Vital Signs: Thursday, October 10, 2024
“When you tell the people all these things, they will ask, ‘Why has the Lord decreed such terrible things against us? What have we done to deserve such treatment? What is our sin against the Lord our God?’ Then you will give them the Lord’s reply: ‘It is because your ancestors were unfaithful to me. They worshiped other gods and served them. They abandoned me and did not obey my word. And you are even worse than your ancestors! You stubbornly follow your own evil desires and refuse to listen to me.’” Jeremiah 16:10-12 NLT
THE BIG PICTURE
In Scripture, we see snapshots of rebellion and destructive defiance. God’s messengers did not convince the wayward to return to the faith of their ancestors. God freely offered peace and protection, yet His people turned to idols of wood and stone, as if they could do what only the Creator of the universe could do—and still can do. We must not forget the bigger picture of God’s plan. Amid the faithless rebellion of so many, there were faithful believers, following the Lord and leading lives that honored Him. Let’s ask ourselves, where do we fit into that big picture?