What’s His Name
(12-4-05)
Jer.24:1-10
(6-7) My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
(see also – 30:22, 31:33, 32:33)
Have you ever
felt used? You know the kind of relationship where you are always on the giving
side of the equation and the other person is always on the taking side.
We likely all have been both at some point.
I
don’t think anyone would mind the giving if the relationship was mutually
equal or at least agreeably close. God desires a relationship that is balanced
by each side honoring their side of the relationship. God wants to bless but
also wants something in return; to be Lord and God exclusively. To truly be a
Christian and be securely in Jesus’ favor he must be the sole Lord and God.
In
the days of Babylonian captivity those who did not honor God as Lord and Him
only as their God where destroyed because of their disloyalties. They were born
into a relationship that did not mean anything to them except that they expected
much from God but gave little in return. There are many in churches today that
have this same heart of disloyalty that
(Jer.29:4-14)
The Lord sent those whose hearts were mindful of Him into captivity to protect
and build them up so that he might bless and prosper them. Even in their
captivity he encouraged them to faithfulness by offering his favor. Their side
of the relationship was to keep Him placed highest on the throne of their
hearts. Such hearts where shown to us by the stance and resistance of their
lives. Such lives as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Esther, Mordecai, Ezra,
Nehemiah and many more. These peoples hearts remained devoted even in difficult
and trying circumstances. They demonstrated faithfulness.
We
can learn much from them about how to trust and remain faithful to our great and
awesome God and Lord even in times of testing. The first lesson to be learned is
to have a heart that desires to find God: A heart of open willingness, a heart
that invites God to effect for good the heart. Jesus tells us that no one can
come to Him unless the Father pulls that person towards Him. (John 6:45, 65)
No one is saved by being related to someone who is saved. Salvation is
based on a personal involvement to the God who saves.
Once
someone opens their heart to God and lets Him open their heart to Jesus then
that person will be directed by Him to live faithfully for Him. In this Jesus
tests the genuineness of a persons faith for His own glory and for that persons
building up. For who then is the testing of faith?
God
already knows the heart and mind so what would he gain in His understanding of
the individual? Nothing! The
experience is for our own growth. When Daniel survived the lions, or the three
walked away from the heat of the furnace without burning what did God gain in
his knowledge of their hearts? Nothing, He is God. So we see the experience was
for His glory and their own growth and education about God and the lack of His
limitations. God is calling each of you for your good and His own Glory, remain
faithful and behold His greatness.