Without God...

Psalm 27:8 - When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."

Time and time again Israel strayed from God even though they knew and experienced His provision. Like in our country's past years, when life became rich and the way of the world seemed prosperous, like Israel, God was turned aside for the things of the world set before them. Many today have forgotten He is our provider.

But think back...when God was ignored, what happened? Things fell apart. Lives became more difficult...provision was removed. What was God doing? Psalm 27:8 above explains what He desires...we come back and seek Him...for His provision, His mercy, His grace...then He will hear and take us back.

One nation without God will see disaster. One nation without God becomes divided. Aren't we seeing this? We must seek His face and we must humble ourselves and do what is right in His eyes for this nation.

He pleads for us to return, but it falls on many deaf ears. He will be merciful if we humble ourselves and seek Him. He promises good, not evil, but it seems evil will prevail and there will be consequences. His heart is saddened and angry, but desirous of mercy toward us. But it is up to us.

Hear Him speak. There is nothing better than to hear the direct words of God. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. His heart went out to Israel; his heart was an expression of God's disappointment in His people. Jeremiah's words are as applicable today for all. They are God's words spoken through Him. Although God weeps for His people and His words are hard, He will have compassion IF they turn from what they have sought and seek Him again.

The United States was formed by God's hand, bringing us into a land of freedom. It was developed with the belief that there was a Divine Authority over it, that it would prosper (and it has) as long as He was deemed the ultimate authority. Well, it seems there are some who want nothing to do with God. And as a nation we are beginning to listen to those who want His name to be removed from all things public...because it is an offense.

Listen to an excerpt from Jeremiah. Remember this is speaking about Israel...read it as if it were speaking of our country. Remember Israel and her time of captivity in Egypt and how God freed them? It's much like this country's history. God gave us this land. All of earth is His. We could very well come under judgment ourselves if we do not turn back.

(Jeremiah), go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, "Thus says the Lord: I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holiness to the Lord, the firstfruits of His increase..." Thus says the Lord: "What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, have followed idols, and have become idolaters? Neither did they say, 'Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and the shadow of death, through a land that no one crossed and where no one dwelt?' I brought you into a bountiful country, to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled My land and made My heritage an abomination. Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory [God] for what does not profit. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the Lord. "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you," says the Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 2:2, 3, 5-7, 11-13, 19)

I'm sure there was always a remnant of God's people, as there is today. A remnant on their knees pleading for His intervention in our lives and our country...in the lives of those who have forgotten...or need to know the importance of God in life.

God will hear our pleas if we just call out to Him. There still is a remnant. Despite what happens in the world, they are safely under His protection. Psalm 27:13 speaks the heart of all who believe and trust in Him: I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. All our hearts can be strengthened through knowledge and worship of Jesus. Let us as a nation stand against the omission of God. Let us look to Him for our provision. Seek Him, seek goodness...or evil will prevail.

Amos 5:14 - Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the Lord God of hosts will be with you...

An Example

Jeremiah 17:5,7 -Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD."

       

Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. He had a very big heart for Israel and could see the destruction they were headed for. They had turned their backs on God. They worshiped wooded idols which could not hear their prayers. Their hearts had hardened to the things of God. When we abandon God we lose proper guidance. Without that guidance, one seeks their own way.

Like God wanting His people Israel to return to Him, Jesus wants us, another form of wandering Israel, to seek Him. He had a big heart for people. He knew the destruction people were headed for. His heart so broke out of love for us all that He chose to die for us. He wanted then as He wants now, to be the Shepherd to the lost sheep. He set an example. 

We are like Israel when we seek our own ways in life: whatever makes me happy, whatever satisfies me. Me, me, me...not God. As difficult as it may be to hear, these are the people who God refers to as wicked people. He spits them out because they are distasteful. They do not take seriously the things of God. The LORD spoke to Jeremiah and He told him He will give man what he deserves, according to what he believes is right. 

If a person desires God, desires Jesus, and desires what He has to give, He will bless him. God does search hearts. Don't think He doesn't know whose hearts are focused on Him and on what He says. He also knows which people believe in their hearts that what the Bible says was for some ancient civilization, for that land and people called Israel, but today's culture is different...and who or what is Israel today anyway? 

Jesus came to be our example. He lived, He died and He rose again, a popular worship song states. It goes on to say, Hallelujah, for all He's done. As our example He taught the choices we make are important, as difficult as some might be. He taught how we need to give up some of the things in our lives that we so dearly cling to. He is to be our all in all. I believe He blesses us more when we give up what we think we need in this world.

He also showed us by example how we are to be set apart. He was not so well liked by those who knew Him growing up. His claims of being the Savior of the world was a hard word to swallow, even for His family. Mark 3:21 - But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”  There is division among families today for this very reason. There are scoffers.

