You Are Loved and Accepted

Jeremiah was a thundering prophet of the Old Testament. Every word he preached was like a sword cutting into the flesh. He angered politicians and church leaders so much they threw him into prison.

But all the time, this weeping prophet looked forward to a day when God would visit his people and change their hearts. Jeremiah knew that God pitied His people and loved them with an everlasting love.

As predicted in Jeremiah 24, Christ was sent by the Father to fulfill the New Covenant. He sealed the agreement with His very own blood and put it into effect the day he died. This means God is not dealing with our generation as he did with Jeremiah's. We have new agreement based on better promises. Jeremiah's message of Law has been fulfilled now in the finished work of Jesus Christ. And what a difference between the thunder of Jeremiah, and the mercy of Jesus.

In our Lord's final hour, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father about his disciples. Remember, Peter would betray him within hours, Thomas would doubt him, and all the disciples would forsake him and return to their homes. But Jesus would not condemn them, as we see in this fantastic prayer in John 17:

"[Father], You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word ... I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them ...They are not of this world ... The glory You gave Me I have given them ... You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me" (John 17: 6, 8, 16, 22-23).

We say, "But, Jesus, don't you see what is in Peter's heart? He's going to betray you! And Thomas is full of fear and trembling. How can you pray for them to be loved when they're so weak?"

Oh, yes, their sin grieved Jesus but the New Covenant was being ushered in and it would feature forgiveness, mercy and grace. "I will forgive their iniquities; I will remember their sins no more." Jeremiah, under the Old Covenant, preached, "Your sins have cut Him off from you," but Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."

Things are different now. Sin is still hated by God, but we have a living Savior, seated at the right hand of the Father, still praying for us. Jesus is trying to say to us, "You do not need a thundering Jeremiah to keep you from sin and the world. You need only to accept me, repent, and draw closer to me. No condemnation. No fear. Simply love me completely and you will forsake all your sins."