Look to God Continually
In Jeremiah 45, God spoke through Jeremiah a word of encouragement for Baruch: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You have said, ‘I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the Lord has added more! I am worn out from sighing and can find no rest.’ Baruch, this is what the Lord says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted. Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the Lord, have spoken!’” (verses 2-5).
What did Baruch do to earn God’s favor? If you read the beginning of the chapter, it sounds to me like he was obedient and at the end of himself. God saw him, had compassion on him, and God wanted Baruch to know that He wasn’t ignoring him. He’d heard his cries and now, even though God would punish the nation, Baruch would be spared. What relief that must have been.
I don’t think Scripture states how Baruch lived out the rest of his days but I hope he ended well. So often, it seems like, when we are in need, we cry out to God but when God answers, we go back to our own way of living. This is not how it should be. We need to look to God continually–in the good times and the bad times. When things are going well, we have so much to thank Him for and when things aren’t going well, we need His strength to get through.
For myself, I want Christ to find genuine faith on the earth and I want it to begin with me. God doesn’t want fair weather friends any more than we do. Let’s make sure we are living lives that He can bless on a continual basis.
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