June 20, 2001
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
"Stand at the gate of the LORD's house and there proclaim this message:
"`Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through
these gates to worship the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty,
the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions,
and I will let you live in this place."
Jeremiah 7:1-3
Imagine getting this fun task.. stand outside the doors of the temple and preach to the people about their hypocrisy as they come out of worship. the people didn't appreciate Jeremiah or his message... they wanted to stay living in their delusion, they wanted to live the way they wanted and go to the temple pretending everything was okay. God loves us too much to let us continue to wander away from him or to live in error. He will send people to us, if necessary to get right in our face and tell us the truth whether we want to hear it or not... but he does it out of a heart of love not irritation. I am a conflict avoider by nature, it's not pleasant and most times it would be 'easier' for me just to let things go, to not address them with people. In my sinful and insecure nature I don't want to upset the relationship, I don't want people to dislike me, I don't want there to be an awkwardness between us... what motivates me to talk with someone is that I love them and I want them to be their best for God, that's the only thing that can propel me out of my fear and conformability. This is God's heart for us and it has been since the beginning of time. I'm sure it would have bean 'easier' for God to just throw up his hands and give up on us but he doesn't... in his amazing and unfathomable love he continues to work in our lives, to help us see him no matter what it takes.