Invited & Called

“Set up signposts,
Make landmarks;
Set your heart toward the highway.
They way in which you went.
Turn back, O virgin of Israel,
Turn back to these your cities.”
Jeremiah 31:21

In Jeremiah 31 — God is yearning for His people to return to Him.

It’s an amazingly undignified thing for the Father to do. But He is earnest towards His people, and His “heart yearns for” them. So great is His love for those who are His.

And so the Lord is saying:

“Make signs, make landmarks that will help lead you (and your children)
back to the land of Israel”.

This passage could be glossed over as a bit of Biblical poetry, but it’s a fascinating, perhaps brilliant idea if taken seriously.

As I read this passage, I was reminded of something I did as a child:
Somewhere in parent’s attic there is a box full of childhood treasures. In that box, along with everything else I felt was important, are old sunday school lessons.

As a kid, I intentionally put these handouts into a box with my other childhood treasures. The idea was to put these in as a reminder for my future adult self. I figured that if I fell away from the Lord as an adult — I would find these Sunday School lessons and be reminded about my faith.

I can’t say I was the most spiritual kid — but I think I got this one right.
I was creating a signpost, a landmark.
Something to point me towards Jesus.

This isn’t a new idea. Historically it has been foundational for God’s people.

In Deuteronomy 6:6-9 the Lord says:
 
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The idea was for God’s people to always have His word before them.
To always be talking about it.
That God’s word would be at the center of everything they did.
That everywhere they turned, they would see it in front of them.

Everywhere we see signposts and advertisements — pointing the affections of our hearts in thousands of directions.

If we are wise we must make landmarks, signposts of our own. Signs that will continually remind us of the goodness and love of God; of His word; and of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus (Phil 3:8).

What signposts and landmarks do you have in your life?
How are you surrounding your life with God’s word?

Let’s build signposts and landmarks into our lives that will lead us towards God.