Celebrate

Brides, let’s celebrate today. It is the day the Lord has made, amen?

Our text today comes from three parallel passages. Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22, Luke 5:33-37

When this many of the gospel writers include an account of something, you know it is huge. For all of the three years of every-days with Jesus, this conversation stood out enough to be remembered and written down.

How much do you remember? Are you making practice of purposefully remembering Him? His word? I know for most of us, our 24 hours seem so full already – and they are; we each fill up our 24 hours with something. But do those somethings have eternal value? I speak to myself too.

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” NLT

Joshua 1:8 “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” NLT emphasis mine

Colossians 3:16a “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives…” NLT emphasis mine

In our passages, Jesus had just called Matthew to be a disciple. Matthew – a tax collector. Tax collectors were known for padding their pockets. They were deceitful and hated. And Jesus called him straight from this life to start a new life with Him.

Don’t you just love that? I love that Jesus didn’t scour the world looking for people who were “better” or well liked, or less nasty than the rest. He picked the scum so that He could heal, cleanse and renew. That is what Jesus does best.

For order’s sake, we will look at one of the three passages – and even though they are nearly identical, I like Luke’s account.

So we pick up in Luke 5:33

I love this passage, because it is when Jesus introduces Himself as our Groom.

Read 33-34

Do you see it?

Be all here. I am here. Celebrate that.

Fasting often included an attitude of mourning – that word is even used interchangeably, if you’ll glance over at the Matthew account (9:15)

Now, this may be one of those times when the words were spoken to those people in that specific setting (He was physically with them, so that fits and makes good sense), but I believe it was included (3 times!) because we can apply it to our own lives.

We have Christ with us, because we have Christ in us. (Romans 8:9-10)

Is that not worthy of celebration? If that’s not, I don’t know what is.

In those days, the wedding celebration lasted 2 weeks. This was probably the only time in their lives when they would go that long without working. Life was hard for them, and this was a time of celebration. ‘Drop everything and celebrate now’ was the general attitude around a wedding. Christ is calling His disciples here to celebrate His presence. source

Sisters, life is hard. It is.

But.

This is a great time to insert ‘but’.

But we have Christ. Amen?

Philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” NLT

We are new in Christ. Life is new with Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Here’s where we tie it all together. Celebrate your new life in Christ. He hasn’t come to patch up and smoothe over your old life. Throw it away. Just accept the new life.

Read the rest of our passage. (If you’re in Luke with me, that’d be Luke 5:36-39)

God doesn’t fit like a band-aid over our old lives. He wants to offer complete renewal.

New habits. New delights. New favorites. New friends? New drinks. New movies. New music. New clothing. New words. New attitude. New forgiveness.

New.

All things are become new.

Do not mourn the loss of those old things; what are they, really anyway?

So I challenge you with me:

1) Pray about remnants you’re still wearing from your old life before you knew Him. Pray for Him to reveal them, and remove them.
2) Start a new habit – memorize. Remember the opening of our session today? Memorize His Word, for with God’s word in your heart, your heart, mind, and spirit are made new. New.

Ephesians 4:22-24 “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” NLT

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” NLT

And let’s start with those verses, sound good?

3) Celebrate. You do have Christ in you if you are a Christian. Spend some time celebrating that, and watch your outlook renew.

The Painful Lesson 9 - Restored at Last

How are you, sister? I’m so glad you’ve stayed with me on this journey. It’s an important one.

We pick up today again in Jeremiah chapter 30. I’d like you to read it again. Again these are words written to Israel, but we, the Bride of Christ have plenty we can apply here. Because God is unchanging, bless Him, and His heart is the same heart that beat for Israel that is beating today for us.

Are you ready?

In Jeremiah 30:14 it says all your lovers – all those things you ran into the arms of instead of your Groom, your loving God – they have left. You are beginning to recognize what is faithfulness and what is not. They most definitely were not. And your Groom most definitely is. He is so faithful.

No one else still cares for you (30:17) but God still cares, and He will bring you honor.

Honor? Really? I’d be okay with just being accepted again after cheating on Him. But honored? By God Himself?

I feel so unworthy.

Claimed. Covenant repeated.

Jeremiah 30:22 “You will be My people and I will be your God.” NLT

His planned punishment is fulfilled and His anger appeased.

Blessings even in a barren land.

