Jeremiah 31:29-30 “29 ‘In those days they will not say again, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” 30 But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.’”
TOO SOUR FOR ME
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like sour stuff. I remember my kids eating those sour little ball candies called Warheads. They loved to pop one of those things in their mouth and suffer with tartness. The candy is actually marketed as “extreme sour candy.” Who would intentionally eat that? Not me.
Back in Jeremiah’s day (and even today) people thought curses were passed from generation to generation due to a person’s sins. Children and even grandchildren suffered because of their parents, grandparents or even great grandparents. While it is true we all are sinners due to the original sin, we have a way of escape – Jesus. He changed all of that.
TEACHING MOMENT
Have you ever had to enforce consequences on more than one of your children because of one’s disobedience? The guilty party wouldn’t own up to it, so everyone suffered. Group pressure can work, believe me. But if that one guilty child would just admit they did it, everyone else would be spared.
Your children need to be taught this principal spiritually. We are all guilty, but one person has paid the price for our guilt. Jesus died for all of our sins – ALL OF THEM! But the guilt is still ours until we are willing to receive the payment He has made. He died for all, but we still have to come to Him for the receipt.
Are you still guilty? Do you think you are not worthy of forgiveness? Come to Him today. Perhaps you are a believer, but you have been wallowing in self-incrimination. Stop it! Confess it and watch Him work. It is a sweet taste in your mouth, rather than a sour one. No one turns your teeth on edge but you.
