Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Tuesday, 19 June 2018 "Sign of Backsliding?" by Caleb Reynolds - Jeremiah 8:13-22.

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Tuesday, 19 June 2018 "Sign of Backsliding?" by Caleb Reynolds - Jeremiah 8:13-22.
Jeremiah 8:13 “‘I will put an end to them,’ says Adonai.
‘There are no grapes on the vine,
and no figs on the fig tree;
the leaf has withered; and what I have given them
will pass from their possession.’”
14 “Why are we sitting still? Assemble!
Let’s enter the fortified cities
and meet our doom there!
For Adonai our God has doomed us;
he has given us bitter water to drink,
because we have sinned against Adonai.
15 When we look for peace, nothing good comes;
when we seek a time of healing, instead there is terror.”
16 From Dan can be heard the snorting of his horses;
when his stallions neigh, the whole land trembles.
For they come devouring the land and all in it,
the city and those who dwell there.
17 “Yes, now I am sending snakes among you,
vipers that no one can charm,
and they will bite you,” says Adonai.
18 My grief has no cure, I am sick at heart.
19 Listen to my people’s cry of distress
out of a distant land:
“Is Adonai no longer in Tziyon?
Is her king no longer there?”
“Why do they provoke me with their idols
and their futile foreign gods?”
20 “The harvest has passed, the summer is over,
and still we are not saved.”
21 The daughter of my people is broken,
and it’s tearing me to pieces;
everything looks dark to me,
horror seizes me.
22 Has Gil‘ad exhausted its healing resin?
Is no physician there?
If there is, then why is the daughter of my people
so slow to recover her health? (Complete Jewish Bible).
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It can be a great blessing to experience the negative consequences of our actions. There is a lot of pain and suffering in our world. Sometimes it is because someone else has made bad choices, but we suffer the consequences. Other times, we cannot really explain why, we just know that bad things happen to good people.
When we suffer bdcause of someone else's bad chouces, we often get angry. When we suffer, and there is no clear, direct cause, it can feel frustrating.
But when we experience suffering and pain because of our own sin, it can be a blessing in disguise. Pain can be a powerful teacher. Our parents can warn us time and agajn about the hot stove. But when we touch it for ourselves, it is a lesskn we will never forget.
Pain can be a great incentive to turn to God in repentance. God does not desire for us to suffer, but God can use our painful experiences to identify unrepentant sin in our lives. Is the Lord using your pain to bring you to repentance?
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Hymn for Today: "Lord I'm Coming Home" by William J. Kirkpatrick.
1. I've wandered far away from God,
Now I'm coming home;
The paths of sin too long I've trod,
Lord, I'm coming home.
Chorus: Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I'm coming home.
2. I've wasted many precious years,
Now I'm coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears,
Lord, I'm coming home.
Chorus: Coming home, coming home, 
Nevermore to roam, 
Open wide Thine arms of love, 
Lord, I'm coming home.
3. I've tired of sin and straying, Lord,
Now I'm coming home;
I'll trust Thy love, believe Thy word,
Lord, I'm coming home.
Chorus: Coming home, coming home, 
Nevermore to roam, 
Open wide Thine arms of love, 
Lord, I'm coming home.
4. My soul is sick, my heart is sore,
Now I'm coming home;
My strength renew, my hope restore,
Lord, I'm coming home.
Chorus: Coming home, coming home, 
Nevermore to roam, 
Open wide Thine arms of love, 
Lord, I'm coming home.

Thought for Today: Is someone among you in trouble? He should pray. Is someone feeling good? He should sing songs of praise. (James 5:13a) (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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