Is that just wonderful or what? Feeling in a dry place a lot of the time, there are blessing we can count on even then.

Believer, why? Why all this? Here's why:

Jeremiah 31:3-4 “Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
    With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.
    You will again be happy
    and dance merrily with your tambourines.” NLT

I. My. Circle those. Or draw a heart around them. It’s okay if you haven’t drawn hearts since your high school crush. Or first love. Do it – because we are that first love, and He is ours. And He’s drawing us close.

You will again be happy.

Read through 31:1-14 Do you feel the joy? The celebration?

This is it. This is what it’s all about. Our Holy Bridegroom wants to rejoice over us, but he needs to be holy and able to. This Bride has emerged from a dark punishment to a beautiful, radian, joyful bride. Tears of joy. All sorrow gone.

This is the great exchange. Sorrow for rejoicing. True repentance brings this kind of joy and restoration.

Jeremiah 31:18 “I have heard Israel saying,
‘You disciplined me severely,
    like a calf that needs training for the yoke.
Turn me again to you and restore me,
    for you alone are the Lord my God.” NLT

No longer groaning, “Why, God?”, but acknowledging it.

Jeremiah 31:20 ““Is not Israel still my son,
    my darling child?” says the Lord.
“I often have to punish him,
    but I still love him.
That’s why I long for him
    and surely will have mercy on him.” NLT

Punishment because of love.

And, the call to learn your lesson. Let’s camp here for a minute.

Jeremiah 31:21a “Set up road signs;
    put up guideposts.
Mark well the path
    by which you came…” NLT

Set up roadsigns. Learn from your mistakes. Put up big warning “Do Not Enter” signs – I don’t know about you but I always (yes, always. I may be a bit overimaginative at times) shudder when I see those “Do Not Enter” signs while driving. I imagine the worst possible scenario, often ending in death, should I space off and drive there anyway.

But shouldn’t we? It does end in death. These things we are to set up waymarks and roadsigns for.

Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” NIV

You have been there – you want to mark the way so it was worth the pain, and you don’t return there again. Learn your lesson.

I find it interesting that when the people returned to Israel, they re-learned the language. They renounced the language of the world at the time, and so even their words set them apart as God’s people. source

Just as deliberately as God destroyed them, He built them up again.

Jeremiah 32:42 “This is what the Lord says: Just as I have brought all these calamities on them, so I will do all the good I have promised them.” NLT

We are not too far gone! (Jer 32:17) He is not going to reject us because we are too bad. He would no sooner reject us completely tan He would drop the earth out of orbit. (31:36-44) He is faithful. We have broken the covenant and He has loved us anyway. (31:32) He is faithful. And He writes the covenant deep. Deeper. Deep on our hearts.

I will be their God.

They will be my people. (32:38)

We are not too far gone!

Jeremiah 32:17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” NLT emphasis mine

Not only has He promised to bring us back, but He also gives us peace and safety. We are His people. He is our God. No Matter What!

And for our own good, He also gives us purpose. One purpose. And that is to worship Him. Forever. For this is an everlasting covenant. He will never stop doing good to us. It brings Him such joy.

Jeremiah 32:38-41 “They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 41 I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.”

They will never leave (40) – we will never leave – because of what He has put in our hearts.

Finish up by reading Jeremiah 33.

Notice verses 6-9, and notice all the uses of “I will”.

Let us tremble with awe at all He has done for us.

Once more there will be he sounds of joy and laughter – this is God’s restoration – the joy from brides and bridegrooms (and of His Bride, yes?) along with the praise of our Lord.

Jeremiah 33:11 “the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord. They will sing,
‘Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
    for the Lord is good.
    His faithful love endures forever!’
For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the Lord.” NLT

It wasn’t really rejection in the sense we think of it – our view of relationship is so finite. God is the only Faithful One with Whom rejection is not forever. When someone on earth rejects us, we move on, don’t we? Eventually. Not so with God.

So faithful. Are you noticing a theme here? I am. In the study of the Bride of Christ I don’t know what I expected to find, but this I know for certain – we have a faithful Groom.

God is faithful.

What are you giving thanks for today? The Lord is good. Let us tremble with awe.

His faithfulness endures forever.

                                         and ever

                                                 and happily ever after.

The Painful Lesson 8 - Pain Before Restoration

Are you enjoying our little Bride of Christ detour through Jeremiah? I had no idea God would turn this into so much study material. But He is wise, faithful and good, amen?

