A New Beginning
My day got off to an early start by attending a breakfast in honor of Cory Gardner my former legislative colleague and candidate for the US Senate. He was looking fresh and full of energy as we face the final 13 days before the voting deadline.
I had my first meeting with my fitness trainer today. He is a young man who has focused on helping people with rehabilitation and has experienced his own sports injuries and physical challenges. I didn’t feel like we did all that much as far as different exercises but what we did provided a good assessment of my leg and arm/shoulder strength and was actually fairly taxing.
I have noticed with increased activity and using my walker more out in public that it is providing some good exercise just in what it takes to “get around.” After running my car in for a tire repair I returned home in need of my afternoon nap. Tomorrow I will begin to tackle some of the leaves that have fallen in the front yard.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “I will restore Israel to his pasture…In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.” Jeremiah 50:19,20
As the words of Jeremiah come to an end the Lord confronts the sin of not just His people, but surrounding nations as well. The Lord pronounces His judgment on the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam and Babylon. Many of these the Lord promised to restore them to their land. But none more direct and comforting than the words spoken to Israel.
In Jeremiah 50 the Lord’s judgment is spoken against Babylon. It is the longest prophetic judgment of any nation. God uses Babylon as an instrument of judgment against many nations including Israel and then finally judges Babylon for its idolatry. In the midst of those words of judgment is the promised restoration of God’s people to their land.
What is striking is the material and spiritual blessing that accompanies this restoration. The Lord speaking through Isaiah said, “…for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you.” (Isaiah 60:10) The Lord’s favor is seen in restoring His people to a fruitful land. “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.” (Isaiah 60:13)
The Lord’s favor is seen in their righteousness before the Lord. Iniquity and sin will be sought, but none will be found. That is amazing considering that in the past you couldn’t find a place in Judah and Israel where sin could not be found.
What does that mean for us today? In a word, HOPE. Hope for restoration for those out of relationship with Christ, Hope for transformation and favor for that friend, family member and spouse who is doing their own thing and in a “captivity” of their own making. They are not out of God’s watchful eye or void of His favor and mercy. The Lord is able to take an individual from the pit of sin to the pinnacle of blessing.
We see clearly that He is sovereign, His is over all and His mercy and loving kindness is beyond our comprehension. What He promised to Israel so many years ago, He does for us today, by His mercy and grace. He declares us without sin in His sight. That is something to give thanks for everyday.