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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. You are the true and living God, the everlasting King. When you are angry the earth trembles and the nations cannot endure your wrath. You made the earth by your power and stretched out the heavens by your understanding (Jer 10:6, 10, 12). I worship you today and praise your name! All glory and honor be to the King of kings! Today in Your Word Today you shared with me more of Jeremiah’s ministry as your “prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:5). You told Jeremiah to stand in the gate of the temple and condemn the people for their sin: “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, ‘We are safe’—safe to do all these detestable things?” (Jer 7:9–10 NIV). This teaches me that the appearance of godliness is not always what it seems, for people retain the trappings of religion long after their hearts have gone astray. Jesus recalled Jeremiah’s words when he cleansed the temple over 600 years later: “Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord” (Jer 7:11 NIV; cf. Matt 21:13). Judah’s day of judgment was fast approaching, and they had no one to blame but themselves. Most frustrating of all, they didn’t believe that you would destroy them. They said things like, “This is the temple of the Lord (He would never let it be destroyed). We are wise and the law of the Lord is with us. Peace, peace!” (Jer 7:4; 8:8, 11). Jeremiah tried to break through these lies, but nothing he said would persuade them. Yet you didn’t give up. You kept sending Jeremiah back to warn them. This teaches me that you are longsuffering and faithful. You do everything you can to keep people from flinging themselves into a devil’s hell, and when nothing will turn them from their folly, you grieve over their fate: “Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jer 9:1). This shows me that grief is a godly response to the stubbornness of people’s hearts. I pray that I may never cause you such pain! Reflection The people of Judah thought they could get away with sin because they were your chosen people. Do I think that because I’m a Christian, I can sin and get by? I need to remember: “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). Request “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O Lord, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing” (Jer 10:23–24). Thanksgiving Thank you for your precious word! I boast in this, that I understand and know you. You are the Lord who practices lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth, and in these things, you take delight! (Jer 9:23–24 NASB). In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Balm in Gilead” — Clara M. Brooks. Meditation Verse: Jeremiah 7:23. |