Consequences

responsLiving in the Spirit
August 30, 2016

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-11

Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings. –Jeremiah 18:11

My first inclination is to apply Jeremiah’s warnings as personal, individual. Of course, he is writing to the people of Israel, a community of faith and a nation among nations. I also must read Jeremiah from my belief system that I am a part of the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is called to develop a kingdom reflecting God’s love while living in a nation in a world as diverse or more so than the middle east in the 6th century BCE with Israel nestled among many tribes and empires. Verse eleven brings us to the other side of choice. We readily accept the first side, freedom. The other side is responsibility. We must face the consequences of our actions. Israel had not accepted responsibility and found itself in exile.

We face the same issues today digging out of protecting our self-interest, lust for power, and greed. The USA is becoming or perhaps has become a nation of have’s and have-nots justified by racism, sexism, nationalism, and privilege. We even quote scripture to rationalize our behavior without concern for how much our actions and attitudes separate us from God.

Jeremiah called the Israelites to turn around from what he calls their evil ways and get back on the track toward being a people building on God’s ways. He still speaks to us today.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for our stubborn failure to see both the freedom you provide us and the resulting responsibility. Give us the courage to meet our love obligations. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.