Bible Pathway - August 23
Read Jeremiah 32 – 33
Highlights:
A sign of restoration. Do you get the point of Jeremiah purchasing land and receiving a legal deed to it (chap. 32:40-44)? God's eternal promise of restoration through Christ Jesus (33:14-26).
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me (Jer. 32:27)?
It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Lord wants the best for His people. This is because of the great love He has for His creation. God is truly the role model for what a perfect father should be. He never makes a mistake when it comes to the nurturing, instructing and correcting that He provides to His children.
It is very similar for those of us who are parents or have anyone for whom we are responsible for their well being. This is not to say we are perfect as God is perfect. On the contrary, we are far from being perfect. We often make mistakes with those we are trying to parent or mentor. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).
We may make mistakes, but that does not mean that we don't love those who are placed under our care. In most cases, the fact is that we love them so much that we try to ensure that they are never hurt. Even though this is an impossibility, we still do our best to protect them.
When parents have smaller children in the house, they will take extra precautions. They will childproof their kitchen cabinets and power outlets. In addition, they will keep anything that might endanger children out of their reach, and even out of their sight if possible. Why do they do this? They know that if there is a way to get to it, the child will figure it out.
The Lord knows exactly how people feel. He has worked diligently over the course of thousands of years to childproof the lives of mankind. God has taken precautions to try to ensure His children do not get into anything that can hurt them. This is why He created a set of laws and statutes that restrict us from getting into things that He knows will end up hurting us.
Just as we, as parents, set limits for our children, God makes those things that are dangerous to us off limits. These things are sin, and they carry us to places that we should never want to be. There is danger sometimes in even looking in the direction of sinful things. The enemy will use that to draw us into his web. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2:16).
Along this same line of thinking the Lord not only guides and protects His Children, but He has a specific plan for each one of their lives. There are times we may ask Him for things we feel will be good for us. However, it may not be in line with God’s Will for our lives. The Lord has the wisdom to know what will be a hindrance to us and what will be a help to us. He is aware of all things. Every prayer we pray will receive an answer. The answer could be yes, no or simply wait. You can be sure that God always knows what is best for our life.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Eph. 3:20).
Thought for Today:
Faith in God enables us to trust even when things appear impossible.
Christ Revealed:
By Jeremiah who, even though he was in prison, acted as a kinsman-redeemer by purchasing the land of his cousin Hanameel (Jer. 32:6-14; Lev. 25:25,49; Ruth 2:20; 3:12-13). Jesus is our Kinsman-Redeemer who purchased our freedom from sin, hell and the grave with His own blood on Calvary (1 Cor. 6:20; Gal. 4:4-5; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 13:12; Rev. 1:18).
Word Studies:
32:4 mouth to mouth, face to face; 32:10 evidence, deed; 32:25 for (second usage), even though; 32:44 subscribe evidences, sign deeds.
Prayer Suggestion: All men need to pray to the Lord, who hears prayers (Ps. 65:2).
Optional Reading: 1 John 5
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 90:4
