December 1- Jeremiah 24:7

THE VERSE

I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
~Jeremiah 24:7

THE THOUGHT

The omnipotent mercy of God is the bedrock of our hope. If He, in His conquering love, did not stoop to giving us a new heart to know Him and return to Him, we simply never would. We would be left spiritually dead and blind with hard hearts and alienated minds, with no inclination to cease our suicidal rebellion against the King. On our own, our fallen hearts don't naturally love what is most lovely-- namely, God-- our fallen eyes aren't enthralled with what is most glorious-- namely, God-- our fallen minds don't embrace what is most infinite-- namely, God-- and our fallen tongues don't taste and see what is most good-- namely, God.

But through the incredible grace of God, the story of salvation doesn't end there. Listen to the sovereign hand of God in these promises of redemption: "I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD." "I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes." "God has granted them repentance that leads to life." "May the God of peace… equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ."

Salvation doesn't begin or end with us, and that is the best news in the world, for it means that God gets all glory, and we get all grace.

THE PRAYER

Lord, Thank you for breaking through the hardness of my heart and for conquering me with Your great love. It is only because of You that I stand forgiven, for I know the depths of my heart, and I know that I would never have loved You if You had not set Your love on me first. Thank you for purchasing my life on the cross and calling me by Your Spirit into everlasting glory and joy.