Our Father’s Eagerness

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,” (Jer. 30:1). Our heavenly Father is always eager to communicate with His best creation. He searches among men as with whom He can clearly, intimately and passionately communicate. In the era of Jeremiah He communicated with only a few, since there were not many willing to listen and obey. Often people with varying faith in the Christian strata examine the notion of God communicating with His people. Some agree He does, some doubt it while others outright disagree. One thing is clear that the Lord God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His methodology may differ owing to His choice, but He is not one to be quiet. Neither is He one to communicate unclearly or half-heartedly. Another is to consider what people or person is pleasing to Him. While all readily assert faithfulness toward Him, only He Himself knows with whom He can communicate.

A rational mind would first discern as to why the Lord spoke to Jeremiah and the likes alone. There were others in those days that claimed to have received from the Lord, but were found to be false and thus, later were known to have received the consequences. The consequences were physical, since the spiritual aspect was never formed in them. Still others did not wish to accept Jeremiah, because it obstructed their way of life. Generally speaking, these are the kind that outright rejects the principle of the Lord communicating with His people. They may show evidence from the Scripture for it, but it is twisted. It is with a force that shuns peace, harmony and wisdom. Its power is in denouncing those who are not of their mind. Those in it are filled with fear of rejection by men and thus, do not deliberate possessing courage to consider God. It is full of fleshly thinking and so, never has room for God’s Spirit. The main point they miss is how the Lord God operates and they have not known the face of a godly man.

If all Israel were devoted to God there would be no need for the acts Jeremiah and his compatriots. Certainly, men like Jeremiah were unique in that they were for the Lord God alone. However, all Israel were rebellious except a few here and there. Disobedience is the reason in not being able to know why, how and when the Lord God communicates with His people. It has the knack of letting its hosts feel and display obedience for the onlookers. With its uncanny ability it neutralizes its sin by often reflecting on an occasional disobedience, weaknesses and naivety of others. It draws strength from intense worldly knowledge. Hence, the entire nation of Israel turned against God. It will also be the same with us and the churches when the Lord God is not communicating with us or when we choose to reject its reality.

The Word of the Lord of all the many things is wisdom first. It provides the ability to stand above a matter, situation and people. It is able to provide a clear thought, awareness and implication. Thus, it is always in opposition to disobedience and so, many a time its bearers too suffer. It helps us see beyond what earthly knowledge and help can give. Essentially, it gives victory. For as many occasions as we receive it we witness victory. Having felt it the Psalmist said, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Ps. 118:1). Are you zealous for the unfading Lord’s lovingkindness toward you? Learn to hear Him communicate. He will teach you how to live life by helping you understand the futility that many are driven into and by raising the standards of your wisdom and by helping you perceive the loss incurring matters to avoid or deal with them.

The Word the Lord communicates is always in harmony with His commandments. It is one of the reasons Jeremiah was sure his opponents were false prophets. No one can continue in disobedience and still utter God’s wisdom. In other words, it is impossible that God communicates with them. “Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, Devastation and destruction are in their highways” (Isa. 59:7). It is abdicating God to synchronize sinful life and His word in an attempt to show He is communicating through them and agonizingly a great number do it. No man leading a double life can speak of the taste of the Lord’s lovingkindness. At best he can improvise or be hypocritical.

The Word the Lord communicates is powerful. “As for you, son of man, they will put ropes on you and bind you with them so that you cannot go out among them” (Ezek.  3:25). Only the enduring receives the Word in all fullness. For God already knows who His servants are. A true servant of the Lord is the one that allows Him to communicate with him. This is his service to Him. Hence, he fulfills the Lord’s ministry regardless of situations. The nature of difficulties varies as is obvious from the Bible, but power is displayed through them. Difficulties lead to the unfolding of wisdom. If this is not our way, we are in the only other way that couldn’t make us sinless. “Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Mic. 6:7). We seek and serve Him with lifeless and apathetic works. Then our sin remains as well as the need for the Lord to communicate with us. A basic sign to it is the repetition of works and speeches year after year.

The one with whom the Lord communicates is viable for His purpose and kingdom. “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;” (Luke 1:76). Nothing on this earth makes us viable for them except that we are His servants. Every resource we find on earth and think of using for the sake of His purpose and Kingdom is only significant and permissible after we are made eligible to prepare His ways. Each one of us must first know what the mind of the Lord is toward us, how He wishes we act and how He wants us to engage in His work. With these all other necessary things follow appropriately for the sake of His service.

If we are unprepared for His service, we are lingering in disobedience and everything we do in His name is the same as dust and ashes. Our preparation begins with the Lord precisely communicating with us by His Spirit and Word that contains His commandments and will. John the Baptist was called to be a forerunner for Christ and he made himself viable for God to communicate with him and so did Jeremiah, Ezekiel, David and the likes. Unless we make ourselves viable for God, it is pointless to do the things we do. But if we are like them, we accomplish much for the Lord. God displays His works in us. Every condition of ours becomes essential for God for His glory. “Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him’” (John 9:3).

Posted in 2018, Archives, Uncategorized.