your ancestors—He swore to them that He’d keep it!” -Deuteronomy 4:25-31 (VOICE)

“At the end of the Exile, God’s people would call out to Him in prayer. Yahweh promised to listen to them. They would find Him when they sought Him wholeheartedly.” ~Thomas Constable

God was waiting on the people to repent, to have a change of heart and mind. The blessings of verse 11 were hinged on their repentance.

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest. ” -(TLB)

“God would not hide from His people when they sought Him. They would not suffer under the dark sense that God could not be found. Their seeking and God’s revealing were part of their future and hope.” ~David Guzik

Scripture speaks about the heart a lot; it is estimated over a thousand times. The word “heart” in the Bible is primarily used to describe our will, emotions, desires, our innermost self. God is waiting on us to have a change of heart. He is waiting for us to realize that we cannot live life to its fullest without Him.

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” ~Blaise Pascal

God is looking for:

• A repentant heart. “Even now, turn back your heart and rededicate yourselves to Me; show Me your repentance by fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rip the wickedness out of your hearts; don’t just tear your clothing. Now return to the Eternal, your True God. You already know He is gracious and compassionate. He does not anger easily and maintains faithful love. He is willing to relent and not harm you.” -Joel 2:12-13 (VOICE)
• A pure heart. “Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.” -Matthew 5:8 (VOICE)
• A trusting heart. “Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 (VOICE)
• A thankful heart. “Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness.” -Colossians 3:16 (VOICE)
• A heart that seeks the Lord. “So turn your attention and seek the Eternal One while it is still possible; call on Him while He is nearby.” -Isaiah 55:6 (VOICE)

May our daily prayer echo that of David’s:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; restore within me a sense of being brand new. Do not throw me far away from Your presence, and do not remove Your Holy Spirit from me. Give back to me the deep delight of being saved by You; let Your willing Spirit sustain me.” -Psalm 51:10-12 (VOICE)

“Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. Where your heart is, there is your happiness.” ~Augustine

My friend, God is looking for changed hearts. Hearts that are repentant, pure, trusting, thankful, and are seeking Him. He desires hearts that will say, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Are you willing to allow Him to have His way in your life? If so, let your prayer echo David’s, “Create in me a clean heart, O God!”

“The Christian life is a war, and the fiercest battles are those that rage within the heart of every believer. The new birth radically and permanently changes a person’s sinful nature, but it does not immediately liberate that nature from all of the remnants of sin. Birth is followed by growth, and that growth involves warfare.” ~Tom Ascol

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, here I am, once again asking for your help. I am seeking you with all that is within me. I have repented of my sin, but I know that this change of heart is an on-going process. I realize that I need to continually keep a guard over my heart. I need to daily repent of any sin I have committed against you. I need to pursue purity, seek your face, continually trust you and give you thanks and praise. Lord, as I intently seek you with all of my heart, help me to find you, truly find you. May I gain a better understanding of who you are. Thank you, Lord.

The Wisdom of the Elders: Part 2 -Jeremiah 26:18

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 26:18 (NIV)

“Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.’

Jeremiah 26:18 (MSG)

“In the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah, Micah of Moresheth preached to the people of Judah this sermon: This is God-of-the-Angel-Armies’ Message for you: “‘Because of people like you, Zion will be turned back into farmland, Jerusalem end up as a pile of rubble, and instead of the Temple on the mountain, a few scraggly scrub pines.’”

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“Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Zion will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become [heaps of] ruins, and the mountain of the house [of the Lord—Mount Moriah, on which stands the temple, shall become covered not with buildings, but] like a densely wooded height.”’ -AMPLIFIED

 “The elders further defend Jeremiah by mentioning a previous prophet who spoke messages similar to what Jeremiah has been speaking; since Micah has been acknowledged historically as a true prophet, Jeremiah should be given the same credibility least they rashly kill him and be found guilty of murdering God’s messenger.” ~Melissa Beaty

As we have been examining the happenings at the trial of Jeremiah, we found at the end of the testimony given that the elders stepped up to share their wisdom with the King’s officials and the people.

“Some of the elders of the land stood up and said to all the assembled people…” -Jeremiah 26:17 (CSB)

As we continue in chapter 26 of Jeremiah, we find the elders sharing first an example of a time when a prophet, Micah, delivered a challenging Message from the Lord and how it was received by King Hezekiah and the people. The elders share this memory:

Elders: “Remember the prophet Micah of Moresheth in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah. It was he who said to the people of Judah, “This is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has to say: “Zion will be plowed under like a field, Jerusalem will be left in ruins, and the hill on which the temple stands will be overgrown like a forest.”” -(VOICE)

(We will find, as this chapter winds down, that the elders give two examples, share two memories. The first had a positive outcome, the second a negative one. Let us keep this in mind was we look at both examples over the coming days.)