The religious leaders were threatened by His claims and His different views. If He was who He said He was, He needed to be taken out! And so the people, all people, did just that. Hebrew priests and Roman authorities, Jews and Gentiles...people in general. Who was this Man? How could He make such claims? Even today there is division among churches because of doctrinal differences.

He set an example. He may have been crucified. He may have died but He rose again. What is that example for us? It's that phrase that Jesus used...Jesus...about being born again. This is one of those doctrines that sets churches apart. It separates by placing relationship (in Jesus Himself) over religion (man made rules). It's an issue among family and friends. But...it's an example Jesus set. It's what caused some people to scoff and others to want to kill Him. 

He is the example. He died so we might live. But in order to live we have to receive Him...by faith. And what is faith? That which cannot be seen...not our works...but what we believe in our hearts...not religion but relationship...with our Example.

It's believing what He tells us in His Word. If He tells us we must be born again, we must be born again. And if He describes what that is, it's what we must do. We cannot pick and choose what we want to believe from what He says.

He wants us to be blessed, not cursed. We cannot trust in the things of this world; we cannot live apart from God, which is living in our own way, doing only what we want to. We will have to give up some of our own things, our own ways, to follow Him. It's not about being like the others, keeping up with the Jones', but it's about separating ourselves, not always fitting in with the others. 

Jesus set Himself apart and He taught His disciples to do the same. We can't call ourselves Christians and not adhere to His beliefs and examples. Either we believe what He tells us or we believe what man tells us. Do we believe this as Jeremiah did:

Jeremiah 15:16-17 - Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, for You have filled me with indignation.

Remember Me

Jeremiah 3:1b - "...you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to Me" says the LORD.

God grieves for today's people like He did in Jeremiah's time. All He wants for those He has created and has given life to, to return to Him. The following comes out of Jeremiah 3-5. This is God's heart for His people...for us. Remember, He so loved the world and He loves us, but He's also willing to judge just to get us to return to Him. This word, God's word, in my words, is for our nation, like it was for Israel.

You have backslidden but I am merciful and will not remain angry forever. Just acknowledge your sin, that you have forsaken Me and gone about your own ways, seeking things that do not profit: control, power, money, greed, which are all forms of idolatry and self-centeredness.

What happened to "we the people, by the people, for the people?" When did it become all about you and not about what I can do? When did you lose your faith in Me? Why?

Return to Me, "for I am married to you...I will give you shepherds to feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:14). My knowledge and understanding, not man's.

I bring unity and peace spiritually if only you will accept it. Return to Me now, lest you forget Me entirely. Return to Me that you may receive your salvation. Return to Me that you may be healed. Without me you do not have these. I cannot be just a passing thought on an occasional day. I must be part of your daily living. I must be your main Source of life, your Bread, your Living Water, your Wisdom, your Love.

Return to Me and your shame will be removed. Obey My voice and see what wondrous things will happen. Return to Me and you will be secure in Me. You will have all you need...I will bless you.

Return to Me. Assemble, gather and become one in heart, mind and soul. Don't let your evil thoughts and ways destroy you. Return to Me and avoid My judgment. Turn your back on Me and My judgment will reach into your souls and you will know destruction therein. Remember, I came to give you peace. Return to Me and receive that peace.

As I created out of love but out of disappointment and anger at a people who have rejected Me I am able to destroy. Remember the Flood. Neither your possessions nor your weapons will save you. I am greater than these. Return to Me.

If anyone seeks the truth, let him come forth and I will pardon you. Will anyone come and know Me again? Will anyone find truth? Will anyone return to Me? I do not want to grieve you nor strike you...but...you have burst the bonds of my commands and gone your own ways, seeking your own gods.

Return to Me, the One who clothed you, fed you, protected you. I have done these things yet you believe you have done this on your own, without My help. Scoffers believe no harm will come against them, yet I will rise up. I will send a mighty, ancient nation whose language you do not understand. They will destroy yet I will not make a complete end of you. There will be a remnant. But as you have forsaken Me for a time, I will forsake you and allow you to fight your own battles until you understand where your help comes from.

Let your eyes see and ears hear. Return to Me. Look again for truth. Seek the truth of who I am that you may be blessed.

We who know Christ need not be troubled (John 14:27). Jesus promises "My peace I leave with you." Return to Me is His plea. Know Me, is His request. I am your peace in difficult times is His promise to those who seek and know Him. Just return to Him, call on Him when you are troubled and His peace will He give you. Not the world's idea of peace, but His supernatural peace. Not the idea of worldly security, but security in God alone. Faith should be in Him alone.

But what will you do in the end? ...return to Me and I will return to you...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land...You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. (Jeremiah 5:31b, 2Chronicles 7:1,Psalm 86:5)