Contemplative Bible Reading

Jeremiah 32:36-41 (New International Version)

³⁶ “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be handed over to the king of Babylon’; but this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ³⁷ I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. ³⁸ They will be my people, and I will be their God. ³⁹ I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. ⁴⁰ I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. ⁴¹ I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

I am not sure if I have ever been in a group of people who had singleness of heart and action. Everyone would have the same goal and would work towards that same goal. I guess if I made the goal big, broad, and vague enough (keep America free), then I have seen such singleness. But if I reduce the goal to something smaller and more specific, things fall apart. People just don’t seem to want to work towards the same thing.

Perhaps that isn’t a bad thing. People differ in many ways; people have differing talents and desires. If we use our different talents and go out and work in different areas, much good can be accomplished.

If, however, we argue about differing goals and all sit around waiting for everyone else to come around to my way of thinking. Well, nothing much happens, at least nothing with much good happens.

Perhaps having a large, vague goal and gathering singleness of heart around that is a good thing. It certainly seems better than bickering.

God, help us to seek singleness of heart and action about you. Help us to always fear and respect you for the good of ourselves and our children.