Grace1

Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.
Jeremiah 12:1‭-‬2 ESV

Jeremiah is asking the Lord some bold questions here in verses 1-4. Jeremiah has just learned that the men of Anathoth, Jeremiah’s own hometown (Jer. 1:1) schemed to have him killed. They actually ordered him not to prophesy or he would die by their hands. Just wanted you to understand Jeremiah’s state of mind and how brokenhearted he must have been.

I don’t know about you, but anytime any form of persecution comes whether it’s rejection or the most severe cases giving our life to follow Christ. I believe it still hurts the worst when it comes from your community, friends or family.
Seems that our enemy loves to stir up those in a community against each other. I believe every single snare or pit that is dug in the body is to get us to pick each other apart to the bone. Sometimes we do it innocently, I have done it. I know we all have. I believe though once we know and see it, we can change it, of course through The Holy Spirit.

I suppose I am more tender to it because I am in a calling of my own that the enemy loves to persecute me whenever he gets the chance. That is a part of the territory and believe me the Lord is and has brought this tender-hearted girl long ways. I would do it over and over a thousand times over, because persecution keeps you humble, full of humility, and honest in front of the Lord, in my opinion. I believe that is why in the book of James it says during various trials and tribulations count it as joy! It is refining your faith.

So, Jeremiah is complaining to the Lord why does he allow this to happen! Then he says, Lord! You know me, you have seen me, you have tested my heart toward you (Verse 3).

So he went from complaining to pity party in a matter of seconds! We do the same thing. We feel like everything is wrong, when in fact God is strengthening us. It is okay it’s our flesh dying. It is not ever going to feel good.

I really love verse five which caught my eye because in Hebrew five means grace. How fitting! His grace is sufficient. Here is God’s reply to Jeremiah (Jer. 12:5)

“If you have run with the footman, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? For even your brothers, the house of your father. Even they have dealt treacherously with you; Yes, they called a multitude after you. Do not believe them, Even though they speak smooth words to you.

Last thought, when you are following Jesus and He has called you to something that even leaves you with your mouth wide open. Don’t be thrown for a loop when the enemy of our souls stirs up persecution. Unfortunately, he will, but down deep in your soul know this. No matter what know that God is allowing it to happen to purify your faith. He is allowing hard situations to test your heart toward Him, He is strengthening you spiritually so you will be able to run against the horses of our enemy. We are warrior’s and we have to be trained. Remember that we do not wrestle against people but we wrestle against our enemy Satan. Eph. 6