Jeremiah 31 -- God Is Doing A New Thing!

God began a new thing -- a new covenant based on the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, hundreds of years before Jesus would die there for our sins.

"The old covenant tried to control conduct, but the new covenant changes character so that people can love the Lord and one another and want to obey God's will ... The new covenant is inward so that God's law is written on the heart and not on stone tablets.  The emphasis is personal rather than national with each person putting faith in the Lord and receiving a new heart and with it a new disposition toward godliness," my commentary said.

Despite all the Judah had done, God was not forsaking them, but shaking life up so they wouldn't take Him for granted.  Here, He said, "I love you people with a love that will last forever ... I came to give rest ... I will build you up again, and you will be rebuilt ... A great many people will come back.  They will be crying as they come, but they will pray asI bring them back.  I will lead those people by streams of water on an even road where they will not stumble ... Their faces will shine with happiness about all the good things from the Lord ... and My people will be filled with the good things I give them ... There is hope for you in the future."  

"Take me back so that I may come back," they will pray.  "You truly are the Lord my God.  Lord, after I wondered away from You, I changed my heart and life.  After I understood, I beat my breast with sorrow.  I was ashamed and disgraced, because I suffered for the foolish things I did when I was young."

And to this prayer, God responds, "I love him very much, and I want to comfort him ... Come home .... come back ... How long will you wander before you come home? ... I will give rest and strength to those who are weak and tired ... I will put My teachings in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be My people.  People will no longer have to teach their neighbors and relatives to know the Lord, because all people will know Me ... I will forgive them for the wicked things they did, and I will not remember their sins anymore."

Father, thank You for bringing this new thing to pass.  Continue to bring back those I love, by showing them Your grace and forgiveness and love.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford