"Current" Relationship

“In that day,” says the LORD, “when people are taking an oath, they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ Then they will live in their own land.” [Jeremiah 23.7-8]

As insignificant as this little passage may be in comparison to Jeremiah's preceding prophetic words about Messiah, it does convey an important prophecy for Israel, but also an important principle for us today.

Jeremiah 23.7-8 clearly indicates that Israel will indeed return from their exile to Babylon. However, in making this statement, I believe Jeremiah also reveals something about a "progression" found in a genuine "current" relationship with God.

Here's my point: it is one thing for God's people today to rejoice in God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt - even exalt His name, sing songs and quote Bible verses for God's parting of the Red Sea, making a rock produce water, providing manna, etc... But it is quite another thing for God's people to rejoice in the significant thing God did this morning...

What? No response?

How about rejoicing in what God did last week?

Still no hands in the air?

How about what major breakthrough God clearly performed on behalf of His people this year?

See where I am going with this?

Have God's people today (ie. today) walked with God through an undeniable victory that is worthy of writing songs and chronicling for posterity?

<<Crickets>>

The fact is, we probably will not recognize God moving in a major way until we recognize Him moving in the small ways. Quite possibly, the small things may be the very building blocks of the large thing. And, if we fail to recognize the small things as God's, it is highly unlikely our focus will ever perceive the large things they combine to become.

Here is a real news headline from a couple days ago:

"Earth broke the record for the shortest day since atomic clocks were invented"

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

Most people's minds immediately wonder, "What has man done to alter the earth?" Climate change is the immediate response because that is the prevailing idea today.  But perhaps few will recall words spoken and then written long before "climate change" was even a buzzword:

And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. [Matthew 24.22 NKJV]

God is currently working in the earth today! Regardless what mankind chooses to call the events going on now, the Bible already has it mapped out! If we can begin to see the "small things" (shorter days, prophesied by none other than Jesus Christ), then perhaps our eyes can begin to see and our hearts understand the "big things" like, "Jesus is coming soon."

Jesus IS coming soon. ALL GLORY TO GOD!

Father, I want to "unlearn" the world's estimation of our circumstances and instead "learn" what Your Word has been saying all along. As I do, I increasingly see Your glorious name exalted! May my relationship with You be current!