Finish It Off

O. T. #1738  "Finish It Off"
July 21, 2020
Jeremiah 4
This is what the LORD says: "the whole land will be ruined, but I will not destroy it completely." (verse 27, NLT)

LET IT GLOW

I baked a pumpkin pie (crustless and sugarless) and have eaten most of it in 4 days. Oh me, since there are only 2 pieces left, should I finish it off tomorrow? It doesn't help that my hubby does not like pumpkin pie, either. (His favorite is pecan pie.) Although I am on a low carb, low sugar diet, I have to have some kind of reward, don't I? (I have lost 30 pounds, too.)

Although Judah was going to experience ruin, God was not going to finish it off. God let Jeremiah know there was a future hope for them. After 70 years away from home, living in the foreign land of Babylon as slaves, Judah would get to return home, free, and rebuild everything. They would worship God again and rebuild the Temple.

Is there something in our life that we need to finish it off, get rid of?

LET IT GROW

This is a difficult chapter to read, isn't it. God's judgment was coming upon Judah. Look at verse 22:
For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

This is the only place where the word sottish appears in Scriptures. It means silly; fool.

Is God saying that His people are foolish, for they don't know Him? Yes.
Is He saying that they are like stupid children who have no understanding? Yes.
Is He describing them as clever enough to doing wrong, but have no idea how to do right? Yes.

Tony Evans describes Judah as:

Experts at wickedness; novices at righteousness. This is the exact opposite of God's will for His children, as Paul writes, "I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil" (Romans 16:19).

Right living requires decision and discipline. We must practice right living so it honors our God and draws people to Him.

Friend, do we know what to do that is good in a situation, and do it?
Are we living by God's standards instead of the world's non-standards?
Is God our confident hope, complete joy, and sweet peace?
Do we walk in integrity as we go along trusting our Everlasting Father?
Do we praise and thank Him for the little things in life?

LET IT GO
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the mountains and the valleys of life.
We are so thankful that You do not finish us off when we sin, but show mercy to us.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)