June 28
DebDay 106: Sojourners
In Jeremiah 35, God uses an entire family's generational obedience to show Jeremiah what faithful living looked like, especially in the midst of nationwide disobedience.
The Rechabites were a clan who lived a different kind of life. They had been commanded by their family's lead in a previous generation not to ever drink wine (?) Not to build houses (?) Not to plant any seeds (?) To live in such a way as to be continually reminded that nothing for them was permanent.
So, out of obedience to their ancestor, they had lived in tents, as nomads, for generations. No wine, no houses, no harvesting of crops. No permanent address.
God tells Jeremiah to gather the Rechabites all together...and provide a lot of wine for them to drink. Upon doing so, the Rechabites refuse to even touch it.
They had no intention of violating their faithful commitments.
God then goes on to say to the nation (through Jeremiah) that the Rechabites had been obedient, after receiving the lifestyle command just once from their forefather. Obedience for generations.
Meanwhile, God had continually sent His prophets (Jeremiah included) to His chosen people, persistently warning them to turn from their sin. And they had continually ignored God. Disobedience for generations.
So God says to the people, "I spoke. You didn't want to listen. I reached out. You didn't answer. I'm bringing everything I promised! On your generation!"
But to the Rechabites, God promises, "You will never lack a man to stand before me." Your family for generations will endure.
What to do with all this?
If any of us are going to live a faithful life before God, we will live a life that looks visibly contrary to most everyone else around us. A believer faithful to Jesus will live under a different set of priorities, a different set of passions, compared to the culture around us. We will be the exception, not the rule.
It may be that if any of us are going to live a faithful life before God, our lives might even look different from some of the people in our own church. Again, as exceptions, not the rule.
Coupled with that, if any of us are going to live a faithful life before God, we will willingly accept the lack of permanence. Because our eyes will be on Jesus, and not on our property, our acquisitions, our achievements, or even our previous customs and expectations.
We will, instead, be sojourners. We will be what and go where and do whatever the Lord tells us. All with no guarantees of permanence, or even assurance of any worldly success.
The faithful sojourners will do this, because, when that blessed day comes, we want to stand before Him.
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau
