I am 65% of the way through my first read through of the CSB.
This past week I was reading Jeremiah.
Jeremiah relays this message in Jeremiah 25:
5 saying, ‘Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever.
6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’
7 Yet you have not listened to me, declares the Lord, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm.
8 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: BECAUSE you have not obeyed my words,
9 behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord…
*emphasis added.
Growing up, I remember thinking to myself, “How does Israel mess up so badly so often?”
Did they not see the miracles of God? Did they not hear the words of the prophets tell them exactly what to do?
It seems outrageous that they could mess up so much when God was so clearly available and evident to them.
While it is easy to sit in my office reading my Bible with my morning coffee and critique the actions of the people of Israel, I often forget that I am guilty of the very same thing.
Every day I say the exact thing Israel said: “I don’t have to obey God.”
Most of the time, it is through my actions.
Like Israel, I refuse to do what God tells me to. To love my neighbor… To live with love and not hate… To pray instead of blame others or protect myself…
Most of the time, we decide—whether through our actions or just our belief—that we do not really have to obey God.
Here is the catch… the root of our pain often comes from our own choice not to obey God.
Let’s not get too crazy. Some bad things are way outside our control, but there are some things—possibly many things—that stem from bad decisions to ignore God and his design for our life.
We tell kids this often: our choices matter.
It seems simple, but we struggle daily to believe that we need to actively choose to obey God.
God offers us reminders often. Choose me... Follow my ways…
Maybe today is another reminder from God.
Turn now… turn to God.