Saturday, August 5
Do the right thing
Scripture: Jeremiah 9-10, Revelation 8
Jeremiah 9:23–24 The Lord says,
“Wise people should not boast that they are wise.
Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful.
Rich people should not boast that they are rich.
24 If people want to boast, they should boast about this:
They should boast that they understand and know me.
They should boast that they know and understand
that I, the Lord, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth
and that I desire people to do these things,”
says the Lord.
Observation
Jeremiah tells us what to boast about and what not to boast about. Don’t boast of your own wisdom, strength or wealth. Rather, boast that you “know and understand” the Lord. That implies deep relationship—we really know God and understand His thoughts and ways. And what are those?
God acts out of faithfulness, fairness and justice. And He wants us to do the same.
When you read Jeremiah, you see that the people of Israel, particularly the wise, powerful and rich, were not in relationship with God and were not living out faithfulness, fairness and justice. So Jeremiah calls them back to relationship with God and practically to live it out in faithfulness, fairness and justice. Do the right thing!
Application
I was recently with a friend who made a costly mistake in a business transaction. Rather than making excuses or trying to weasel out, he owned his mistake and agreed to a sizable payout. There wasn’t a moments hesitation—no question that he would do the right thing. That is someone I want to do business with—and that I’d recommend to anyone.
It’s not always easy to do the right thing. It can be costly, unpleasant, difficult. But if you know the Lord who acts with faithfulness, fairness and justice, and desires the same from us—you do the right thing.
Prayer: Lord, I love You. I love that you are faithful, fair and just. Help me to be the same—to do the right thing.