Read today’s texts first: Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14
MAXIMize YOUR DAY
God cares more about disciplining and restoring His people than what the world thinks about Him.
I’ve read it many times, preached it on a few occasions, but not until this last month reading through Jeremiah, Ezekiel and now Lamentations have I noticed how true this statement is: God opposes the proud and yet is so willing to give grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).
Israel and Judah continually struggled with pride, wanting to do things their way. Ironically, they tended to be just like the nations around them. They had been commissioned to make a difference in their world by introducing God’s Kingdom on planet Earth. But representing His Kingdom requires absolute submission to the King. When they chose to have one of their own as king they were never able to fully regain their reliance on the King of kings.
The pride problem was pervasive among the neighbouring nations too (Obadiah 3). What amazed me most was how God used these corrupt neighbours to deliver judgment on His own people. I’ve never thought about this before but surely God was concerned about how He was being represented. He has a reputation to maintain. When His people followed Him, the other nations feared them and their God. But at this time in their history, the Jews’ enemies were laughing at both God and His people. That would bother me if I were God and I may be tempted to bail the gang out one more time, just to protect my own rep.
God cares more about disciplining and restoring His people than what the world thinks about Him. “Lord, I know that at times I still care too much about what people think of me. Forgive me for my pride and help me care more about what You think.”
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