Read

Jeremiah 25:15-38, 36:1-32, 45:1-5, 46:1-28

Jeremiah 46:28, “‘Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,’ declared the Lord. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’”

Think

No one likes to be punished. Even when we know we are in the wrong, we usually want to escape the consequences of our actions.

But the “punishment,” or rather, the “discipline” that comes from God, is never senseless or needlessly vindictive — it always has a purpose. A perfect Father, He uses punishment to correct and purify us. It may not be pleasant in the present moment, but it is ultimately for our good. Some may shy away from this aspect of God — “punishment” sounds so harsh, and contemporary views of Christianity tend to lean into God’s love and deemphasize His righteousness and judgment. But when we turn away from Him, we will face the consequences of our sin. The good news is that God can use those as learning experiences to bring us back to Him.

As He did with Israel, He does not turn the full measure of His wrath on us. He does not desire to destroy us as He does the Enemy. Instead, we experience the stern but loving correction of a Father who desires the best for us and knows just the measure we need.

Pray

God, Thank You for Your righteous justice and mercy. Thank You for caring about me so much that You would correct me. Help me receive it with Your grace. Lord, I just want to become more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.