Your Life Shines

There's an interesting story in Jeremiah 35 about a small group of people that God tells Jeremiah to invite to a wine tasting.

2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink."

Okay, so no big deal you say. Well, it turns out the Rechabites had taken a vow of sobriety for all of their generations. So now God tells Jeremiah to bring them into the temple and offer them something they have never had before.

Now, if you are a Rechabite, what are you thinking? Jeremiah never says "God tells you to drink." And they don't. They honor the conviction their forefather had.

God knew they wouldn't touch a drop and in verse 14 "The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to your persistently, but you have not listened to me."

So all those years that the Rechabites listened to their father and kept away from alcohol, was for an object lesson against a rebellious Israel who would not listen to their Father and keep away from idols.

Perhaps you have been going along in your life as a follower of Jesus. He has been working on your life, working his life into yours. You have found yourself changing as you enjoy a wonderful relationship with him. You don't do the things you used to. You think differently and act differently. But that seems to be about it. Maybe sometimes you wonder if there is any use to your life - any way God can actually use you.

Take a lesson from the Rechabites. They didn't know why they kept dry for generations. But God had a great use for their sobriety and he will have a great use for your life as well. Keep close to him and watch - you never know when that "wine tasting" invitation might come your way.

Pastor Tom