Today we look at Jeremiah 26-30. You can read it all now, or space it out as we go along.

This is the darkness before dawn. The pain before restoration.

In chapter 27 we see the way there is no escape from the consequences. The Lord will make your consequences follow you. You can be sure of it. See Numbers 32:23 & Jeremiah 25:35.

There is not place to escape Him, and He is the only way out. Funny how it works that way. He is all around us, and He is the Door, but we’d sooner try to dig away at the walls until our fingers bleed than just accept His way and simply walk through it.

So daughters, know that He knows. You’re not going to slide one by and get by with it.

But what about the people who do get away with it? That Christian who says biting words behind your back. Those believers who neglect their family, or put money and career above all else. What about those believers who have walked out on their family? Those unfaithful to their spouse. Those awful times when children are abused and women taken advantage of, with no punishment when punishment is due. What then? Where’s the sentence, or sure consequences then?

Yeah, there’s those too. Even here in our passage. Jeremiah 29:16-17 Those who did not physically reap the consequences of separation still got consequences. They were ruined like “bad figs (ch 24)”.

So, sisters, I ask- no pointing fingers here. No complaining. Let’s just look at ourselves, and our own deceitful heart for right now. Everyone’s gonna get theirs.

Now before you get the wrong idea, God does not thrive on punishment. See 27:17 and look for God’s heart in it. He really doesn’t just sit there waiting to catch you screwing up. But He does know when you do.

Don’t listen to anyone around you who is telling you that you are okay in your sin, or anyone justifying it for you (or with you). Yes, it may be what you’d rather hear, but ultimately it leads you to fall harder.

God’s voice is the only One you can trust.

Chapter 28 is a specific example of what happened to one man who spoke trying to comfort the Israelites in their sin; he contradicted God’s words in God’s name.

Now I’d like you to take a look at chapter 29. Here we fast forward the story into the captivity of Israel (Daniel 1) into Babylon. They were ripped from their homes, and taught to throw out all knowledge of God. Brainwashed. This is where we pick up. Read Jeremiah 29, and probably you’ll stop where I stopped, stunned. Read and I’ll wait.

Was it verse 11? I thought so. Have you ever read that in context before? I must not have. I was stunned.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen.” NLT

This verse means so much more to me now. Does it you?

Continue on to verses 13-14

Jeremiah 29:13-14 “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” NLT (emphasis mine)

He is not saying “Goodbye forever; you screwed up,” but rather He is saying, “Here is my number. When you are really truly ready to come back to Me, I will be here. I will gather you when your sentence is up.”

He is ever faithful.

Take heart in this, Dear one. He is coming for you. He will be back when the time is right. And His promise is one we can lean on when we’ve really messed up – when it feels like you’ve had about as much consequence as you can take. When you’re crying to Him, when He is Who you turn to, finally exhausted of trying to do it all on your own. He will be there.

Read chapter 30

Jeremiah 30:11b “…I will not completely destroy you.I will discipline you, but with justice;    I cannot let you go unpunished.” NLT

He is too holy to let us go unpunished, but He will not completely destroy us in that punishment. And He will restore. Jeremiah 27:22

 God brings the restoration. And God alone brings restoration.

Jeremiah 30:17a “I will… heal your wounds,” says the Lord…” NLT

The next session is the last in our detour through our Bride of Christ series, and it is a good one. Much happier, I promise.  The Groom calls back and gathers His Bride!

In the meantime, I ask you to determine what in your heart is holding back. Is there something?

It says in Jeremiah 29:13 we must seek Him with our whole heart.

Do.

Offer every broken hurt, torn, stained, ugly piece of your heart, and be ready to find healing.

Matthew 11:28 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” NLT

The Painful Lesson 7 – Difficult People

Text: Jeremiah 22:7-9; Jer 25; Jer 51:1-5, 7; Romans 1:18-32, 1 Peter 3:4

We have no excuse.

Romans 1:20b-22 “We have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” NLT

We took our Groom for granted.

And we are about to see what it is like without Him. Or maybe that’s where we are right now?

God has crumbled the clay.

Last session we talked about how He crumbles the clay by pulling out the velvet rug we’ve been sitting on.

