Jeremiah’s discovery of the “ruined and completely useless” linen belt (Jeremiah 13:7) is a vivid picture of what would happen to rebellious Judah as a result of their turning away from God. Just as the belt deteriorated and became unfit for purpose when not wrapped around Jeremiah’s body, the people of Judah also became unfit for their purpose (the purpose of being a people that belonged to God and who lived for His renown and praise and honour (Jeremiah 13:11)) as they wandered away from God through their wickedness, stubbornness and idolatry (Jeremiah 13:10).
What a powerful warning this is to us concerning our own walk with God. Even though, (Praise God!), nothing can now separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39); we can wander from Him and when we do, we stop living the lives He has called us to live. We stop showing His love and shedding His light (Ephesians 5: 2&8). We become unable to perform the works that God has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
In John 15, Jesus reminds us of this truth when He tells us that “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15: 4b-5).
As we think about how useless that linen belt became when it was detached from Jeremiah’s waist and buried in the ground, let us be careful to keep close to Jesus. Let us be careful not to wander from Him; not to forget Him; not to neglect Him; not to go after other gods; not to refuse to listen to Him. Let us instead make it our most urgent purpose to stay close to Jesus. Let us instead seek to know Him (Philippians 3:10). Let us instead seek to follow Him (Mark 1:17) and to obey His teaching (John 14:23). Let us instead seek His daily grace and strength, confidently believing that “He who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6) and remembering that if we remain in Him, we will “bear much fruit” and bring the Father much glory also (John 15:8).
Amen.
You are the Vine
We are the branches
Keep us abiding in You
You are the Vine
We are the branches
Keep us abiding in You
And we will go (And we will go)
In Your love (In Your love)
And we will go (And we will go)
In Your Name (In Your Name)
That the world (That the world)
Will surely know (Will surely know)
That You have power to heal
And to save
You are the Vine
We are the branches
Keep us abiding in You
Notices and Prayer PointsAs the church membership meets tonight to decide upon the appointment of a new interim pastor, please pray that we will know both the unity and the leading of the Spirit.
Gill Keen (07894430203) has arranged the following walks:Weds 28th July @ 11am – Drummau “from back to front” walk;Sat 7th August @10am – “On top of Neath” walk. For further information, please see Gill.
In Him, Rich.–
Richard Jenkins 1cor6v11@gmail.com; 07761979015