Session 13

What happens when we forget the power of grace

From Jeremiah: A 33-Day Devotional

Pick your favorite pair of underpants. Run them through the mud. Mix them in the trash. Then clean out your gutters with them. Are they still your favorite underpants?

Strangely enough, in Jeremiah 13, the Lord asks Jeremiah to take a linen belt, which is equivalent to our favorite (expensive) pair of underpants and hide it between rocks near a river. That linen belt surely didn’t come back clean.

Through this analogy, God explained to Jeremiah that the Israelites were taking their position as His chosen people and using it to advance their own standing amongst others, going after other gods by serving and worshiping them. God wanted to show the world His love for His chosen people, but the Israelites’ arrogance and “stubbornness of their hearts” turned them away from their Creator and ultimately His purpose for them.

The danger in arrogance is that our own importance overshadows God and His true goodness. When we believe our position holds more weight and power than God’s authority, we are blinded to the truth that everything we are is a gift from above. When we focus on ourselves more than Jesus, listening to Him gets tough and doing what He says becomes almost impossible. We can’t praise God when we are constantly praising ourselves.

God loves us deeply and immensely. He wants to delight in us, and through us, give hope to our friends and families. Our value to the Lord is great. But we didn't do anything to earn our position and favor with God. Jesus did that all by Himself, and He alone deserves our praise (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Reflect:

• Why do you think it matters so much to God that we understand grace?
• Are your actions reflecting God and His grace or are your actions pointing back to you?
• What’s one way to show God how thankful we are for His grace?