Daily Bread – September 30, 2023 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) Jeremiah 9:24 – For if he is going to boast, then let him boast in this, that he understands and knows Me. For I am Yahowah, Who exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the Earth – for in these things I delight, says Yahowah. Proper Perspective & Living There are many today who fail to realize God is a God of judgment and righteousness as much as a God of mercy and truth. We must understand, God saved us and delivered us so we may live in His presence. The life of Jesus came into us through the shedding of His blood and the impartation of the Holy Spirit, and we will be held accountable for how we live this life of grace and glory. In this verse, as God begins executing judgment on the house of Judah and Jerusalem because of their continued sin and rebellion, He reminds His people what He delights in – lovingkindness, righteousness, and judgment. They had forsaken the ways of God and no longer desired to walk in lovingkindness, righteousness, and judgment. God had suffered long with them, and in His lovingkindness and tender mercies had allowed them to blaspheme and profane His Holy Name. However, their space of time to repent had come to an end, and the Almighty stepped in to execute judgment upon them. Many of that day complained, saying, “Wherein have we sinned?” They thought covenant and ritual was all they needed to guarantee their acceptance with God – but they were wrong. They failed to realize they needed to repent and walk in obedience before the Lord if they were going to continue in His Covenant. John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul all faced the same kind of stubborn blindness from the Jews of their day (Matthew 3:7-10; John 8:33; Romans 2-4). The children of Israel would have to come under the judgment of God even though the rest of the world was not held accountable at that time. Why? Because much had been given! The Lord had chosen them from all of the families of the Earth and given them the revelation and gift of His presence, but they choose rather to give themselves to the lusts the Gentiles had followed after – and as a result their circumcision had become uncircumcision (Amos 3:2; Jeremiah 9:26). God’s people had forsaken the Fountain of Life and had lost their boasting in His glory. Rather, they were boasting in their own accomplishments. They boasted in their own wisdom, their own might, and in their own riches; but they had forgotten altogether true spiritual understanding. They had forgotten the God of lovingkindness, righteousness, and judgment. They had forgotten God had redeemed them so they could be a treasured people who were to be devoted to walking with Him in lovingkindness, righteousness, and judgment. They instead became devoted to themselves and their own fame and prosperity. We, as God’s people, must recognize the Kingdom of God is not about ritual, but is all about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). We must put life in its proper perspective, and labor for those things which pertain unto eternal life (John 6:27; Hebrews 4:11; Matthew 6:19-20, 16:26; and Romans 2:7,10; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen