Living in the Spirit

August 29, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Jeremiah 2:4-13

Therefore once more I accuse you,
says the Lord,
   and I accuse your children’s children.
Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look,
   send to Kedar and examine with care;
   see if there has ever been such a thing.
Has a nation changed its gods,
   even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
   for something that does not profit.
Be appalled, O heavens, at this,
   be shocked, be utterly desolate,

says the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils:
   they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living water,
   and dug out cisterns for themselves,
cracked cisterns
   that can hold no water. –Jeremiah 2:9-13

The Creator God does not force God’s ways on us. We must choose to follow God. That decision is made most often because we seek the relationship of pure love that God gives freely. God always has our best interest at heart and following God opens more doors to more choices we can make as we strive to be the person God created us to be. God does expect us to love God and love one another. Most of the problems we encounter when we chose other gods, is that we turn our backs on God’s love resulting in failure to love others. Most of the problems in our world today are the result of actions that hurt other people, like greed and lust for power, the idols of our times. The Ukrainian War is an excellent example of greed and power running amok destroying innocent people like cracked cisterns that can hold no water. Life cannot survive without water or without love. As Christ-followers we are called to love until love rules the world.

Prayer: God, so fill us with your love that we learn to love one another. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.