Today, we are going to look at an alternate approach He sometimes takes, and maybe this fits your life a little better. Rather than punishment/teaching (the two really can be interchangeable at times, can they not?) by removal of something, sometimes God actually institutes “wreckers” in our lives.

Yep. I had to do a double-take too, but it’s plainly what God said. Look again at Jeremiah 22:7-9 and then turn over to chapter 25.

Jeremiah 22:7 “I will call for wreckers,    who will bring out their tools to dismantle you.They will tear out all your fine cedar beams    and throw them on the fire.”

Jeremiah 25:3-7 reminds me of what I’m memorizing in Romans. Romans 1:18-32 specifically.

Jeremiah 25:9 kind-of stunned me. King Nebuchadnezzar – God’s deputy? 

God appointed him? 

God appointed him?

This same Nebuchadnezzar who ordered the statue built of himself for everyone to worship (Daniel 3)? This same Nebuchadnezzar who ordered the death of those who did not? But there it is in verse 9.

Jeremiah 25:9 “I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy, I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever.”

And God brought him against Israel.

No, sisters, God hasn’t handed over the wheel this time. He’s still got it. He’s directing all these turn of events, even when it has meant the demise of His Beloved for a time.

While this passage was directly spoken to Israel, about a time that has now already happened (just exactly the way God said it would, by the way – but then we shouldn’t be surprised, because He was the One who orchestrated it in the first place), we can definitely see application in our own lives.

It angers God when we stray. He must, as a Holy God, punish to bring forth a better, more faithful, beautiful Bride.

1 Peter 3:4 “You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” NLT

Has God brought a difficult person into your life? I know you can think of at least one difficult person you know. Maybe that person’s very presence in your life is an act of love.

Did you ever think of it that way?

God, up there in Heaven, sketching out plans for your life, and He artfully pencils in the presence of someone He knows will try you. Someone He knows will hurt you. Someone to bring you to your knees.

Because that is what He wants – is you on your knees. Even if it takes a bit of pain to get you there.

There are so many more treasures here, but we will stop here for today.

Until next time, do spend some time in thankful prayer for those people most difficult in your life. They are a gift from your Groom, a jewel on your bridal tiara.

The Painful Lesson 6 – Crumbled Clay

I found the potter working at the wheel. But the vessel he was making did not turn out as he hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay and started again.

Today we cover a lot of ground. Our text is from Jeremiah 18 (18:1-17 specifically), 19, 21, 22, 23, & 24

How can we get God to start over on us? Do we really truly want Him to?

It can be so painful.

We’ve talked about how God wants His Bride to be holy. Be worthy of her title. But the only way for that to be accomplished is our complete surrender.

Is it that God just lets go of the wheel and lets us crash our own cart? Maybe. Please don’t misunderstand. God is still in control! He is still here! He has never, and will lever leave. You can count on that if that’s the only thing in all the world you can count on.

Because it is.

Jeremiah must have been like me. Object lessons really hit home for him. I love how God knows each of us so intimately that He knows how to send a message that will deliver the greatest impact; tailored for each of His children.

Don’t you just love Him for that?

Read Jeremiah 18:1-17 & 19

Jeremiah 18:3 “So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. 4 But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. 5 Then the Lord gave me this message: 6 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” NLT

I know we have all got to (some of us many times) come to a place where God is all that is left, so God is all we need. And He wants us there sooner rather than later. Some of us are content with God alone, and could take or leave everything else in life. Good for you, if that’s you. But if you’re like me, it has taken hard lesson after lost relationship after hurt heart to get me there. Are you with me?

And it is cyclical, with ups and downs, and do-overs; much like the Israelites really. But God hasn’t let go, hasn’t given up and most definitely is faithful to complete the work He started in you.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” NLT

So maybe He lets go and lets us crash our own cart. But maybe He has more specific timing and wants it to happen a certain way “so that we know His power.”

Raising up situations. Taking away comfort-zones. God patiently prunes. Purging. God is taking your comfortable land away from you. Read Chapters 21 & 22 Especially take note of 21:14, and 22:5-6

He is taking everything you know, that place you cling to – that maybe you haven’t realized you were leaning on and trusting in more than in God? – He’s turning it to rubble.

