Verse of the Day 7/22

 

Jeremiah 2:11-12 Has a nation changed its gods,
    even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
    for that which does not profit.

¹² 

12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
    be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

I read today's verses this morning in my Old Testament reading.  It is one that makes you realize how far the nation had fallen in the time of the prophet and it is also sobering to think of it in terms of our nation in recent history and currently.

This comes after reading a quote from A. W. Tozer in "The Knowledge of the Holy" in relation to Isaiah 55 where God states that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and My ways are higher than your ways.

 

"Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. She can never escape the self-disclosure of her witness concerning God.

Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, "What comes into your mind when you think about God?" we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man. Were we able to know exactly what our most influential religious leaders think of God today, we might be able with some precision to foretell where the Church will stand tomorrow."

 

For a nation to "change its gods" or leave, forsake the true God, individuals must start the process, churches continue in the process and the nation follows.  A good self test would be to think of "what comes to my mind when I think about God?"  We begin to turn, to fall away when we put our thoughts, individually, as a church and as a nation above the thoughts and desires of the God who created all there is and continues to provide for and protect us.

 

Isaiah 55:7-8English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

What do we think of God?  May we not be carried away by empty god dreams and schemes.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

Jeremiah 2:9-11The Message (MSG)

^9-11 "Because of all this, I'm bringing charges against you"
        —God's Decree—
    "charging you and your children and your grandchildren.
Look around. Have you ever seen anything quite like this?
    Sail to the western islands and look.
Travel to the Kedar wilderness and look.
    Look closely. Has this ever happened before,
That a nation has traded in its gods
    for gods that aren't even close to gods?
But my people have traded my Glory
    for empty god-dreams and silly god-schemes.