"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place."
Jeremiah 7:3
This verse reminds me that we take so many things in life for granted. We think that we "deserve" or are owed them, when actually almost everything is a privilege and a blessing. Where we live is one of these things, and what is addressed by the verse, and it reminds me of God sending people to the promised land (which was different for different groups), and watching over them there. We should never take our promised land for granted, because if we don't live right and honor that privilege, then God will let someone else inherit it.
Not just with land. We have talents that work the same way, as we learn in the parable of the talents. And I think that this probably applies to all, or almost all, of our blessings in life. If we don't take care of them and honor God's gifts, then he will pass them on to someone who will take care of them.
Now of course this doesn't mean that everything we lose is our fault, or that it all happens instantly. Sometimes loss is just a trial that we have to learn from, and God gives us plenty of space to learn and grow, and he is very merciful. It might happen quickly in some cases, as with Oliver Cowdery translating the plates (D&C 9:10), but more often we have a longer time to figure things out and learn. A good thing to think about, even so. What things can we amend in our lives in order to honor the gifts that the Lord has given us? How can we be more thankful, and not take God's blessings for granted?
(Feel free to comment with ideas.)
Jeremiah 7:3
This verse reminds me that we take so many things in life for granted. We think that we "deserve" or are owed them, when actually almost everything is a privilege and a blessing. Where we live is one of these things, and what is addressed by the verse, and it reminds me of God sending people to the promised land (which was different for different groups), and watching over them there. We should never take our promised land for granted, because if we don't live right and honor that privilege, then God will let someone else inherit it.
Not just with land. We have talents that work the same way, as we learn in the parable of the talents. And I think that this probably applies to all, or almost all, of our blessings in life. If we don't take care of them and honor God's gifts, then he will pass them on to someone who will take care of them.
Now of course this doesn't mean that everything we lose is our fault, or that it all happens instantly. Sometimes loss is just a trial that we have to learn from, and God gives us plenty of space to learn and grow, and he is very merciful. It might happen quickly in some cases, as with Oliver Cowdery translating the plates (D&C 9:10), but more often we have a longer time to figure things out and learn. A good thing to think about, even so. What things can we amend in our lives in order to honor the gifts that the Lord has given us? How can we be more thankful, and not take God's blessings for granted?
(Feel free to comment with ideas.)
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