Why? Are you still with me? Because we replaced Him. He didn’t value God in our prosperity. In our security. In our happy relationship with that person. In our comfortable job. Because we adulterated ourselves with something- anything- other than Him. Relationships took priority. Or job, or crafting, or cleaning. What about hurt, self-pity? Can you fill in the blank with me on this? Because we violated our covenant (22:9)

Romans 1:18-31

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts… and [they] received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

See Jeremiah 22, especially 5-6, 12, 20-30

Are you feeling like your life is crumbling? Maybe God destroyed those ‘lovers’ you cheated on Him with, and now all you have is Him. He did it because He loves you, sweet sister.

Next read Jeremiah 23-24. (These are both short chapters. You will be glad you did) Especially take note of 23:23-24 & 29

Jer 23:23 ““Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord.    “No, I am far away at the same time.24 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?    Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”    says the Lord.” NLT

He has been here the whole time. He knows it all. Where did you think you could’ve gone that He couldn’t see?

This makes me just want to curl up into a ball a little. A lot.

But then isn’t that just what He wanted in the first place? A ball. A lump of clay. That lump of clay that He will start over, rebuild and reshape until you are how He intended.

Read Jeremiah 24, looking closely at 24:4-8

Replanted, nurtured, and re-established in Him. Let him give you that heart. It is not going to “just happen”. Dear One, nothing ever “just happens”. He has a very intentional purpose for you. And He cares too much to leave you to chance. He will crumble you and rebuild you as many times as it takes to get it right. And He gives you the heart that you need. Let Him.

Jeremiah 24:7 “I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” NLT

The Painful Lesson 5 - Broken to Heal

The ground is parched and cracked for lack of rain. Where is God? Don’t abandon us, God. Don’t abandon me. I am Your chosen one. I bear Your name. For Your own reputation’s sake don’t abandon me.

I know you have cried this at one time or another. Right now? No fun, is it? No, the honeymoon is over – and the bride is not ready for that.

But who ended the honeymoon in the first place? Wasn’t it she herself? In this case it was.

“I’m ready to go home. I’m bored. Can’t I go and have some fun by myself for a while? No, I want to carry my own luggage, thank you. I can do this.”

And as the faithful Groom always does, He expresses love. “As you wish.” So He lets go. No, not forever. He’s not even far away. But He lets go.

And when He does, the Bride can’t understand. – we don’t always understand, do we? – I don’t understand. I have taken your name. We have made covenant. I am your bride.

Out text today is Jeremiah 14-17. You can go ahead and read it now, or go along as we reference it.

But who left Who? (15:5-6) You are the one who left, not God. Nobody is going to feel sorry for you; you got what you demanded.

This Bride – we – demand so often the rights that come along with our title, and often try to tell God how we need Him to come through for us, because we want people to see Him in a good light. To see Him love.

We know all the right words, don’t we?

But this one’s not His fault.

We are the unfaithful ones. We are the ones who stepped out on Him.

16:11

It is not forever, though. Our Faithful God knows how long it will take for us to learn this lesson. 14:1-18, 16:15. He keeps a close eye.

See verse 14:17 “My precious people”. He still cares, Dear One!

So let’s go back to that reputation thing. We ask God to honor this Bride – this unfaithful, self-serving, ungrateful Bride – because of His Name. She has taken – we have taken – His name, and we don’t want His reputation to go down with us. We actually might care about that a little, or is it just something we were using as bait? Manipulation? But He knows. He doesn’t want His name to go down with us, either. See 16:21

Jeremiah 16:21 “The Lord says,“Now I will show them my power;    now I will show them my might.At last they will know and understand    that I am the Lord.” NLT

God is not a pushover. And while He is tender, He is not a softie. He does mean business  He does want His Bride back.

But this doesn’t apply to me.

Is that what you are thinking?

Are you sure about that? Listen, Sweet One. Do not close off your ears because it sounds ugly.

Romans 3:10 “As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—    not even one.” NLT 

What we are looking at is every part of the spectrum. Those willfully throwing away the covenant, or those throwing it out without realizing it. Let’s examine the latter to see if it fits: This Bride is claiming all the rights of a bride, but not wanting to hold up her side of the bargain. Not really really wanting to surrender all. All her way. Surrender what she wants to do and thinks will make her happy.

See in 17:4 “The wonderful possession I have reserved for you    will slip from your hands…” NLT

But watch her treasure slip away. Oh, the Groom has something special just for her, but, it was for His Bride, and she doesn’t want to truly commit to that role.

