Jeremiah 10:24 (NET) - Correct us, Lord, but only in due measure. Do not punish us in anger or you will reduce us to nothing.
The prophet remembers God’s command concerning idols.
It is true that the Lord detests idols.
It is also true that idols are created by man and are completely worthless.
The prophet recognizes God’s complete sovereignty.
He also understands that those who worship idols are foolish.
Therefore, he prays for God’s judgment.
The prophet does not pray for destruction, but rather for correction.
For destruction comes from anger and rage.
By contrast, correction comes from love.
Paul touches on this in his first letter to the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NET) - For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here, Paul emphasizes that God did not create us merely to punish or destroy us.
Rather, God created us because of His love for us.
That is why He sent His son into the world to save us.
Christ willingly paid the price not one of us could pay.
But that does not mean we will be free from God’s correction.
A human parent corrects their child when that child goes astray.
A good parent does not administer this correction out of anger or rage.
Instead, they do so because they love the child and only want what is best for him.
God corrects us in the same way.
He corrects us because He loves us.
Yes, we are made in God’s image.
But whenever we seek to please ourselves rather than God we stray away from Him.
When that happens, we can and should expect God’s correction.
In fact, it would benefit us to pray for it.
For it is through God’s loving correction that we can walk with Him once again.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 4, 2022.
I will be back here on Friday, February 11, 2022
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