Obedient Suffering

"…He learned obedience by the things which He suffered."*

My eyes turn an unfocused gaze to the opposite wall.
Little shafts of light dance bokeh-style.
My mind is far away.

Is this what makes men invincible?

To suffer and yet trust. To sorrow and yet sing.
To not understand and yet obey.

Is this? Is this the secret?

I think so. Because it says He was "made perfect." Entirely.

But oh, how hard it is to always accept the gift with outstretched hands, especially when it hurts.
Yet this obedience in the midst of suffering creates a beauty, a strength, a trust unlike any other.
And when we come forth, we are called sons and daughters, children of eternity.

"…He learned obedience [was perfected] by the things which He suffered."

May I never resist the fire.

* Hebrews 5:8

Broken Promises

{Jeremiah 42 & 43}

A handful remains­. The destitute, the impoverished, the rejected.

They are pleading for guidance, asking Jeremiah to beseech God on their behalf.

They chorus in unison, “Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God.” 

My mind instantly goes back to a previous group of people. Wanderers in a wilderness. It’s a familiar line.

“All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.” 

Another futile promise quickly broken. Good intentions. Yet even the best of intentions have no power in themselves. Only the strength of Christ behind them can give power to fulfill.

Jeremiah conveys God’s instruction merely to be immediately reproached as construing the words of the Lord. Their promise, only 10 days old, is broken, and they will reap the consequences of disobedience.

Their foolish choice is hard to breeze-over. Yet when I pause to ponder, I realize that I have often been just as foolish.

I beg for God’s guidance and tell Him I will follow whatever He says, yet when His revealed will differs from my perceived ideas, I sometimes struggle to accept. It all boils down to my commitment though. The best of intentions will fail, but if I avail myself of His power, I have no option of failure.

Mercy Twice-Over

{Jeremiah 39}

After almost two years of seige, Jerusalem fell into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, proving that the countless prophecies of Jeremiah could not be ignored. Although Zedekiah had listened to the counsel of the Lord, he had neglected to follow His commands. Now he was to pay the consequences—bitter consequences.

Yet in the midst of terrible slaughter and captivity, God still shows mercy. Still…

My mind is baffled by such unquenchable Love. My heart is drawn by His compassion. This is the God I adore.

Mercy twice-over. 

A simple act of kindness by a foreign eunuch. 

Ebedmelech, a Jewish stranger, is rewarded with life—life temporal and life eternal—because he placed his trust in Him. God takes notice of the littlest acts of love.

A life of resolute obedience to the voice of God.

Jeremiah, the Hebrew seer, who has been insulted and despised for the cause of God, receives incredible favor from a heathen king. Liberty and safety was granted him. Imagine being told that whatever you say, the captain has been commanded to obey. God never forgets His servants.

Mercy twice-over. Two men rewarded for faithfulness. 

One God who always works all things together for good to them that love Him. Always…

Youthful Choices

{Jeremiah 22}

A sad situation this. 

Powerful king made completely powerless.

Yet I find most disturbing the cause…

It was choices made early. In years of youth. Choices to disobey.

And when in prosperity the king is warned, there is no guarantee that he will listen.

He has refused to obey from youth.

That is downright scary.

So I continue to beg my Father to give the youth of today the strength to choose right. 

To choose to obey. 

To choose Him.

The Test of Discipleship

{Jeremiah 7}
 
“Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandments of God that proves the sincerity of our professions of love.”* 

 
The people were commanded to obey, yet not in a dictator-like way. The call to obedience was but an earnest plea to do what would be in their best interest.

“Yet they hearkened not…”

Discipleship is shown through obedience.
Keeping His commandments proves our love.
Transformation of character evidences our genuine commitment.

A true disciple will obey.
No questions. No delays.



*{Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 146}

To Find One Faithful…

{Jeremiah 5}

“If you can find a man… I will pardon it.” {Jeremiah 5:1}

Just one. One individual with only two qualifications: execute justice and seek truth.

Could that be so hard to find amid a nation of professed people of God?
One earnest seeker and honest citizen?

Yet they had repeatedly neglected their spiritual relationship with their heavenly Father. They were not upholders of justice or seekers of truth. And because they had so completely spurned His gift of mercy, consequences must follow and His protecting hand be removed.

A high price to pay for disobedience.

I want to be one found faithful…