Scripture: Jeremiah 32:39 – “I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them, and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, so that they may not turn from me.” (NRSVue)
We are told that actions speak louder than words. All the good ideas and good intentions in the world mean nothing if you don’t follow through on them. Our actions make a statement about where our priorities lie.
Let’s think about the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah talks a lot. The prophetic book of his preaching takes up 52 full chapters (although some of that is stories about him). You might also add the four chapters of Lamentations as well. What Jeremiah talks about the most is the displeasure of God. Jeremiah lived in a time when his society was falling apart. The political and religious leaders of the time made selfish and foolish decisions in the face of a growing imperial power from the east and the people lacked the faith in God or themselves to do anything about it. Jeremiah preached and preached and preached, but nothing changed. All it earned was scorn.
At the time when Jerusalem was besieged by the Babylonians and about to fall, Jeremiah did a strange thing. News came that his cousin wanted to sell a piece of land and that Jeremiah, through family bonds, had the right to buy it. Now this land was currently occupied by the Babylonians, who were laying waste to the country. But Jeremiah bought the field because he had faith that eventually the land would be restored.
After his words of doom, Jeremiah spoke words of comfort. But none were as powerful as him following through with that action to buy that field. Jeremiah had come to learn that hearing about God’s will from preachers and prophets was rarely enough. What was needed was an inner change, of the will of God written on the human heart and not on scrolls or tablets of stone. Only this internal connection could lead to meaningful change. Otherwise, people would follow their hearts into whatever whims or futile schemes they might envision.
So, what gets you to follow through on the things you are supposed to do? Sometimes you can reason with yourself, and sometimes there are external pressures that will force you to do things. But to make a real difference, you need to have an internal change, to want to do things naturally rather than because you think they might be a good idea. When you listen to that conscience within, you are less likely to talk your way out of doing things. You are just going to do them. You are going to take the risks necessary to make the world a better place and to show your faith in God. Take the time today to pray and to listen to what God wills you to do. It will lead you to actions rather than words and make a difference in your life and the lives of others.
Prayer: God, let me see your law written on my heart so I may act boldly in your name. Amen.
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