August 9, 2013 (Jeremiah 3-4; John 11)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “But despite all this, her faithless sister Judah has never sincerely returned to me. She has only pretended to be sorry. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah 3:10 NLT
Observation: Israel went astray from God. They chose to worship idols made from wood and stone. They made the choice to worship the created, rather than the Creator. Israel had a sister, so to speak, it was Judah. Judah watched how God dealt with Israel’s adulteries. God divorced Israel. You would think Judah would have paid attention to that and learned from Israel’s mistakes, but no. Judah having no fear left the Lord too giving herself over to prostitution with idols. Judah acted like she was sorry but was never truly repentant. She only pretended to be sorry. God always knows the real truth. He knows the very intents of our hearts and sees everything we do. We would be wise to learn from Israel and Judah, but we prove ourselves to be just as ignorant by our own rebellious actions.
Application: Have you ever witnessed someone speak the words, “I’m Sorry” only to discover by their actions they were not sincere? Have you ever been to an altar and cried out to God confessing your sins only to return to them later that day? In essence, the people in these examples were only pretending to be sorry. Many people, in fact most people, are sorry when they get caught, but few actually feel sorry before the painful consequences begin. A broken heart and a contrite spirit will produce godly sorrow within a person that results in true repentance. This is the type sorrow God accepts. He desires true sorrow that leads to true repentance. True repentance causes a person to turn from their sin and walk in a newness of life. Yet true repentance can never be accomplished until godly sorrow has first filled our hearts. Then, and only then, can we truly return to God and be accepted.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for all You are. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day! Fill my heart with godly sorrow that will lead me to true repentance. Cause my heart to be turned to you. Accept my sincere expression of sorrow, forgive and cleanse me. Help me to learn from my mistakes as well as the mistakes of others, in Jesus name, Amen!