December 10 – God's Delight, Our Joy

“I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, ...I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.”  Jeremiah 32:40a-41  (NASB)

These words from our God through His prophet Jeremiah were spoken to the people of Israel.  It is an astounding promise.  No matter how many times His people turned their back, no matter how many times they went after other gods, God promised to not turn away from them and to do good for them.  He makes this promise to us as well.  John Piper* gives us this comforting lesson drawn from our passage today. “God’s pursuit of praise from us and our pursuit of pleasure in him are one and the same pursuit. God’s quest to be glorified and our quest to be satisfied reach their goal in this one experience: our delight in God, which overflows in praise.”  We can trust this good news from the Bible: “God is not at all disinclined to satisfy the hearts of those who hope in Him.  That which can make us happiest is what God delights in with all His heart.”

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* Source

November 20 – With All His Heart

“I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.” Jeremiah 32:41 (NIV) 

We can imagine that being Jeremiah's life was not a piece of cake.  No, Jeremiah was called by God to a very difficult task and he stuck with it in spite of the trials, testing and persecution he received.  The words of warning God gave Jeremiah to deliver were rejected – the people did not want to hear what God had to say.  But God had promised to rescue them and He enjoys doing good things for His people. He doesn’t do it because he has to or because we deserve it. He does good for us because He loves us and He is happy when we allow Him to do it. And God enjoys doing good for us with His whole being. The people of Israel received this prophecy of redemption because God promised to change their hearts. He doesn’t do it half-hardheartedly, but with His whole heart. God has a deep desire to show His love to us. Just as we say to each other, “I love you with all my heart and soul,” God says that to us.  Read this verse again and let it fill your heart with joy that you have this kind of a God. 

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