But I do. I am still not fitting in this picture.

Is that what I heard you say? That’s what I said. But read, now, in its context,

Jeremiah 17:9-10

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,

    and desperately wicked.

    Who really knows how bad it is?

10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts

    and examine secret motives.

I give all people their due rewards,

    according to what their actions deserve.” NLT

I didn’t ever know what context this was in. The heart is deceitful and wicked. God knows the heart!
Sisters, here is the point! The unfaithful bride still claims her status, still feels entitled to all the benefits of her position, but God, her Groom, sees her adultery for what it is. He knows separation is the only way for her wakeup call.

Be healed by seeing yourself broken. Be healed.

Jeremiah 17:14 “O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed;    if you save me, I will be truly saved…” NLT

Jer 17:7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” NLT

"But blessed..." See the beautiful contrast in those who are faithful, and those who seek elsewhere?

Trust Him when He says something to you. He’s calling you. Broken you. Lay down your pride and see your cracks. They may be hairline fractures, or there may be shattered pieces. Be healed, and trust His Word, and reach up to re-claim His hand. Be His Holy Bride.

The Painful Lesson 4 – Are You Weary?

All week we’ve been talking about the ins, outs, and whys of the unfaithful Bride’s punishment. Today we will gain some understanding about the why- the heart behind God’s decision.

Our text today is Jeremiah 12 and 13.

We will start at Jeremiah 12:7

“I will forsake my house,    abandon my inheritance;I will give the one I love    into the hands of her enemies.” NIV

We’ve all heard (or said) ‘this hurts me more than it hurts you’. A parent disciplines their child out of love. Here we see God lay out the details of Israel’s temporary demise. He wants for her to be dependent on Him, so He must strip her of all else. Anything she could turn to in His place. 

(Again, remember this is prophecy already fulfilled. He was speaking to Israel before their exile into Babylon. Please apply principles in your own life, putting yourself in the place of the Unfaithful Bride Israel.)

The land will be barren, parched, their livelihood is taken away and they will sow wheat, and reap thorns. They will wear themselves out and gain nothing. They will bear the shame of the harvest.

Finally right? But if that was us, would we be so eager for them to “get what was coming to them?” No way.

But we get that way. Are you worn out? Do you feel like you are spinning your wheels? Are you weary of trying? Maybe it’s time to get help.

Recently, my sisters and I were participating in an event that took place in a large field. It had rained a lot in the days leading up to the event, and the ground was soggy. We got our vehicle stuck in the mud. Very stuck. My sister was driving, and because she was new to driving she didn’t know how to get us out. We switched drivers, and got unstuck. (Yes, after quite a bit of effort!) A few minutes later, we got stuck again. This time we had some people push us as I rocked the car backwards and forwards.

I do have a point. How deep is your mud? Are you spinning your tires? Is it maybe time for a push? Or better yet, is it time to switch drivers in your life? Sisters, God wants to take the driver’s seat, and get us un-stuck, but not until we surrender the wheel. If we refuse to ask Him for help, all we’re going to get is deeper in the muck, dirty, tired, and worn out, and making no progress.

He’s waiting for your surrender.

In this scenario, (as well as ours?) God willfully let go. (Jeremiah 12:7-14) But look – He still kept an ear open for their cry. He lets the Bride move out, for instance, but He says “Here’s my number for when you’re sorry. When you have had enough.” More than that, He promised to come rescue them once they’d learned their lesson. (15-16) How kind, patient and understanding!

If you return to Me, I will restore you.       

Jeremiah 15:19 “This is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you…” NIV

Look again! He wants to restore us! When He restores, He fully restores. To the finest quality, to the most glorious state we would have. (13:18) He wants us to come down off our own thrones – he wants the impurities to be purged out. He wants us Holy. The only way for that to happen is by complete surrender.

Sometimes that purging is painful. Sometimes to create something good, a very painful process is involved. You moms out there – I know you can relate to the last part of 13:21 and to 22.

Jeremiah 13:21b “…Pangs of anguish will grip you,    like those of a woman in labor!” NLT

Birth pains. So worth it, but yes, very very painful.

This painful lesson. How long must we go through the painful lesson? (13:27)

How long is up to you.

How long will it take for you to surrender every last piece to Him? He’s waiting for His Bride to return. To be sorry for the adultery.

To love Him again.

How long?