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Jeremiah 3:12-18  The Message

^11-12 Then God told me, “Fickle Israel was a good sight better than flighty Judah. Go and preach this message. Face north toward Israel and say:

^12-15 “‘Turn back, fickle Israel.
    I’m not just hanging back to punish you.
I’m committed in love to you.
    My anger doesn’t seethe nonstop.
Just admit your guilt.
    Admit your God-defiance.
Admit to your promiscuous life with casual partners,
    pulling strangers into the sex-and-religion groves
While turning a deaf ear to me.’”
    God’s Decree.
“Come back, wandering children!”
    God’s Decree.
“I, yes I, am your true husband.
    I’ll pick you out one by one—
This one from the city, these two from the country—
    and bring you to Zion.
I’ll give you good shepherd-rulers who rule my way,
    who rule you with intelligence and wisdom.

¹⁶ “And this is what will happen: You will increase and prosper in the land. The time will come”—God’s Decree!—“when no one will say any longer, ‘Oh, for the good old days! Remember the Ark of the Covenant?’ It won’t even occur to anyone to say it—‘the good old days.’ The so-called good old days of the Ark are gone for good.

¹⁷ “Jerusalem will be the new Ark—‘God’s Throne.’ All the godless nations, no longer stuck in the ruts of their evil ways, will gather there to honor God.
¹⁸ “At that time, the House of Judah will join up with the House of Israel. Holding hands, they’ll leave the north country and come to the land I willed to your ancestors.

For Reflection
We humans are a fickle lot.  We seem confused by our identities.   Are we a random act of nature?  Are we nothing more that biological happenstance animated by the natural instincts for survival?
Are we conceived in sin only to strive toward restoration?

Or, are we God's children?  Have we been envisioned  well before our human births to live lives God has intended for us?  Out of love we are born in God's image.  Out of love we are offered the freedom to choose.  Out of love we are offered mercy and grace.   Out of love we are given the potential to love and to create loving relationships.  Out of love, God encourages, comforts, guides and prepares our paths to full and complete living. Out of love we are invited to deny self-indulgence, repent and return to the community of God.

It is not the idea of Godliness, the Holy Spirit residing in and among us that is problematic.  Rather, it is the practice of Godliness that becomes troublesome.

Pray

that you will admit to your practice of un-Godly ways.  Pray that you fulfill your holy destiny.  Pray daily so that you be come more intimately related to the Holy Spirit residing in you.