Remember Grace and Mercy

"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

The main issue with ancient Judah was worship of God in pretense but not according to truth, nor the Word of Truth. As I have been reading Jeremiah this week, I cannot help but note so many similarities between Judah then and American Christianity today. Just as many in the American Church accept the premise of evolution, Judah said to a stone, "you gave birth to me." Judah was guilty of turning to the LORD, but not with their whole heart, it was "in pretense." Judah grew great, Judah grew rich, Judah grew fat, but yet failed to "plead the cause of the fatherless." Though they were prosperous they failed to defend the right of the needy. Is it any wonder that the LORD would not punish Judah for these things? The scary thing is the word the LORD gives towards any nation that does this saying, "Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?" (Jeremiah 5:29) Judah had the Word of God, but the Word was not their delight! In fact though they had it, and though they went to the temple weekly to hear it, they actually rejected it, following instead the dictate of their own heart. They were all given to covetousness and their shepherds were just as dull-hearted. Therefore their chastisment from the north (Babylon) was imminent! God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Lord may the Nation where I reside, that claims to be called by Your Name repent of its ways, quit it's rebellion of pretense truly take to heart the Living Word spoken from generations past, to understand you and to know you. For though we are deserving of your judgment you "exercise lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth", and all we can plead is the mercy and grace which you extend through your Son Jesus the promised Messiah and Everlasting Redeemer! Amen.