PASTOR’S NOTES
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him”.
These words are so true, but so very hard to remember in our time of waiting. In the midst of struggle and suffering, Christians are called to wait on the Lord’s deliverance. Wait in hopeful expectation that God will end the trials that we are facing. No matter if those trials are self inflicted or spiritual growing pains, waiting on Christ is hard. Jeremiah knows how hard it is to wait through trials, maybe more than Jerusalem does. The people of Jerusalem are just now tasting what Jeremiah has lived in for quite some years.
In Jeremiah’s life of waiting, he now has reached a place of comfort in the storm, a place of hope that marks a turning point in his spiritual experience. A hope that he calls his people to reach for. In this week’s verses, Jeremiah speaks of God’s unfailing love, a love that ensures that they will not suffer forever if they repent of their sins and follow God.
Once again, the book of Lamentations is a call to the Lord’s Supper. Jeremiah is calling his people and you and I today towards the freedom in forgiveness! “Let us search out and examine our ways”, Jeremiah tells us. Jerusalem brought their pain on themselves, but the possible peace and love is offered in the same manner. Like a murderer in prison who finds the Lord, salvation and restoration is not only given to the upright, but also the ones that only deserve punishment. Why? Because we all fall short and deserve nothing but punishment for our sinful ways against the Lord. Jeremiah does not cast stones against his people because he too deserves punishment. In his understanding of sin and forgiveness, he desires only salvation and new life for his people. He calls them to wait in God’s goodness and coming restoration that only comes with repentance.
SCRIPTURE TO GO ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE
Read Proverbs 28:13 as a good reminder on the importance of repentance.
HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR BIBLES
Highlight verses 25, 37-38, and 40-42 in chapter 3 of Lamentations.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
1.) How often do you find yourselves seeking forgiveness in your prayer life?
2.) Growing up, was repentance taught by your family or church? Either way you answered, how did that shape your spiritual walK?
3.) Journal right now areas of your life in need of repentance. Pray to God to help you leave these sins and follow Him through His promises of better for you in those areas.
