relationships (Lamentations 5:1-22) Continue Growing Closer

(Lamentations 5:1-22)

1   Remember, Lord, what has come upon us;
     Look, and see our disgrace!
2   Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
     Our houses to foreigners.
3   We have become orphans, without a father;
     Our mothers are like widows.
4   We have to pay for our drinking water,
     Our wood comes to us at a price.
5   Our pursuers are at our necks;
     We are worn out, we are given no rest.
6   We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
7   Our fathers sinned, and are gone;
     It is we who have been burdened with the punishment for their wrongdoings.
8   Slaves rule over us;
     There is no one to rescue us from their hand.
9   We get our bread at the risk of our lives
     Because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin has become as hot as an oven,
     Because of the ravages of hunger.
11 They violated the women in Zion,
     The virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Leaders were hung by their hands;
     Elders were not respected.
13 Young men worked at the grinding mill,
     And youths staggered under loads of wood.
14 Elders are absent from the gate,
     Young men from their music.
15 The joy of our hearts has ended;
     Our dancing has been turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head;
     Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our heart is faint,
     Because of these things our eyes are dim;
18 Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate,
     Jackals prowl in it.

19 You, Lord, rule forever;
     Your throne is from generation to generation.
20 Why will You forget us forever?
     Why do You abandon us for so long?
21 Restore us to You, Lord, so that we may be restored;
     Renew our days as of old,
22 Unless You have utterly rejected us
     And are exceedingly angry with us.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We are all born into a sinful state with a legacy and inheritance of destruction and death.  One has to realize that they are a sinner and in need of a Savior.  We also have to see that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to get to heaven.  It is when one decides to humbly go to Him for forgiveness and salvation, that we then become a child of God.  It is then that we enter into having a personal relationship with Jesus.

Becoming a believer (a Christian - a Christ-follower) means that we are born again into a new family, with a heavenly Father who's throne is righteous, sovereign and eternal.  As His children, even though we will experience struggles here on earth, our new legacy and inheritance is restoration and eternal life.  If we are not grateful and thankful for all that the Lord has done for us and given to us, then we have to ask ourselves if we have really entered into a personal relationship with the Lord.

Even though we will experience struggles here on earth, our heavenly Father wants to strengthen, guide and help us, but He will not force this on us.  Because He desires a close relationship with each of His children, He wants us to continually go to Him, and continually get to know Him better and better!  So, no matter who we are or where we come from, and no matter what is happening around us or to us, true comfort, peace and joy is only found in this personal relationship with the Lord.