‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Jeremiah 11

‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. v4

It's really quite simple.  Everything flows from the following two commandments I believe...

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:36-40

My Prayer: Lord, I know You love me.  I am never deserving of the love You have for me.  Your love is so deep and wide - it is amazing.  You are a God defined by love for His children...specifically for me also.  What a great God!  Yet, I am weak and I fall down in sin...often.  I know of Your love for me...and I am deeply thankful for Your love for me.  Please forgive me for my anger, my laziness, and my impure thoughts.  Please also encourage and strengthen me.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.  Take me and make me Yours - transform both my heart and my life Lord Jesus.

...but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 9

...but let the one who boasts boast about this:

that they have the understanding to know me,

that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,”

declares the Lord. v24

The Lord IS certainly kind, just, and righteous...and patient.  So far, in what I have read in Jeremiah, it is clear that that the Lord loves His children because He agonizes over what punishment he should carry out for the Israelites - who have sinned greatly.  His agony spans multiple chapters. 

In the same way, I disappoint God I know.  This is certainly not my desire.  I know He loves my anyway and so I am deeply thankful for His grace.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, full of mercy and grace - for me.  I am undeserving of such grace. I am not bold in my faith and my thoughts are impure - just a couple of the many sins I commit.  I know You love me anyway but please forgive.  Reveal to me today Your will and Your desires for my life Jesus.  I desperately seek to serve You.

"Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you."

Jeremiah 7

"Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you."  v23

I know I am not that different from the people of Judah who are angering and disappointing God with their disobedience.  For the message in Jeremiah applies just as much.

My Prayer: Lord, You are all mighty-capable of all things, all the time.  I know You love me and You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  You are deserving of worship.  Yet I worship other pursuits in my life before You Lord Jesus.  For this I am deeply sorry.  I know You love me anyway but please forgive me Lord Jesus.  Help me give myself fully to You.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.

The bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining goes on in vain; the wicked are not purged out.

Jeremiah 6

“I have made you a tester of metals

and my people the ore,

that you may observe

and test their ways.

28 They are all hardened rebels,

going about to slander.

They are bronze and iron;

they all act corruptly.

29 The bellows blow fiercely

to burn away the lead with fire,

but the refining goes on in vain;

the wicked are not purged out.

30 They are called rejected silver,

because the Lord has rejected them.” v27-30

God is just...He punishes us for own good.  Here the Israelites wickedness extends at least from the first chapter through the sixth chapter and God is very patient and it hurts Him to punish His children with such harshness but it is for their own good.

My Prayer: Lord, I know I deserve severe punishment for my own wickedness and sin in my life - I am far from perfect.  Yet You are full of grace and compassion.  Thank You Lord Jesus.  Please help me rid sin in my life and help me so that Your desires are my desires.  Take me and make me Yours.  I desire to delight and please You Lord Jesus.

Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding. Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God.

Jeremiah 3

“Return, faithless people;
I will cure you of backsliding.”

“Yes, we will come to you,
for you are the Lord our God.

Just like in the story of the prodigal son, Jesus will always welcome us back despite our sin.  If only we admit our sin, repent and seek forgiveness.

What an awesome God I have.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are perfect and Holy, and You led a perfect live then died for me on the cross so that I would not be slave to sin and so that I would have eternal life...if only I accepted You as my savior.  I do Lord yet I am weak and often do not obey you.  Lord please forgive me and strengthen me.  Refine me and make me Yours.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 1

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. v7-8

The Lord has spoken to me through scripture, and through sermons, and songs and He has often pierced my heart to do something and I often don't follow His commands.

I too say what Jeremiah says, essentially that I am not ready or not now...I am thankful that I have a God who is willing to help if I just ask for it.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are capable of anything yet I am weak.  I thank You that You love me anyway but please Lord, give me strength and meet me this morning.  Reveal to me Your wisdom.  Refine and purify me.  Encourage and work through me so that I can be Your instrument for Your great and glorious will.

These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Isaiah 66

These are the ones I look on with favor:

those who are humble and contrite in spirit,

and who tremble at my word.  v2

Contrite: feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming

I do wish to be looked on with favor.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love and compassion, including for me which I cannot fathom.  I am weak and lazy but I thank You that You love me anyway.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me seek You out first and foremost - give me a contrite heart and a humble spirit.