July 19, 2010 Amazing Grace

July 19, 2010
Read Jeremiah 47-49

Jer 48:42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation
because she defied the LORD.

Jer 48:47 “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
in days to come,”
declares the LORD.

THESE chapters seem to take us away from the Hebrews and focus on their neighbors who are their enemies. Does God care what they do? After all, they are not his people.

Actually, they are his people. He created them in his image just as he created the Hebrews (and you). God called the Hebrews to a special purpose to show him to the world. But that doesn’t mean God’s “other” people are not accountable to him.

They are indeed to respond to their creator. God desires their worship and obedience. He loves them. He has shown himself to them through his prophets and his faithful people and kings in Israel.

But these nations, too, have rejected him. And just as he does with the Hebrews, God punishes them for their rejection. And just as he does with the Hebrews, when they turn to God, he follows his judgment with his grace of blessing.

This pattern is still his way of working in each of our lives. He shows us who he is a righteous God. He commands obedience to his righteousness. He judges when we disobey. And when we repent and seek God’s righteous ways, in his grace he restores us to a right relationship to receive his blessing.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” (John Newton) Isn’t it time we trusted God’s right ways and rejoiced in his grace?