Moments before...

Jeremiah 6

"For from the least to the greatest of them,

    everyone is greedy for unjust gain;

and from prophet to priest,

    everyone deals falsely.

They have treated the wound of my people carelessly,

    saying, “Peace, peace,”

    when there is no peace.

They acted shamefully, they committed abomination;

    yet they were not ashamed,

    they did not know how to blush....

Thus says the Lord:

stand at the crossroads, and look,

    and ask for the ancient paths,

where the good way lies; and walk in it,

    and find rest for your souls.

But they said, “We will not walk in it.”

The prophets in the Bible are full of beautiful and painful reminders of the just God we serve. For those that have been wronged - our hearts leap at the beauty of justice. For those of us that have acted unjustly, causing harm or acting wrong - at the sound of justice our heart leaps as well, but for fear of consequence. Jeremiah - the weeping prophet, saw these reactions unfold before him as he looked out to Israel. Being the son of a priest, he would have had intimate knowledge of the ways of Israel and he would soon know by way of relationship the consequence of Israel's injustice. Yet God saw a man who would hear, whose eyes were open and used him as a vessel of His word. 

Be honest.

Be true.

Treat each other with intense care - like a mother to her child.

Don't paint a peace that is not there.

Let us blush at our sins.

When God speaks, listen.

The roads of obedience may be unfamiliar, and ancient.

Yet in obedience we find rest.

Today I was struggling with the future. Wondering if God would speak. I have a calm assurance in the deepest hidden parts of my heart. I know He will guide me, though it will not be flashy and the path will be rough, I know He will lead. This text in Jeremiah is powerful reminder that as we stand at the crossroads, we should ask not just look at its diverge. He will show us where the good way lies, and if we walk in it we will find rest for our souls. Oh the beauty of resting in our Creator.... It is a peace beyond understanding, a rejuvenation that cannot be understood by human standards. Lord help us to be willing to walk the ancient paths that bring us to You.