June 1, 2001
"Only acknowledge your guilt--
you have rebelled against the LORD your God,
...snip ...snip ...snip
"Return, faithless people," declares the LORD, "for I am your husband.
I will choose you--one from a town and two from a clan--and bring you to Zion.
Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart,
who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 3:13-16
God's heart is one of UNCHANGING faithfulness... all he asks is that Israel admit her sin to enjoy the future he has in store for her! He goes on to describe this hope with great imagery in the next few verses (16-18). He never stops giving them hope - I'm sure they didn't always see that any more than I see that God works the same way in my life today. All he asks is that I admit where I am.. sin, struggles, burdened heart, all of it.. take it to him, don't let pride or insecurity get in the way and he holds out hope for my me....the hope of salvation, the hope of eternity with God...
"Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose
very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible
for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us
may be greatly encouraged. We have this HOPE as an anchor for the
soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. "
Hebrews 6:17-20