Mon., 7/30/12 Devotion (Jer. 26:19b)

Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 26:19b, where we read these words:

" . . . Did [Hezekiah] not fear the LORD and seek the LORD'S fa-
vor? . . . "

Here is a good formula to live by: fear the Lord, and seek His favor. To fear the Lord means to be serious about hating sin; and to seek the Lord means to be serious about believing gospel grace. Both of these notions are quite alien to our fallen natures.

This is why those (only) who are given new hearts in Christ can truly fear the Lord, and seek His favor. Perhaps we are religious, but not redeemed. What are we to do? We are to abandon our own works, and alleged righteousness, and seek the Lord. He will be found by all those who truly desire to find Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is nothing in the world more uneasy than the heart of a wicked man made to listen to spiritual instruc-
tion . . . " --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]