Morning Glory: God's Love

Showing posts with label God's Love. Show all posts

3 Things I Learned From the Prophet Jeremiah

Anastasis Faith 4:30:00 AM Contentment, God's Love, God's Truth, God's Word, Naomi Hamstra, Obedience, Satan's Lies vs. God's Truth

-Noami Hamstra

I have been studying the book of Jeremiah recently, and today I wanted to share with you three things that I’ve learned from the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a prophet of God who prophesied during the reign of king Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. He prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel and to the southern kingdom of Judah.

1. God is faithful

First, I learned so much about the faithfulness of God! Jeremiah was commanded to prophesy to the people of Israel and Judah. Both nations were rebellious and sinful. They worshiped the false gods of other nations. They rejected the Word of the Lord and did not obey God’s commandments.
          God had made a covenant with the people of Israel and Judah: “And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly”(Genesis 17:2). The Lord was faithful in His covenant with His people, but His people broke their side of the covenant which was a serious offense.
          God continually pleaded with His people to obey His Word. After the Lord punished His people through captivity and slavery, the Lord gathered them back to Himself, so that they would be His people and He would be their God.
          I love how the Lord is continually faithful with His people even when they sin. We are just as faithless as Israel. But when we repent, the Lord faithfully leads us in the way of His righteousness.

2. I must be obedient

          Secondly, I learned from Jeremiah to be obedient to God and confident in Christ. God commanded Jeremiah to be a prophet to the rebellious people. He said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations…But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am only a youth; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 1:5-8
          Jeremiah did not believe what the Lord told him would be the best for him, and he did not think he was equipped to do it. The Lord responded by saying He knew before Jeremiah was born that he would be a prophet.
          Whatever the Lord tells us to do, we must do! We do not have to be afraid, because the Lord is with us and He knows us. He created us to serve and glorify Him in the way He ordains for us, and because of this, we can have confidence in Him.

3. I must be satisfied in Christ

The third thing I learned from the prophet Jeremiah is satisfaction in Christ. When the Lord brought His people back to Himself there was much rejoicing and thankfulness. They rejoiced with thankful hearts because they were in the Lord and did not need anything else! Jeremiah 30:17 says, “I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.”
The Lord is good to His people, and the Lord says we can be satisfied in Him. When I think about how good the Lord is to me, I become even more grateful for what I have and for what He has done for me. When we know the Lord and have the gift of salvation, we have the best thing on this earth and for all eternity.

          When I first started reading and studying Jeremiah, I did not expect to learn as much as I did. I love how I can see the faithfulness and goodness of the Lord through Jeremiah’s life. The Lord is always faithful to His people.
          I close with this verse from Psalm 13: “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” This verse sums up the book of Jeremiah very well.
          Being a prophet was not easy, but Jeremiah had to trust in the steadfast love of God, and when he did, he was able to rejoice in the salvation of the Lord. This is how I want to live, and I encourage you to trust in God’s steadfast love and rejoice in the gift of salvation He has given to you if you are in Christ.

Have you read Jeremiah? What are your thoughts? Which of these points convicted you the most?

How God Used Three Strangers to Show Me My Sin

Anastasis Faith 5:00:00 AM Defeating Sin, God's Love

It wasn’t a bad day, per se.

It was beautiful outside, I had met my homework deadlines, and it was Friday.

But I had my agenda, and things didn’t go my way.

How God Used Three Strangers to Show Me My Sin

My plan was to have lunch with my friend like usual. I have an app with local deals and so we typically find a buy-one-get-one-free deal and eat cheap food. But today, my friend had family come in and couldn’t spend the afternoon with me like normal.

It’s silly, but I decided I was going to pout about it. I wasn’t going to eat lunch so that when I saw my friend later, I could say, “Well, I wasn’t able to have lunch because I couldn’t leave campus to get food.”

I knew I was being ridiculous and that there were definitely many ways for me to get food. But I was stubborn.

I planted myself down at a couch and pulled out my laptop to study. My stomach growled. I thought, “Wow, this is going to be a long afternoon! It’s only 12:30 and I’m already starving.”

Just then, the doors opposite me in the hallway opened up and this man in restaurant server’s attire looked at me and said, “Hey, we have some extra food in here from this banquet. Do you want some? Chicken parmesan, asparagus, pasta, salad.”

My stubbornness went right out the window.

I immediately stood up and grinned, “Yes, I will totally eat your extra food!”

As I filled my plate with this beautiful fancy catered meal, I was convicted about my lack of trust in God. It was as if He was saying, “Do you think I won’t provide for you?”

Going back to my couch, I tucked into my meal, both thankful and humbled.

Then, two girls walked past me. I looked up and smiled at them. They smiled back as they walked past…then turned around and came back to me.

They’re going to witness to me, I thought.

The first one, a blonde named Caroline, said, “Hey…so we just wanted to know if there was anything we can be praying about for you.”

I felt my pride take over as I picked a church-y request so that they would know they didn’t have to witness to me—that I was already a great, holy Christian. I gave them a legitimate prayer request, however, about our Friday night inner city children’s ministry called Pioneers. “It’s hard to know the best way to interact with them. They’re very poorly behaved. We love them so much, but it’s hard to know how to try to show them grace and love, while not letting them get away with their sin like they do at home.”

The second girl was an international student, Isabelle. She would interject questions when I would use phrases like “broken homes.” Her English was very good, but her accent was strong and she did not seem to be familiar with many of those types of phrases.

Then I asked them what I could pray about for them. Caroline told me she had a stressful weekend ahead with school. Isabelle asked for prayer that she would be a diligent and efficient employee in the lab.

They sat on the couch with me and we all prayed for each other. I still felt my pride rising inside of me, however, despite the fact that I was addressing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Then Isabelle started praying.

Slowly, the pride filling my heart melted as I listened to her pouring her heart out before her heavenly Father. Her prayer was overflowing with understanding and thankfulness for His love. Her soul had experienced the mercy of Christ and knew it. She was full of compassion for the children at Pioneers. She did not even know them, but her heart was already broken for them.

And all I could pray as I listened to her was, “Father, forgive me.”

Not only had He—despite my attitude—provided me with a beautiful lunch, He lovingly reminded me of my sin and His mercy and His love.

He humbled my heart so gently and so lovingly. He is so good.

Don’t quiet the gentle teachings of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Has a stranger ever had an impact on your life? When has been a time recently that God has humbled you? Leave a comment! Also, if you want to hear about how my friend changed the life of a complete stranger, read this post.

What Sin Does to You... And How God Rescues You

Anastasis Faith 3:34:00 PM Defeating Sin, God's Love, God's Truth, Guest Post, Liza Grace, Sin

By Liza Grace

I have tasted and vividly experienced the effects of SIN in my life. I have LIED, when God is truth. I have SINNED in the DARK when God is Light. I have made God my CRUTCH when He is the King of Kings and the Anointed One. I have DISREGARDED His promises when He is Faithful and true. I’ve ACCUSED Him of forsaking me when He is Emmanuel. I have thought Him TOO SMALL for my problems when He is the Savior of the World.

I am the chief of sinners…

…and He abundantly forgives.