Jeremiah 19:11 “and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Just so will I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial.’”

DON’T BREAK ME!

Pretty tough words from Jeremiah. But they weren’t his words. They were God’s words to the people of Judah. They had turned their backs on God and were worshipping false gods and doing all sorts of abominable things in the sight of all the people. God had had enough and sent them into exile to Babylon.

How about you? I know you will say, “I don’t worship false gods!” Oh really? What rules your life? What do you have the strongest passion for? We tend to worship the very thing we spend the most time doing. (I know I spend way too much time watching tv.)

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children need to understand that our loving God is also a just God. Yes, He loves us and forgives all our sins through the shed blood of Jesus. But He also expects obedience from us. If we turn our backs on Him, He will get our attention. He may even “break” us to get us back. That sounds harsh, yes. But we have to tell our children the whole truth.

Just like you expect obedience from your children, God expects the same. He won’t make us obey, just like you can’t make your own children obey. But He expects us to. Make sure they know that every choice has a consequence.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go to Babylon to learn my lesson. I want to repent and stay close to Jerusalem. I want to worship at the feet of Jehovah in my homeland. I want to…well you get the picture.

So why don’t we all give up our prideful existence and bow in humility to a loving and just God. He wants us close to Him. He does not relish in the administration of discipline in our lives. He wants to bless us. I choose that.