What Are You Bound To?

The prophet Jeremiah demonstrates what we are suppose to be bound to and what can happen if just listen. Jeremiah 13:11 “For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.” I love this passage and the simple visual image of a belt that is used to convey a very powerful truth about our purpose and plan. Jeremiah is told to take and wear a linen belt then to take it off and hide it in the dirt and rock. Over time the belt is no longer good for what it was created for. It demonstrates what happened to Israel as they continued to not listen to God.

God has not only chosen us, he has made us for a purpose and it is a calling that we are bound too and is bound to us, but it can quickly be forgotten when we become distracted by voices other than the one who has chosen and called us out to himself. He doesn’t force us to do this, but out of relationship and responsibility we are bound to it. When we don’t live out that purpose when we allow pride and sin to keep us untied to it, when we don’t put ourselves in the places where we are to be used by God and for Him we become useless in the kingdom. Sounds harsh, but that’s what this vision illustrates. We go from being bound to a purpose to being unbound in uselessness.

Our purpose is to glorify God in everything we do. We are bound to that honor. To be bound by God’s will and his love, being faithful to “be God’s people for His renown and praise and honor” Jeremiah 13:11 . It is awesome to wake up each day to know that I’m already living out God’s purpose and not still trying to find it. I get such a strength and peace knowing that I am wearing my day as God chose me, rather than trying to look for something as if it were hidden from me. Thank God today that you are his renown and praise Him and honor Him with all you do today.