Jeremiah 35:5-7 - I set cups and jugs of wine before them and
invited them to have a drink, but they
refused. "No," they said. "We don't drink wine, because
Jehonadab son of Recab, our ancestor, gave us this command: 'You
and your descendants must never drink wine. And do not build houses or plant crops or
vineyards, but always live in tents. If you follow these commands, you will
live long, good lives in the land.'
Jeremiah had been told by God to invite a clan of people to
the Temple and serve them wine. He knew that these Recabites had taken a
serious oath to never drink….and had kept their promise for hundreds of years…
through several generations. God wanted
to use their obedience and faith in the promise of God as a model for the rest
of the Israelites. He wanted them to know that it was possible to make a
promise and keep it forever.
When we take God into our heart…he changes the passion we
have for things that are not his will. The basic ten commandments are written
on our heart…and we are supposed to use them to make all our other decisions. Our
relationships with others should change and be less selfish. The passion he planted deep within us to keep
those rules…should power our ability to say no to the things we know are not
his will.
The road map he gave us is clear…our heart just has trouble
staying focused in a world where everyone hasn’t made the same promises to God.
We have dissected the Bible…and twisted the rules so many times that even for
the strongest Christian…they seem blurry and imprecise. Sometimes the problem isn’t
saying no…it is what to say no too. Sometimes the problem isn’t always what to
say no too…it’s how to say no without hurting someone else’s feelings….or
telling them you think their theology is not in line with the Bible.
The story reminds me this morning that love must rule everything
we do. The Racabites did not go into a frenzy on Jeremiah for having wine in the
Temple. They did not try to force their
promise onto him. They politely said…no
thanks…and explained why they could not join him in a drink. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
says…. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.”
Father…thank you for reminding me to revisit the promises I
made to you in my lifetime…and make sure that I am keeping those vows to you
pure. Forgive me for all the times that
I have broken my promise and help me to search deep in my heart for the ones I
need to ask you for a do over. Thank you
also for reminding me that I was the one who made the promise…that when I say
no thank you…my words must model your love and patience with others who have
not made the same vows. Show me how to be less condemning and more patient and
kind. Amen.
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