Cleaning is Easier in the Light

Jeremiah 4:3-4

Verses 3b-4 (NLT)  O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power.  Change your hearts before the Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.

    Yesterday we talked about surrendering our pride and power, today we turn to the process of surrendering as laid out in these verses.  These words are from the Lord given to Jeremiah to prophesy to the people of God.  We need to remember this as we talk about this next portion because it is so easy to balk at the responsibility we have about our thoughts and actions.  I’m sure we have all heard the excuses about why someone isn’t responsible for what they have done.  Let’s look at the two directives the Lord gives about this matter of surrendering.

    First He instructs us to change our hearts.  How do we go about changing our hearts?  There are certain steps that are necessary.  We need to acknowledge that we are sinful and prideful.  Not just on the surface such as to say, “Yeah, I know that I’m a sinner” but to really be honest with ourselves and see our sin for what it is.  We have to admit that no matter how perfect we think we are, we are nothing but lowly scum when compared to God.  We can’t even come to the understanding that we need to change our hearts until we are willing to completely and thoroughly examine our hearts.

    As we talked about yesterday, the prying into our hearts isn’t a fun task, but it is necessary to cleanse the sin weeds from our life.  This examining of our hearts isn’t just a quick look and then on our way.  This takes time and needs to be done in a specific manner.  The second directive from the Lord in this passage brings us to the second part of His formula for surrendering to Him.

    This second portion needs to be so tightly tied to the first that they should be as one.  The Lord instructs that the changing of our heart needs to happen “before the Lord.”  Just as we are more intentional about doing a thorough job because we know the boss is watching, we can be sure that when we search our hearts in front of God, we will find things we may pass over if we were doing the introspection all alone.  We need to take to our knees today before the Lord and seek to see our heart the way He does, so we know what needs to be changed.

Making It Personal

    Have you ever gone before the Lord and asked to see your sins as He sees them?  What needs to be changed in your heart?  What are the steps you need to take to uproot the sins in your heart?

Making It Personal Kids

    Have you ever tried to wash your hands in the dark?  When you went into the light do you notice you had missed some of the dirt?  We need light to see all the dirt that needs cleaning, don’t we?  Jesus is the light that helps us see the dirt of our sins.

Closing Prayer

    Father, we need Your light to see all the dark crevices and corners of our hearts so that we can acknowledge them and repent of them as a means of changing our hearts.  We know that sin hinders our worship.  Please help us find our sins and deal with them.  In Jesus’ name, amen.