F O O T H O L D
READING
84 WHEN LOVE GROWS COLD
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PRAY Help me, loving God, to
see myself as you see me.
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READ Jeremiah 2:1-19.
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THINK What does the language
of this chapter say to you about God?
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FOCUS Jeremiah was speaking
to the Jews in Judea, 600 years before
Christ. But, what he says
about their relationship with God, has
lessons relevant to us, too.
FIRST LOVE (1-3). The nation
of Israel was once like the bride of
God (2). She belonged to him
only; and followed where he led.
Being a Christian can be
described as being married to God. Being
converted is like a wedding
day!
LOST LOVE (4-13). For 'the
descendants of Jacob' the happiness of
the wedding day had become a
faded memory. In their prosperity
the people had turned from
God (7,8). Their hearts went after
other things and God took
second place. In the same way, it is
possible for our love for
God to fade and for Christianity to be
'orthodox' but 'dead'. See
Revelation 2:4.
God charged his people with
doing what the pagan nations never
did (11). They turned from
the spring of living water - a rare
commodity in Palestine - and
dug their own cisterns of polluted
water.
CONSTANT LOVE. Because of
her disloyalty and rebellion free-born
Israel was to become a slave.
Her land would be over-run (14,15).
The foreign alliances with
Egypt and Assyria (18), in which she
put her trust, would fail.
She had brought disaster upon herself
(17). And yet despite this
God continued to love Israel and to
plead with her to return to
him.
God's love remains loyal and
constant. Our love for him may
falter but he is ever ready
to forgive.
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PRAY Review. What things can
draw people today away from God. Pray
that you will be kept loyal.
Ask him to help you deal with any
special temptations.
