DATE POSTED
Friday, February 14, 2025, 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
Read it in your Bible or click Jeremiah 13:1-11 to read it in The Voice (VOICE).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
Especially after reading the opening verses of Jeremiah 13 and seeing how God used a very vivid illustration to show Jeremiah how close He wanted to be to His people, verse 11 became very special to me. That’s where God said to His servant: Just as the undergarment clings to a person’s waist, so did I, the Eternal One, make Israel and Judah to cling tightly to Me. They were to be My people, known by all, bringing honor and glory to My name. That was My plan for them, but they did not listen. This reminded me that God created us, and just as He wanted to be close to His people, Israel, so He also desires a close and intimate relationship with us. My wife and I desire a close relationship with our only daughter, so it is very easy to understand how God would desire this of His children. It hurts me to hear family speak of it being years since they visited with parents or siblings. For, as part of the same family, we are born and raised in the same home, and we experienced their love through the highs and lows of family life together. When we separate and go our own way, which is very normal, it’s like a piece of ourselves had been severed away. God illustrated to Jeremiah through an undergarment, or a loin cloth. how close and intimate he intended for His children to be to Him. However, when separated, disregarded, and stashed away to themselves, God showed how the Israelites would rot, or deteriorate, just like the undergarment did. Although these are the real facts taught be God in this illustration, I believe that the positive spin for those of us who know Jesus as Savior and Lord, is that when we stay in close, intimate relationship with God and His children who also follow in the same intimacy, we will thrive in His kingdom work and in the glories of His heavenly home when we were called from this earth. Friends, I believe that you are very similar to me in that when we know that someone loves us enough to want us close and spend intimate and close time with them, I am encouraged because I know I am valued, loved, wanted, and blessed beyond anything I could imagine. I tend to thrive in such scenarios, and I believe you will also, no matter how hardened you may be through peer pressure. This whole Scripture also reminded me of another story in the New Testament, when Jesus wept over Israel because of the destruction He saw coming to them. We can identify with that, because we never want to see bad things come to those we love, and desire relationship with. How do you envision God reacting to your lifestyle, your commitment, and your response to His desire to have you close to Him? Is He rejoicing with the angels in heaven, or is He weeping like He did in Luke 19:41-44 when He wept over Jerusalem? Discipline came to the Israelites because of their disregard for their Creator. Do you foresee that in your future, or are you willing to seek forgiveness from God through His Son, Jesus, and seek His help and guidance to live going forward in a manner pleasing to our Savior?

PRAYER
It is so easy to love You, Lord Jesus, because You demonstrated Your love for me while I was but a sinner, undeserving of such love. I can hardly imagine the anguish as You watched while the Israelites rejected You in Herod’s court and at Calvary. They disregard Your love for them. It is beyond comprehension how those that You were about to be crucified for, could arrest, beat and disrespect You in such awful ways. I can’t begin to imagine how I would feel if my wife, or anyone that I love dearly, was to treat me in such a deplorable way, yet You went to the cross anyway, You bore our sin anyway, and You were crushed to the state of death anyway. But praise to my living and victorious God, You raised Jesus from the dead so that we could experience heaven and spend eternity with You! Some have chosen to ignore this remarkable gift though, so I plead with You to continue speaking to them through the Scriptures, just as You enlightened me today. Oh, that the lost will search and find a Savior, and may the saved be constantly reminded of the sweet relationship that You desire of those You created, died for, and prepared a place for in heaven. We are indeed a blessed and loved people, dear Lord, thank You, and AMEN!!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, I encourage you to find a church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you make 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!