“Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.” (Jeremiah 2:32 NIV)
Women don’t forget their jewelry, men don’t forget their wallets, but we all forget God.
Jeremiah was a young prophet called by God to carry a message of repentance to the people he loved. His message is timeless because sin never ends. The idols of Jeremiah’s day, wealth, talent, and position are the same as today. His book is the longest in the Bible. According to the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Jeremiah understood relationship with God is moral and spiritual. We are responsible for the sin in our lives. Bad behavior has consequences. The new covenant with Jesus is a spiritual bond that forgives our sin, remembering it no longer. Does God’s forgiveness mean we won’t suffer the consequences of our actions? No.
Alcohol offers an easy analogy. If you drink too much, it’s a sin. God’s word tells us moderation is vital. Overindulging is gluttony, and alcohol has the potential to take the place of God in your life. When you repent, God forgives. He loves unconditionally and accepts you with open arms. But you still have the hangover the next morning. Our battle with sin becomes a tug-of-war between our fleshly desires and our spiritual ones.
Battling our sinful nature deepens our relationship with God.
One of the best illustrations I’ve heard was in a sermon long ago. The pastor said a man struggling with alcohol addiction came to see him. He asked the clergyman, “Why doesn’t God take away my desire to drink alcohol?” The man said he hadn’t drank in a long time, but each day he battled the desire to succumb to temptation. With sincerity, the pastor asked, “What kept him from drinking? ”Simple,” the man said, “every day I ask God to help me not drink.” Pointing out with love, the pastor said, “Would you pray every day if you didn’t have this battle?”
In other words, in our desperation, we find God.
Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the desert, fasting. To say He was hungry when the devil tried to convince him to turn stones into bread is an understatement. Jesus didn’t succumb; instead, He responded:
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4 NIV)
Another thing most people won’t forget is their cell phone. Thanks to Life Church and the Youversion app, that also means you have easy access to God’s word. In days of old, you had to carry the Bible with you in book format, now it’s pages are available at the touch of a finger.
Access God’s word to fight your battles. Memorize His promises, so they become something you never forget.
Question of the Day:
What promise of God’s do you need to memorize today?
Further Reading: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18 NIV, Colossians 1:1-17 NIV, Psalm 76 NIV, Proverbs 24:21-22 NIV