The elders share a memory from their wisdom, an example from the time of Micah the prophet. (Remember, part of their responsibility as elders was to share from their history and the lessons learned.) Micah would have lived approximately 100 years before the time of Jeremiah. He too had a deliver a Message of doom to deliver to the people. And the elders quoted God’s Message given by Micah verbatim.

“Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.” -Micah 3:12 (NIV)

“It (This) shows how the words of the great prophets were treasured, and so remembered that they could be readily quoted.” ~Arthur Cundall

In tomorrow’s text we will find the elders sharing what the outcome of Micah’s prophecy was, and how it affected King Hezekiah and the people.

“The decision is right; for back in the days when Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, he told the people that God said: ‘This hill shall be plowed like an open field and this city of Jerusalem razed into heaps of stone, and a forest shall grow at the top where the great Temple now stands!’” -(TLB)

“The elders remembered the work of the Prophet Micah, recorded in the Book of Micah (Micah 1:1). They remembered that his message was often not pleasant and remembered what he said that was recorded in Micah 3:12 regarding the destruction of Jerusalem (Zion shall be plowed like a field).” ~David Guzik

The elders shared what they had learned from their own lives and from the examples of others, in this case it was Micah, with others. They did not keep their wisdom to themselves, they shared it, which is Scriptural. In fact, the writer of Psalm 96 tells us that we should broadcast His glorious acts throughout the earth, telling everyone of the amazing things He has done.

“Sing a new song to the Eternal; sing in one voice to the Eternal, all the earth. Sing to the Eternal of all the good things He’s done. Bless His name; broadcast the good news of His salvation each and every day. Enlighten the nations to His splendor; describe His wondrous acts to all people. For the Eternal is great indeed and praiseworthy; feared and reverenced above all gods, the True God shall be. For all human-made, lifeless gods are worthless idols, but the Eternal plotted the vast heavens, shaped every last detail. Honor and majesty precede Him; strength and beauty infuse His holy sanctuary. Give all credit to the Eternal, families of the world! Credit Him with glory, honor, and strength! Credit Him with the glory worthy of His magnificent name; gather your sacrifice, and present it at His temple.” -Psalm 96:1-8 (VOICE)

In the book of Daniel, we find Michael, the great angel-prince, the champion of the Lord, making this statement to Daniel:

“Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.” -Daniel 12:3 (AMP)

In the book of Proverbs, as Solomon begins to share the wisdom that he has learned, he shares the importance of learning from the wisdom of others.

“So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline; that you would understand insightful teaching and receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life; that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair. These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever; they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion. The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning, and the discerning will receive divine guidance, and they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle, the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.” -Proverbs 1:2-6 (VOICE)

Solomon tells us that the reverent fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.

“The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.” -Proverbs 1:7 (AMP)

Keep in mind also something else that Solomon told us in Proverbs about wisdom:

“Know, too, that wisdom is good for your soul: if you find it, your reward will be a bright future and an enduring hope!” -Proverbs 24:14 (VOICE)

“When the peace of God follows the purity of God’s wisdom into our hearts and lives, it will affect those around us.” ~David Jeremiah

My friend, God has allowed you to experience various challenges in this life so that you can share the wisdom gained through that experience with others. Are you sharing your story and what you have learned with others? I hope you are.

“The chief means for attaining wisdom, and suitable gifts for the ministry, are the Holy Scriptures, and prayer.” ~John Newton

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I am reminded of the need to share my life experiences with others. The lessons learned, the wisdom gained from my journey are meant to be shared, so that others may learn from my experiences. That has always been your plan. Sadly, I have not always been forthcoming with those lessons learned, because I have been embarrassed by parts of my past. That is pride, Lord, I realize that now. Please forgive my pride, I know I need to live in humility. Help me to share the wisdom you have taught me with others, even when it reveals things about me that are not flattering. Because it reminds us all that we are lost without our Savior. We all have a past, but we cannot live in that past, that part of our life is under the blood of Jesus, forgiven. Now, we must move forward in our faith with you. Thank you, Lord for being my Ever-present Help.