Pronouncing the One Way

Scripture: They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. Jeremiah 32:38-39

Observation: For the second time in this section, Jeremiah's prophesy relates to the future return to faith of the Lord's people. In this return, his people will call him their God, and he will give them "one heart" and a deeper understanding of his ways, precepts, and teachings. This will be an everlasting covenant, and will again be rooted in a permanent king from David.

God says he will give us "one way". And directly from this prophesy, Jesus called himself "the way". After the resurrection, the initial Christian community was called the 'followers of the way'. The early community - and even the Jewish leaders around them - understood the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophesy occurring through Jesus. Faith in Jesus was a new way, and a new covenant, founded by an everlasting king of the line of David, that would gather ALL people to now be the Lord's people. Into those believers he would bestow the Holy Spirit as the counselor and teacher in our hearts, so that we would have new understanding of the Lord's precepts, commands, and laws.

Application: I stand firm in the belief that there is only one way to salvation and grace from the Lord, and that is faith in Jesus. Those who don't believe thus must "find their own way" ... which doesn't exist, and yet we know they try. They try ... meditation, idol worship, self-actualization, hedonism, and even total rejection of the existence of any god.

I am a believer in the way, and Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. In prison, Jeremiah knew this and stood fast by that belief, too. He saw the day of salvation of all people, and I live in the day of the kingdom he saw. His words resonate across 2,500 years because they were not his words ... they were the promise of the one true God, the Lord almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Prayer: Lord, your word and your way is perfect, and an amazing gift and blessing. I will worship you forever, trust in you alone, and seek your will daily. Amen.