Disobedience In Times Of Grace

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 22:21-23

“I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from your youth, that you have not obeyed my voice” (Jeremiah 22:21)

It has almost been a month since we have been in lockdown. It has nearly been a month since we were able to meet in person to worship at church, fellowship with each other, and serve God actively together. Because of the lockdown, many of the graces which we cherished have been taken away. What do we take away from this? 

Now is the time to reflect upon a few questions. 

1. What did I do with my time in ‘prosperity’? 

We often take for granted God’s abundant grace to allow us to come to church each week, to go to school, and to be able to serve Him in our daily lives. We often make excuses based on our laziness or want to avoid giving more time to serve God in ministry. How much time have we wasted when our days are prosperous by caring about ourselves instead of others? Time is short, and sometimes it’s much shorter than we expect. Who knows, you could die tomorrow. Young people are not immune to death. God is in control of our time, and when it’s up, it’s up. 

2. What was my attitude towards grace?

Even if we used our time wisely to live for God and His kingdom, what was our heart’s attitude towards grace? Did we live every day realising that every second of those days and even every second today is undeserved grace from God? We don’t deserve to live a single day, let alone partake in His kingdom. If God gives us the grace to live and, on top of that, grace to live for Him, our hearts should constantly be in a frame of humility and worship to our mighty God. 

Why do we take grace for granted? Often, our pride is what gets in the way. We think we deserve grace. We think we have served enough, lived a good enough life, kept our morality and purity, and so we deserve to enjoy a grace-filled life. This is wrong, and it is a disgusting sin before the Lord. Who are we to exalt ourselves so high? Only God deserves the highest position. When we put ourselves up, we put ourselves in the position of God. We try to take over His throne. What an abomination that is to the Lord. 

3. How are we going to live today? 

If we know that our hearts and lives have not been right when times were good, are we going to repent today? Let’s humble ourselves before God and ask for His mercy. Let’s ask for our first love back, the love that once burned with passion and zeal for God. Take the words of James 4:10 as our own, “humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” 

Lord, please forgive me for taking Your graces for granted. I deserve eternal punishment for my vile rebellion against You. I don’t deserve to live, let alone to know You or to serve You. Please restore in me humility and zeal for You. Return to me my first love, which You planted in my heart. Teach me to see reality how You see it. In Jesus’ name, amen.