In what ways can we prepare spiritually for God's judgment as described here? The Lion in the Thicket: Jeremiah 4:7 at a Glance “ A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins, and lie uninhabited.” God pictures judgment as a roaring predator already on the move. The warning is urgent, not theoretical. Spiritual preparedness, then, can’t be postponed. Taking Warning to Heart: Why Prepare? • Judgment is certain: “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God.” (1 Peter 4:17) • Judgment can be sudden: “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber.” (Romans 13:11) • Judgment is purifying: God uses it to separate genuine faith from empty ritual (Malachi 3:2-3). Step One: Genuine Repentance • Return, not merely regret. Joel 2:12-13—“Return to Me with all your heart… rend your hearts and not your garments.” • Confess specifically. 1 John 1:9—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive…” • Turn from sin’s direction to God’s direction. 2 Chronicles 7:14 outlines four verbs: humble, pray, seek, turn. Practical helps: – Set aside unhurried time for self-examination (Psalm 139:23-24). – Write down attitudes or habits God exposes; renounce them aloud. – Make restitution where possible (Luke 19:8). Step Two: Cultivate Holy Fear • Proverbs 1:7—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” • Isaiah 66:2—God looks with favor on “the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” Ways to grow in godly fear: – Meditate on God’s attributes: holiness (Isaiah 6), justice (Romans 2:5-6), sovereignty (Daniel 4:35). – Recall past judgments (the flood, Sodom, Jerusalem’s fall) to sharpen present sobriety. – Replace casual talk of sin with gravity and gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice. Step Three: Live by the Word • James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” • Regular intake: read, study, memorize, discuss. • Immediate application: whenever Scripture exposes something, obey the same day. • Accountability: invite a trusted believer to ask, “How are you living out what you read?” Step Four: Walk in Daily Obedience • Titus 2:11-12—Grace “trains us to renounce ungodliness… and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” • 2 Corinthians 7:1—“Cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Areas to examine: – Speech: truthfulness, edification, absence of gossip (Ephesians 4:29). – Relationships: forgiveness, peacemaking (Matthew 5:23-24). – Stewardship: time, money, gifts employed for the kingdom (1 Corinthians 4:2). – Moral purity: rejecting all forms of sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Step Five: Stand Firm in Gospel Hope • John 3:16—God’s love provides the only rescue from wrath. • Romans 8:1—“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” • Judgment remains real, but believers face it clothed in Christ’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). How to nurture this hope: – Preach the gospel to yourself daily: Christ lived, died, rose, and intercedes for you. – Celebrate the Lord’s Supper thoughtfully, remembering the cost of your pardon. – Sing songs rich in atonement truth to anchor your emotions in finished work. Encouraging One Another as the Day Approaches • Hebrews 10:24-25—Stir one another to love and good deeds, “and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Community practices: – Meet faithfully for worship and study. – Share testimonies of God’s convicting and cleansing work. – Gently confront sin in love (Galatians 6:1). – Serve side-by-side; shared mission keeps hearts alert. Living Ready Jeremiah’s lion is still a sobering picture, yet believers who repent, fear the Lord, live by His word, obey daily, and rest in Christ will stand. “The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12) |
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