Hope In Jesus For Healing Our Sins
BRD REFLECTIONS
Jeremiah 8:4-22 and Psalm 11 (NIV)
(Koh Geok Cheng, Treasurer, Wesley GYM; Zone 10 Core Team Member, Small Group Ministry)
READ:
Jeremiah 8:4-22; Psalm 11 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
In Jeremiah 8:4-22, God lamented over the sins of Israel. The sinful Israelites had rejected God and turned away from Him and His Word without repentance.
Jeremiah 8:4-6: “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return? Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.
God is holy and He detests sin. The Israelites were not ashamed of their sinfulness. God warned them about punishment for their sins. However, they were not afraid.
Jeremiah 8:12-13: “Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the Lord. “‘I will take away their harvest, declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them.’”
God loved His people. Jeremiah knew that God was crushed and saddened when they sinned. God is not harsh and cruel. Jeremiah recognised that there was a need for a mediator, a healer for the sins of mankind. He interceded for the people and asked if there was a physician to heal the sinful people.
Jeremiah 8:21-22: “Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?”
We know that years later, God answered and provided Jesus as our physician and healer.
APPLY:
As I reflected on the above, I am reminded that we are all sinners like the Israelites. I should not judge others and think that I am better than them or feel that they are without hope. I have at times rejected God’s ways and turned from Him. God is saddened when we sin. However, there is hope for all as God has shown His amazing love and given Jesus as the physician who healed and redeemed me from the punishment for my sins.
DO:
I have to remember what God has done through Jesus and be thankful and grateful for the gift of Jesus who has made me right to walk right with Him. I need to share His healing to more people who need His healing.
I have to discipline myself to spend time to know God more and learn His ways through studying His Word.
I have to be intentional in taking the next steps in discipleship to be moulded by God through His Word. I have to regularly reflect on my ways, repent and change to reflect more of Christ in me.
Psalm 11:7: For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.
PRAY:
Dear Father God, I praise and worship You for You are a holy God who loves us and desires us to follow Your ways so that we are safe. I am sorry for the times that I have given in to my own selfish desires and sinned against You. Please forgive me. Help me to remember what You have done for me through Jesus our physician who healed and redeemed me from the punishment for my sins. Give me the humility of heart and willingness of the flesh to take the next steps to change my old sinful ways that displease You and be transformed by Your Word to have Your new ways in me to walk right with You as I have been made right by You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
