Mon.’s Devo - God’s Heart

Read: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18; Colossians 1:1-17; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 24:21-22 Judah had forgotten their God. They trusted in Assyria and Assyria had let them down. Then they made alliances with Egypt. God told them that Egypt would also let them down. They had trusted in their idols and false gods who could not do anything to help them either. They had watched Israel prostitute herself with idols and yet it didn’t stop Judah from following in her path. God sent Jeremiah to Israel to offer one more appeal to turn from their idolatry and serve Him. He told them that He was merciful and would forgive their sins if they would repent and come to him. God said that when Israel was once more filled with people, they wouldn’t have to rebuild the Ark of the Covenant because the city would be known as “The Throne of the Lord.” One day, they would all come back home. God shared his heart as a Father starting at verse 19 of chapter 3. You can hear his broken heart as he talks about how he wanted so badly to treat them as his children and bless them with the finest land in the world. He wanted them to call him “Father” but instead they rebelled and turned away. He continued to call them back promising to heal their hearts but they refused to repent. Finally, God told Jeremiah to sound the alarm because the enemy was coming and they would be destroyed or taken into exile. It would be too late to repent. The church at Colossi was believed to meet in the home of Philemon. Paul had never visited this church but was considered its apostle. Epaphras who was a native of the town, illicited Paul to help him with the false teaching that was permeating their society and their meetings. This heresy was a blend of pagan/occultism, Jewish legalism and Christianity. It looked like Gnosticism which taught that Jesus was not fully God and fully man but one of the semi-divine beings that bridged the gap between God and man. They believed that ‘enlightened’ believers could reach spiritual fullness through special knowledge and rigorous self-discipline. This letter was Paul’s response to their need of truth. Paul began by complementing them on their faith in Jesus and their love for all people. He prayed that they would continue in this and endure through joy. He reminded them that Jesus is the visible image of God and through Jesus, God created everything in the heavenly and the earthly realm. Everything was created through and for Him. He holds all creation together. Lord, to You be all the glory and may your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. May we not break your heart but humbly call you our “Father.”