Jeremiah 31:33-34
Starting at a new job is always an uncomfortable time for me. I hate the feeling of being the new kid on the block, of not knowing exactly what is going on. Whenever I have taken a new job I gave myself six months to become part of the position. My goal was to reach that point where someone would ask me how to do a particular task, any task. Then I knew that the job was not new. I was becoming a veteran.
We can take the same attitude with our faith. Having others ask about our faith or having our faith tested may be difficult. We may not have the confidence, the assurance we need to have with our faith. In time, with dedication, we can reach that point where our faith is a deep and natural part of us.
Jeremiah was a prophet of God. Donald Wiseman, writing in the New International Bible Commentary, says of him “he stressed that faith in God expressed in life was more essential than mere ritual observance.”
Like other prophets, he warned of coming destruction to a people who are disobedient to God. But with the warning comes a promise. For those who are faithful God will be kind and generous, abundant in blessings.
This passage talks of how things will be when the troubled times are over. After the Israelites have endured the pain of straying from God, those faithful to God will find Him quite near.
We can be very much like the Hebrew people of the time of Jeremiah. We may have struggles with our faith. We may have to work to be strong in our beliefs, in following God. But there will come a time when our faith will no longer be a matter of instructions and learning. It will be an automatic thing, a second nature to us, part of who we are and what we are.
By remaining faithful to our involvement in regular worship, by being dedicated to our study of God’s word, by taking part in occasions of Christian fellowship, we provide God with the opportunity to write His word and His law in our minds and on our hearts.
DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you do to demonstrate to yourself and others that God’s law is written on your heart?
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