Jan 22 - Jeremiah 14:9

You, O Lord, are in the midst of us,

and we are called by your name …

Jeremiah 14:9

My brother-in-law loves genealogy. In fact, for Christmas, he gave my boys their full genealogy – on their mothers side. (It pretty much matches, of course, his own kid’s genealogy on their mother’s side.)

With Mary Louise’s father being Swedish, there are a lot of “sons” in my boy’s genealogy – “Ander’s son,” “Karl’s son,” “Swen’s son,” “Erik’s son,” etc. (Do you know a few Andersons, Carlsons, Swensons, Ericsons, etc.?)

I’d be a Garrison (son of Gary). Before marriage, Mary Louise would have been a Jimsdotter (daughter of Jim). How about you?

Now, I may not be named Edward Garrison, but I still carry on a family name. I am a Christian (a follower of Christ). Indeed, I know infinitely more stories about my heavenly Father and his Son than I know about hardly any earthly relatives – especially a few generations back. Indeed, this is my true identity. I am a child of God and a follow of Christ.

“We are called by your name,” chanted Jeremiah. The question is, Do you chant with the prophet the first half of this verse, “you are in the midst of us”?

It is true. God is in the midst of us. The question is, Do you live like you believe it?

Often people get into trouble because they live as if God is not really watching. We lie, we cheat, we steal … as if God isn’t there. We watch pornography … as if God isn’t watching us. We gossip, curse, and compromise … as if God’s presence is irrelevant.

I want it always to be clear – in public and in secret – that I am my Father’s son.

In Christ’s Love

Ed Thomas --

alias Edward Godson,

Ed Jesusbrotter,

and Eddie Christfollower