The GRACE of our LORD remains sufficient—Always.
Today brings a struggle to say something, to show what God is speaking to my soul. It’s as if the white canvas remains white, without words, without thoughts, without syntax, without direction.
When this occurs, I instruct my students to just begin, to just place their fingers upon the keypad or wrap their fingers around the pen or pencil and begin free writing.
That’s what you have here—a free write.
A moment to compose, to create words that will hopefully bind together to create sentences and a paragraph; thus, creating thought.
The best place to begin seeking thought is with the Word of God, so let’s begin there.
In the kingdom of ancient Israel, there occurred a division, one that caused the land to become divided into two distinct territories with two separate governments: Israel in the North and Judah in the South. It is from that southern land, the land of Judah, where today’s passage derives. The prophet Jeremiah reveals the sins of the people living there, their lack of concern for their magnitude of sin against most holy God, and the judgment they can expect because of their sin. The LORD will not allow His people to wander away from Him without conviction. How can one know He is a child a God?
He sins, and after he sins, there is no conviction, no prompting from the Holy Spirit to receive the forgiveness of God.
Those apart from God may choose to sin, and after they sin, they live out their day, free from conviction because God instructs those He knows, and to “know” God is to “be” His.
SEE WITH ME.
“Thus says the LORD,
‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.’”
(Jeremiah 17: 5-6)
How can one know He is a child of God?
He lives in the “stony wastes” out in the wilderness.
He lives within this earthly world and trusts in himself, in his own power, in his own might, and in the strength of others.
Then, there is the contrasting side, the other side, the alternate side of the proverbial “coin,” the side that knows of whom he is to trust, of whom he is to lean, and of whom he is to look for his guidance through this life.
AGAIN, WE RETURN TO THE SCRIPTURE.
[But the LORD also says,] “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD,
For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.”
(Jeremiah 17: 7-8)
As God’s child, in whom can we trust?
In the LORD!
As God’s child, who brings us His trust?
The LORD!
As God’s child, where are we planted?
Within the living water of Almighty GOD!
As God’s child, where shall we find our roots?
Down deep, growing into the vine of the LORD JESUS CHRIST!
As God’s child, where shall we turn when our hearts become anxious?
Attuned toward the LORD’S teaching in His Holy Word!
As God’s child, how will we react when the trials and cares and tribulations of this world come?
We will not fear because we will rely upon our LORD!
As God’s child, will we gain all the worldly understanding known to mankind & declare ourselves, “Finished with learning”?
We will remain green-leaved, constantly learning from the wisdom of God!
As God’s child, when we face an insurmountable trial and begin to feel as if our body thirsts for a drink but cannot drink enough, how shall we react?
We will not become anxious and fear God has left us in the desert all alone!
As God’s child, will we ever become unfruitful, ever uncaring, ever uncompassionate toward others, ever void of the love for God or of God?
We will never cease to yield the FRUIT of the Spirit!
How can one know with assurance he is a child of God?
God will never leave or forsake those who are His!
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:6)
Thus, I leave you with the final chapter and final verse found within God’s Word given to the apostle John to record when John was exiled to the desolate island of Patmos. Even there, in total separation from the inhabitants of the earth, God communed with His child John, revealing to us the promise of God to His children, His people—that the grace of God is forevermore sufficient.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
(Revelation 22: 21)