In the thirteenth chapter of the book of Jeremiah, there is a very interesting illustration about God’s desire for his people. God told Jeremiah to go buy a belt. Really it was not so much a belt as a linen undergarment or waistband. He told Jeremiah to wear it, but not to put it into water. Then, God told Jeremiah to take the waistband and put it in the crevice of a rock by the Euphrates River. Days later, God told Jeremiah to retrieve the waistband. It was ruined. It was worthless. God told Jeremiah that he was going to destroy the pride of Judah and Jerusalem just as the waistband had been destroyed.
The most interesting part of this story is in verse 11, “For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,” declares the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen.’ What a frightening indictment of the people of Israel and Judah. God said that he made them for a purpose. He said he desired them to cling to Him as a waistband clings to a man, but something happened. They did not listen. They did not bring renown or glory or praise to the name of the Lord. We don’t often use that word, renown. It is an old Middle English word meaning to name or to speak of. It simply means that a particular name is widely acclaimed or highly regarded. Isn’t that our desire for God’s name. If His name is not highly regarded, that means His name is shamed. God will protect his own name. He will bring glory to himself, even if we do not. I want to challenge you to exalt Christ this week. God desires one thing from his people above all else: Reflect His Glory. If we are faithful to reflect the glory of Christ everything else falls into place. We have a desire to be in His word, to pray, to share the gospel. Let’s not become like the ruined waistband, worthless for the Kingdom of Christ. In Christ, Blain Craig
1 Comment
K henson
6/20/2014 04:04:30 pm
Ran across "renown" this a.m. In Isaiah ... uplifting chapters 54, and 55:13 specifically. When things are made perfect in this world at Christ's return all will be for his glory...His renown. I am reading my Bible through again this year on Sept 28 slightly ahead but interesting that word popped up in my reading today. Have faith Blain God is in total control. Kathy H.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorDr. Blain Craig Archives
November 2024
Categories |