Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

7 August 2024

Reading From Jeremiah 4-6

“If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,”
declares the Lord.
“If you put your detestable idols out of my sight
    and no longer go astray, and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
    you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’
then the nations will invoke blessings by him
    and in him they will boast.”

–Jeremiah 4:1-2

     Yahweh is leveling with Israel.  They have a choice of who to worship, so God is telling them that if following Him is what they desire, then they need to stop compromising, stop going back and forth and just do it.  Just make the decision to commit to serving the one true God.  It’s up to them and then need to take the plunge and devote themselves.

     The Lord invites every human today to experience His love in a genuine, life-changing way and the path to that new birth is by faith, confession and repentance.  God does not desire lip service.  He sees right through all pretense. 

     Ever intention and motivation of our hearts are laid bare before Him.  We cannot fool Him.  What He wants is for us to be truly sorry for our sins and to turn to Him for forgiveness and cleansing.  He is willing and able to do that miraculous work in our inmost being and not only that but to bless us with the strength and courage we need to live for Him.

“Lord Jesus, it’s Your kindness that leads us to repentance, but we have to want it.  I pray that a mighty, soul-shaking revival would break out across the world and that this generation would genuinely seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways.  Purify us by Your blood from all unrighteousness and leads us forward in faith, joy and peace in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out

–Acts 3:19

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

–II Peter 3:9

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

–II Corinthians 7:10