Misplaced Faith

"And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, ¹⁴ therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh."

Jeremiah 7:13-14

It didn't take long for God's people to misplace faith which should have been reserved for God alone.  They hadn't lost faith, but they placed it in the wrong things.  Instead of trusting in God they looked to the temple as a sign of God's favour, blessing, and protection.  The temple was their place of refuge rather than God!  Surely He would not allow enemies to destroy Jerusalem, for it was where He placed His name - so they thought.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God instructed His people to think back to Shiloh where the tabernacle had once stood.  Because of the wickedness of the priests and people He allowed it to become a total ruin.  God had sent prophets to instruct, correct, and warn His people of coming judgment, but they would not listen.  Words proved ineffective so the rod would be required:  God would thresh His people as a farmer does grain because they refused to hear, answer, and trusted in the temple rather than Him.

Perhaps the people foolishly saw the temple and the ministry therein as a great gift worthy of God, along with all the sacrifices, offerings, and service.  In their mind such great honour and worship was a benefit God was unwilling to be deprived of, built at great cost by King Solomon himself.  But had not the word of the LORD come through Samuel which plainly said, "To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22)  Micah 6:8 does not mention the necessity of a temple at all to fulfil good things God requires of men:  "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

It is likely God's people heard the worship of the priests and the prayers of the pious but they would not hear God and the prophets He sent to them.  They provoked God to anger with their idolatry, for they gave sacrifices and paid homage to other gods besides Him.  God would allow Jerusalem to fall and the temple to be razed - not only to bring judgment upon wickedness, but for the ultimate restoration of communion and fellowship with His people.  There is always grace in God's chastening.  Despite the grave sins of the children of Israel there was hope in God and His goodness because He sought to refine rather than destroy.  Jerusalem would fall but would be rebuilt; the Jews would be taken into captivity but would be brought back again to the holy city amid revival.

Could it be our faith over time might be misplaced, that we would look to ourselves or our efforts rather than hearing and answering God?  If God will allow a city to fall, won't He allow a man or woman so there might be repentance and restoration of worship in spirit and truth before Him?

Washed and Keeping Clean

We had dogs growing up, and some of the care of these pets fell to me.  I helped clean up after them, walk them, feed, and bathe them.  One especially frustrating thing about bathing the dogs was their lack of connection between being washed and staying clean.  None of our dogs particularly enjoyed being bathed, and it seemed like the first thing they did after their baths they dashed away and rolled in the dirt.  "Sporty," a Cocker Spaniel mix, was well-known for this.  In a ridiculously short time that dog managed to return his dusty, flea-ridden, and filthy state as before.

To me it seemed if Sporty knew he had been cleaned (especially since he hated baths), it would be fitting for him to make an effort to remain clean by refraining from filthy activities.  But Sporty, by nature being a dog (and not a particularly intelligent animal at that!), never understood or realised the connection.  From a tender age children are taught this very thing:  after taking a bath do not roll in the mud - in fact, never roll in the mud because it will mean a scolding, a spanking, or restriction of freedoms now enjoyed.  As children this understanding related to the clothes we wore.  If we were wearing our "nice" clothes we were to take care we did not slide on the grass and stain them.  Eating was to be done in the table and not in bed.  Perhaps you have no problem with eating in bed or in the car, but undoubtedly there are things you take care to keep clean.  A person's room may be a disaster but the same takes care to avoid touching the door in a public restroom after washing his hands.

When we are born again through faith in Jesus, He washes us pure and clean.  Knowing this ought to have a massive impact in the way we behave moving forward - much more than a little boy is aware he just had a bath and ought to take steps to avoid stomping in puddles.  Ephesians 5:1-4 says, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ² And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. ³ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴ neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."  It is not fitting for girls in their best dresses to use scissors to cut them to ribbons, nor is it fitting for children after a bath before bed to fling mud at each other.  There is behaviour fitting and unfitting a child of God, and part of spiritual maturity is finding out through scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit what is acceptable or not.  Following the example of Jesus is the safest and best way to conduct ourselves, imitating Him as children who imitate the father they admire.

Brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, our behaviour should not resemble the dog who returns to its vomit or as the fool who repeats his folly, our lives being marked by the very sins Jesus has washed us from.  Having been given a new nature through the Spirit there is no excuse for us to be like senseless animals who do not realise they have been cleansed or how to remain clean after washing.  We should show more care for loving God and others than keeping food out of our beds or germs from our hands.  Since we are washed clean from all impurity our eyes are to be fixed on Christ and our minds on godly things.  And when we find ourselves fallen in the mire of sin we should not wallow like pigs but humble ourselves before God in repentance and receive His cleansing forgiveness by faith.  Having been washed clean to abide in the presence of our King, we should carry ourselves - as much as depends upon us - in a fashion worthy of such privilege.

