No one wanted to bring hurt and pain to any of their loved ones, and that is exactly how God feels too.

Jeremiah 4:1-31

Reference:  v.18  "Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you.  This is your punishment.  How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!"  (NIV Bible)

Explore:  This week in communion we were asked the question, 'Think of two people that you love dearly.  Now choose, which would you send to heaven and which one would you send to hell?'  It was one of those impossible questions and brought about by our communion leader reading the book The Shack.  No one wanted to bring hurt and pain to any of their loved ones, and that is exactly how God feels too.  We are all His children and that one question gave us a small insight into what God must feel when He sees people making the wrong choices and taking a road towards destruction.  

Application:  In the forth chapter of Jeremiah we hear how the Israelites have turned away from God and now their enemies are defeating them.  God does not sit back in His heavenly throne, shake His head and say, "I told you so!"  No, he speaks words of anguish and pain as He watches His children suffer.  This God in Jeremiah is the same God we can worship today.  He does not relish in our difficult times but He understands our suffering and grieves with us.  While we often pay the consequence for our sin, and even other people's sin, our gracious God will always be open to us turning back to Him.

Prayer:  Lord, forgive us when we turn away from You.  Thank You for always accepting us when we return to You.  Amen.

What feelings would God have towards you today?