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The Power of One
Posted by
Steve Grusendorf
,
08 October 2013
·
1186 views
The prophet Jeremiah had a difficult task. He was to speak of the destruction of the city of God. Yet in the opening chapters of the book that bear his name God makes a powerful promise that it still worth pondering today.
“…Look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city” (Jeremiah 5:1).
Jeremiah was invited to scour the city for one righteous soul. The reward for finding such a person was that God himself would forgive the entire city.
Really? God would forgive the violence? the adultery? the debauchery? the filth?
Yes. God would forgive the city if one righteous person could be found.
This challenges me to rethink the way I approach two issues.
First, instead of getting frustrated that God does not judge the wickedness of a city or a nation I need to pray that God withholds His judgment because of the righteousness of another. This in turn means that we as Christians need to run into to the darkness with the light.
Second, I need to pursue righteousness with all my heart for the sake of my family, my neighbors, and my community. What if God sent Jeremiah to East Windsor NJ and gave him the same assignment? Would God spare my city because I was found righteous?
Let’s be men and women who live in such a way that we save our city. Let's be churches who send our sons and daughters to serve God and push back the darkness in cities where the name of Jesus has yet to be heard.
Community Questions:
“…Look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city” (Jeremiah 5:1).
Jeremiah was invited to scour the city for one righteous soul. The reward for finding such a person was that God himself would forgive the entire city.
Really? God would forgive the violence? the adultery? the debauchery? the filth?
Yes. God would forgive the city if one righteous person could be found.
This challenges me to rethink the way I approach two issues.
First, instead of getting frustrated that God does not judge the wickedness of a city or a nation I need to pray that God withholds His judgment because of the righteousness of another. This in turn means that we as Christians need to run into to the darkness with the light.
Second, I need to pursue righteousness with all my heart for the sake of my family, my neighbors, and my community. What if God sent Jeremiah to East Windsor NJ and gave him the same assignment? Would God spare my city because I was found righteous?
Let’s be men and women who live in such a way that we save our city. Let's be churches who send our sons and daughters to serve God and push back the darkness in cities where the name of Jesus has yet to be heard.
Community Questions:
- Read Jeremiah 4:2. What are three essential pursuits a man or woman of God must have?
- How can we help our local churches see the need to "push back the darkness" so that cities around may avoid the judgment of God?
- Don Sappington, Sarah Baker, elizabethcog and 1 other like this