Best Without Trumpet

The Law governed external behaviour, but God looks upon the motives of our hearts.  It is not only what we do but the reasons why we do it which is of great interest to Him.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:1, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven."  Notice Jesus did not say it was wrong to be seen by others doing charitable deeds, but to ensure our motive for doing so is not personal recognition.  If the reason we serve, invite homeless people to a party, or give money is to benefit our public image, the praises of men will the be extent of our reward.  A pat on the back ends after a second or two, and those praises die out quick.

I believe it is a great thing when athletes or celebrities visit fans in hospital, feed those in need, or provide gifts to kids in schools.  It is a blessing for people to give back to their communities and gladly meet the needs of people around them.  But if those musicians, celebrities, or volunteers aren't willing to do the same without the cameras rolling, the news coverage, oversized checks, and the photo ops, such should not expect a reward from God for it.  This is like a hypocrite sounding a trumpet to draw attention to their worship for credit from men as Jesus spoke in Matthew 6:2, "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."  Increased ticket sales, improved public relations, or a more generous or down-to-earth image might be all people hope for, but I would prefer to receive an eternal reward from God which will endure.  Pastors and Christians can also serve to be seen or recognised and thus deny themselves of blessings God delights to give.

Jesus continued in Matthew 6:3-4:  "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."  I cannot speak for others and their motivation for offering their time and money, but God knows precisely why we give, help, serve, or do good deeds.  The secret motives of all the hearts of men are laid bare before the mighty God.  If you feel slighted by serving or giving without recognition or praise from men, it may be that is your primary reason for doing good deeds in the first place.  We should be doing charitable deeds, for Jesus said "when you do a charitable deed," not "if."  Don't do it to post on social media, to boost views or likes, or to gain a following:  do it in secret unto the LORD for His glory.  Take great delight in only the LORD knowing, glad to give a special gift for Him from which others benefited.  Resist the urge to sound the trumpet and our Father who sees in secret will reward openly.

Created to Believe

I find Ephesians 2:8-10 to be most encouraging concerning God's grace.  Paul wrote, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹  not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  No one could deserve or earn salvation, but God grants forgiveness, redemption, and purpose for all who trust in Christ.  We are not approved by works, but being God's workmanship He has prepared works for us to do which glorify Him.  Salvation, as well as the privileges of serving God and others, are God's gifts to us.

In our own strength and wisdom we are incapable of doing anything for God, yet indwelt by the Holy Spirit we are helped to both will and do what God has ordained.  The crazy thing is God did not just make works for us to do, feeding us like raw materials into a machine to churn out a product, but He has especially created us to fulfil a particular role as a part of His Body, the church.  The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah presents a worthy example.  God devised a job for Jeremiah to do, but He also created Jeremiah with to do the particular job He had in mind - like a customised machine or tools are engineered to perform specialised tasks.  When I tried to fix the clutch on my truck, I found the flywheel very hard to remove until I borrowed a Snap-On flywheel wrench.  Having the right tool and the right person called by God for a job is key to accomplishing the tasks God intends.  Crazy He would include us, right?

Jeremiah 1:4-10 reveals the ability of God to create people fit to do a role accomplished only by His grace:  "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." ⁶ Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." ⁷ But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. ⁸ Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD. ⁹ Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant."  The revelation of God's specific plan and calling of Jeremiah was a shock to him.  As a child of God are you blown away to realise before you were born God knew, sanctified, and ordained you for His purposes?  I cannot say exactly what this will entail, and despite our protests has a plan He will see worked out in and through us according to His grace.

God will be with those who fear and trust Him, even as He was with Jeremiah and Paul.  He might not have set us over nations and kingdoms, but Jesus our Saviour is KING OF KINGS.  Many times we do not even know what to say, but He has put His Word into our hearts, minds, and mouths.  We do not need to be afraid because God is with us and will empower us to fulfil the purpose for which we were created, that He may be glorified and praised forever.  All the work God's calls us to is far beyond our ability and comprehension because it is God's work.  If we think ourselves sufficient for the labour and able to endure by our strength, we will falter and fail.  Yet when we look to Jesus Christ we will find our strength renewed, for our life is in Him.  There are many good works God has created us to do, and the first is to believe and trust Him.