NMC Audio Podcast

Life is not rainbows and unicorns. We are real people with real problems. But why are things so broken? Doesn’t God care? Why doesn’t he seem to do anything? In this message, Pastor Kevin will unpack Gods heart for restoration and the steps we can take to experience the health, healing, and wholeness found in Christ.

Everybody goes through hard times. We long for an escape. Certainly there has to be a way out of the pain and disappointment. Yet sometimes the Lord, in His providence, has us exactly where He wants us—for a season. It’s in those times, we learn about His sustaining grace and perfect plan for our lives.

The words justice and righteousness are frequently used all throughout the Old Testament, and both are so tightly tied to the very character of God. In Jeremiah, the Lord reveals His frustration with the people of God for not following His ways of justice and righteousness. The question for us today then is, "Are we just and right in the eyes of the Lord?"

In a few different places, the Bible refers to our pursuit of Christ as a race. Fight the good fight! Run the race! It would be good wisdom then to ask the question, "What race am I running?" Or maybe the question is, "Am I running any race?" The Lord spoke over Jeremiah and speaks over us today: “You were made to run with horses!”

If you keep going the way you are going, where will you end up? What words would you use to describe your “way?” Is it tough? Is it hard? Is it sweet? Is it rewarding? The best question might be, "Is it the good way?" Jeremiah gives some blunt, direct guidelines for getting on the good way. This could be a tipping point moment for you in making wise choices to get on His way—the good way.

Israel, time and time again, was lured away from worshipping the one true God and gave their awe and reverence to idols and false gods. Time and time again, the prophets, including Jeremiah, called the people of God to repentance, to turn from their wicked ways. As old as Adam and Eve and as new as the present moment, it is time for the people of God to once again wake up!

Jeremiah is frequently described as the most human prophet. We see first-hand his doubts, anger, tears, and confusion. Jeremiah, through the incredibly difficult mission God appointed him to, reminds us that how we live and who we are becoming is of the upmost importance. Jeremiah’s prophetic word challenges us not only to know God’s way, but also to live in God’s way.

Many of us can be quite guarded, even with close friends. This hidden heart can be a serious limitation to Christian growth. Vulnerability in Christian community is the answer. Opening wide our hearts to one another is one expression of truthfulness and makes meaningful accountability possible. But only if we’re willing to be seen.

Learning to live in the way of Jesus takes time. Staying the course in living like Jesus takes intentional focus. We all, from time to time, need course correction and encouragement to stay the course. So, who’s checking in on you?