Tuesday September 15, 2020 - A Cross of Repentance

Therefore this is what the Lord says. If you repent, I will take you back, so that you may stand before me. If what you say is worthwhile and not worthless, you will be my spokesman. They must turn to you, but you must not turn to them. (Jeremiah 15:19)

Jeremiah was not the most liked prophet in the world. He had to deal with false prophets who told the people what they wanted to hear rather than what God was telling the people. No one wanted to listen to Jeremiah. Instead, they ridiculed him and treated him like the false prophet. No wonder Jeremiah would want to give up.

But God called Jeremiah to repentance. He gave him another shot at being God’s prophet. That still meant bearing the cross of ridicule and persecution. It also meant that Jeremiah was to focus on God’s Word rather than on the ways of the world.

God calls us to repentance too. He calls us to turn back to him when we sin. He tells us that we still have to bear our crosses too. But our focus is not on this world. It is on the God who loves us, who forgave us. Bearing our crosses means standing out for the world to see. It means focusing on our God, rather than on the ways of the world.

And it means getting the world to turn to us, rather than turning to the world. It means proclaiming Christ to the world. Part of the cross that we bear is standing out as an example for the world to see. It is being an ambassador for God.

Delight in God’s Word, like Jeremiah did. Repent when your focus is on the world rather than God. And then be an ambassador of Christ to the world. Amen.

Our song for today is “Lord, to You I Make Confession” by Koine

Lord, to You I Make Confession - Christian Song with Lyrics