Devotional for the Week — 5 October 2009

Devotional for the week – 5 October 2009

Scripture Title: The Tough Love of God
Scripture Text: Jeremiah 8:18 – 9:1

Introduction

What happens when a child does wrong? Whether it is spanking or withdrawing privileges, usually parents would think of some way to deal with it. Children do not like punishment but it is something parents need to enforce every time their children do wrong. For Proverbs 13:24 says: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” Therefore, as parents, sometimes we need strong measures to discipline a child from young. This is what we call ‘tough love’.

Some Reflections

Today we want to reflect and focus on the tough love of God, our Heavenly Father. In the book of Jeremiah, God used the prophet Jeremiah to deliver many warnings to the Israelites. God wanted them to deal with their own sins which were committed against Him. Therefore Jeremiah called the people to repent so that they might not suffer at the hands of the Babylonians whom God Himself would send against the Israelites to punish them for their sins. (Jeremiah 5:15-17)

The Israelites committed many sins which provoked God’s anger:
a) They had forsaken God to follow idols. (Jeremiah 2:26-29)
b) They were unfaithful to God. (Jeremiah 3:20-21)
c) They dealt with one another dishonestly and falsely. (Jeremiah 5:1)
d) They did evil to provoke God’s anger. (Jeremiah 7:30-31)

The prophet Jeremiah warned the people to turn away from their wickedness and evil ways for God would save them from destruction. (Jeremiah 7:5-7) However, the Israelites continued to ignore his warnings. This eventually led to the destruction of the kingdom of Judah around 586 B.C. (2 Chronicles 36:15-20)

Jeremiah’s Prayer

The passage Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 constitutes Jeremiah’s prayer to God.
8:18 - Jeremiah expressed his great sorrow over the destruction of his people and the kingdom of Judah. He grieved over the stubbornness of the people, but he also reflected on the faithfulness and everlasting love of God. God is holy and the people needed to be dealt with in the hope of restoring their covenant with God. Jeremiah referred to God as a comforter rather than a punisher.

8:19 - Jeremiah acknowledged and declared God’s continuing rule as King over His people and the kingdom of Judah.

8:20 - Jeremiah stated that the people were to continue to wait for their deliverance from God.

8:21 - Jeremiah chose to identify and suffer alongside his people.

8:22 - Jeremiah pointed out to the people that their healing came from God and God alone.

9:1 - Jeremiah showed how true repentance was like, that is to have to experience the pain of being disciplined by a righteous God and to humbly go though the whole process of being corrected and refined. Tough love gives us pain but it also gives us hope.

The question to ask ourselves is: “Are we able to accept the tough love of God even when He disciplines us His children?”

a) Do we earnestly seek God even when we know God is punishing us? There are some who believe that if they are going through some crisis, God must be angry with them and is bent on punishing them. Unfortunately, they see God as a ‘punisher’ instead of a ‘comforter’. We must remember that all good things come from God and God does not plan evil against anybody for He is a good God.

b) Do we believe that God is always in control of all our situations in life? Some believe that God is in control when they do all the right things. This has led some people to blame God or doubt their faith. Do not be deceived, for God owns everything in this universe, including all that we have, even our own lives. We need to break this false and distorted perception of God in our lives today in Jesus’ name.

c) Do we believe that God is our deliverer and we should continue to wait upon Him to save us, even if that is going to take a long time? Some people believe that God should instantly save them from their troubles because He is God. When this does not happen the way that they think it should, they start to lose their faith and go after other gods or religions that would offer them instant solutions to their problems. Do not be deceived; God has promised to deliver us at His own time and according to His will and purpose. He will save us in due time for He alone can save us.

Conclusion

Tough love produces strong relationship. When we are disciplined by God, are we willing to humbly accept it and go through the process of being corrected, no matter how difficult and painful it might be?
God, in His tough love for us, sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. (John 3:16-17) The prophet Jeremiah tells us that our God is compassionate and gracious. We should continue to wait upon Him even in times of distress for He alone can save us. Do not turn away from Him but run towards Him.

Prayer Response

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your love for me. I pray that I will earnestly seek You and see You as my Comforter. I believe that You are in control of everything, therefore I submit all my plans and situations into Your hands. Lord, help me to be patient as I know that in Your time, You will show me the purpose of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Devotional based on a sermon by Pastor Joshua Loo

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