How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! Lamentations 4:1-2
In my jewelry case, I keep a polish cloth, one side cleans away the impurities and the other is for polishing and making the jewelry shine. Whatever chemical the cloth possesses, is for the sole purpose of restoring my gold and silver. No matter what the elements of the air may bring or causes it to tarnish; or how it’s being kept affects the outward appearance, the cloth will restore it to its natural beauty. Keep that thought.
Jeremiah expresses so much grief, as well as mourning in the book of Lamentations for Jerusalem, yet, in spite of all and in the midst of everything that was going on, he still found comfort and hope in the God he knew and loved would hear his prayer and petitions. Simply, he believed God would restore Jerusalem in spite of themselves. This chapter speaks not only to the conditions of their siege during this time, but to the cause and the consequences of that siege. However, Jeremiah was confident that no matter how far the people had gone in their sin, and although there would be harsh consequences, he knew God was able to restore and that there was hope for Jerusalem. So, he pleads on their behalf and goes to God and cries out for them. Jeremiah, who like Jesus, does the same for us today, advocates on our behalf. The scripture says, The sons of Zion, the prophets and the priests can be compared to fine gold, how they are esteemed, respected, valued, and well regarded as men and how they had been shaped into products by the Master Potter, yet, they were responsible for ruining the nation with their sinful ways. Jeremiah explains the comparison in regards to all they have been given and who they were to God with the unacceptable and shameful behavior they were showing. Chastisement and punishment was necessary.
God has truly made us as precious vessels of gold, just as Jerusalem, so that we can be the esteemed, respected, and valued highly carriers of this great Gospel. He has taken the time to shape and mold us (if we allow Him), clean and polish us into His beautiful holy vessels. Vessels, that serve in many capacities, vessels that have been given many gifts, talents, and directives for the up building of the Kingdom and certainly for His glory. Even when we are disobedience, rebellious, and defiant, He is still right there to restore to us our shine through repentance. By grace we are forgiven, and by faith we are tried by fire. That keeps us cleaned and polished for His glory. The scripture tells us this, “that we may be found into praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ us” (I Peter 1:7); a little fire to burn off the dross, so that we can be found free from the things that bring down our value and cleanse us and with a little polishing, we are restored to our splendor. Remembering the thought: God being the polish cloth, one who cleanses away the impurities, as well as polishes and makes us shine. He possesses whatever is needed in Him for the restoring of us according toHis purpose. No matter what the elements (circumstances, situations, hardships, or turmoil, etc.) of the air may bring or causes us to tarnish; or how there will be things that will affects the outward appearance, the cloth can and will restore it to its natural beauty. Amen?
Praise God for His mercy and grace for as we are dulled sometimes by the process of life, He is still there to clean, polish and restore us to be the treasure in these earthen vessels. For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body (2 Cor 4:7-10). For this is the purpose for which it is imperative to stay clean and polished!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
In my jewelry case, I keep a polish cloth, one side cleans away the impurities and the other is for polishing and making the jewelry shine. Whatever chemical the cloth possesses, is for the sole purpose of restoring my gold and silver. No matter what the elements of the air may bring or causes it to tarnish; or how it’s being kept affects the outward appearance, the cloth will restore it to its natural beauty. Keep that thought.
Jeremiah expresses so much grief, as well as mourning in the book of Lamentations for Jerusalem, yet, in spite of all and in the midst of everything that was going on, he still found comfort and hope in the God he knew and loved would hear his prayer and petitions. Simply, he believed God would restore Jerusalem in spite of themselves. This chapter speaks not only to the conditions of their siege during this time, but to the cause and the consequences of that siege. However, Jeremiah was confident that no matter how far the people had gone in their sin, and although there would be harsh consequences, he knew God was able to restore and that there was hope for Jerusalem. So, he pleads on their behalf and goes to God and cries out for them. Jeremiah, who like Jesus, does the same for us today, advocates on our behalf. The scripture says, The sons of Zion, the prophets and the priests can be compared to fine gold, how they are esteemed, respected, valued, and well regarded as men and how they had been shaped into products by the Master Potter, yet, they were responsible for ruining the nation with their sinful ways. Jeremiah explains the comparison in regards to all they have been given and who they were to God with the unacceptable and shameful behavior they were showing. Chastisement and punishment was necessary.
God has truly made us as precious vessels of gold, just as Jerusalem, so that we can be the esteemed, respected, and valued highly carriers of this great Gospel. He has taken the time to shape and mold us (if we allow Him), clean and polish us into His beautiful holy vessels. Vessels, that serve in many capacities, vessels that have been given many gifts, talents, and directives for the up building of the Kingdom and certainly for His glory. Even when we are disobedience, rebellious, and defiant, He is still right there to restore to us our shine through repentance. By grace we are forgiven, and by faith we are tried by fire. That keeps us cleaned and polished for His glory. The scripture tells us this, “that we may be found into praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ us” (I Peter 1:7); a little fire to burn off the dross, so that we can be found free from the things that bring down our value and cleanse us and with a little polishing, we are restored to our splendor. Remembering the thought: God being the polish cloth, one who cleanses away the impurities, as well as polishes and makes us shine. He possesses whatever is needed in Him for the restoring of us according toHis purpose. No matter what the elements (circumstances, situations, hardships, or turmoil, etc.) of the air may bring or causes us to tarnish; or how there will be things that will affects the outward appearance, the cloth can and will restore it to its natural beauty. Amen?
Praise God for His mercy and grace for as we are dulled sometimes by the process of life, He is still there to clean, polish and restore us to be the treasure in these earthen vessels. For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body (2 Cor 4:7-10). For this is the purpose for which it is imperative to stay clean and polished!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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