DATE POSTED
Monday, December 9, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) and found in Jeremiah 2:5-8

THE SCRIPTURE READS
⁵ This is what the Lord says: “What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves. ⁶ They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us safely out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness….
⁷ “And when I brought you into a fruitful land to enjoy its bounty and goodness, you defiled my land and corrupted the possession I had promised you. ⁸ The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who taught my word ignored me, the rulers turned against me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I trust that this Scripture today will not be read just as a piece of history about the stubborn, ungrateful, and sinful Israelites. For I believe that God wants to remind us that not a whole lot has changed over time. I am certain that God still sees, and must be saddened by, the broken, neglected, haphazard and lackadaisical relationships with His Son, Jesus, by children – you and I, still today. It is unfortunate that this comes even after allowing us time to understand how sad this was for God, to experience this disregard with the Israelites. How heart-wrenching it was to read about the saddened heart of God when He saw how His children disregarded all the good, and the many miracles He performed to enable safe passage for them out of slavery and towards a new beginning – a thriving, abundantly producing country that God had prepared just for them. Yet God saw them turn aside from Him during their travels to, and again, in their new land. However, dear friends, it is vitally important that we examine our own hearts. Did we give God reason to jump with joy at our attitude of praise and thanksgiving this morning as we celebrated His blessings of opening our eyes one more time? Did we take time to celebrate in appreciation for His provisions, protection and guidance over past days? Or could God possibly be looking at us like He did with the Israelites, in wondering what fault we are finding with Him? Let’s be reminded that when we look for our blessings, Satan will do his best to push his evil agenda by showing us our problems and sometimes unfortunate circumstances. But let’s always remember that ‘greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world’. From a very early age, we were taught to appreciate what others do for us. Know that God is on our side, dear child of God, and He will look out for His children and love us until He returns to take us home to glory to be with Him. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and let’s be so filled with love and appreciation for our Father, that there would never be a time He may see, or feel, our ungratefulness.

PRAYER
Precious Lord, please take my hand and guide, protect and direct my path one more day, so that others may have one more opportunity to experience Your goodness. Please give me protection from the evil one, so that my heart, soul and mind would be fixed on You, and remain constant in my faith. I am saddened by the thought of You feeling slighted by Your children, but this has opened my heart to being more alert to the times when I fail to share my gratitude for all that You do for me, and also recognize how awesome are Your works in every way, every day. Please continue to bless Your people, oh God, and also speak intently to those who may become lax in their relationship with You. My unsaved loved ones need a touch from You and also those around me who may not know You as Lord. Please continue Your work in their lives and draw them to Yourself, is my humble plea today oh Lord. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!