JEREMIAH 31:33-34 – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
THEME OF THE DAY. THE BLESSINGS OF ALL BLESSINGS. If asked, how would we define today’s nugget theme? There are a lot of potential responses. We each may come up with a noble list. Things like a loving family, good health, job security, a safe home, a solid church, and friends are just a few of our many blessings. But when making our list and thanking God from the list of blessings, start it by what we find in today’s scripture.
Life’s greatest blessings are two. God declares them through the prophet Jeremiah – And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. One word links these two wonderful blessings – ownership in two directions. May God help us be in awe over the blessings of all blessings.
First, be in awe that God makes the declaration, “I will be their God.” Imagine the depth of this humble display of God’s love, mercy, and grace. He is saying, “Despite your rebellion, hostility against me, even hatred, I am willing to be owned by you. I will make a way through the Gospel of my Son, the Lord Jesus, to enable you to call me your God.” Of all the things in life we may claim ownership, there is nothing more precious, more valuable, and more hope-producing than to be able to look to heaven and see by faith the One True Living God looking back, saying, “I will be your God”. But the second side of ownership in today’s scripture is another blessing of blessings.
Be in awe that God not only is willing for us to call our God, “Our God”, He is overwhelmingly willing to say, “And they shall be my people.” Wow! Owned by God. Called His “forever family”. What do we enjoy about such ownership? His companionship. His Presence. His power. His protection. His provision. His promises. His heaven. A good parallel passage affirming the dual application of ownership – us of God and God of us – closes out our Bible with resounding hope – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true (Revelation 21:1-5).
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for granting me the greatest privileges I may know – being Yours and knowing You.”
QUOTE: “’To call God ‘Our God’ and for Him to own us as ‘His people’ are the honors of all life’s honors.”