6 14 03

6:30a

Jeremiah 31:15-25

In this specific passage God is saying that He hears our repentance and that He is planning our restoration. Rachel was weeping for her lost children, but God said her work would be rewarded; that she should stop crying/mourning because He would reestablish her children; return them from captivity.

He says that He has heard Ephraim�s moaning; his admittance that he did wrong; his repentance. He also says that, like a parent, though the child did bad stuff, that didn�t stop God�s love for him. In point of fact, God has great compassion for His children, all of them.

God instructs us to set up road signs � to set up guideposts � in order to show us where we should be going, rather than just wandering all over with no direct focus. Finally, He tells us that once again His people will bless the houses and land in which they live and that He will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.

I want to focus on the blessing aspect. Perhaps our lives would be more full, better and more productive if we were actively blessing our homes and land? Perhaps we should be expending a little more effort in caring for our stuff rather than thinking that God will do everything.

I know that seems to contradict what I�ve been saying in the past, but it doesn�t necessarily have to be a conflict. God tells us to occupy until He comes. Well, doesn�t occupation mean that we also take care of what we have? It�s like this� when you�re a kid and you ask for a pet, the parent provides you with a pet, they provide you with the food, brush, shampoo� all the things necessary to take care of that pet� it�s the kid�s job to feed, brush, wash, water� care for the pet.

Like that, God provides us with homes, land, food, etc. It is our responsibility to take care of those things. What�s more, how well we take care of the things God gives us, dictates whether or not we will receive greater things.

So, if you want a bigger house, take care of the house you have. If you want better and more, you have to be able to take care of it. God is the parent and He will provide us with whatever we ask for, as long as we are living in compliance with Him. We need to properly care for that which He has given us.

I need to properly care for that which He has given me!

How can I expect God to give me a home, land, husband and children if I can�t even take proper care of the room and body I have?