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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You told Jeremiah that the sinful heart was “deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9 NIV). Yet what is impossible for men is possible for you! (Mark 10:27). Though my sins were like scarlet, they are as white as snow; though they were red like crimson, they have become like wool (Isa 1:18). Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! Hallelujah! Today in Your Word Today you shared with me the last of Jeremiah’s prophecies during the reign of king Josiah. The people had promised to keep your covenant (2 Kgs 23:3), but they were disobeying one of its fundamental commands: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exod 20:8). Jeremiah warned them that if they didn’t obey, a fire would devour the gates and palaces of Jerusalem. This teaches me the importance of honoring your day of rest. When I refrain from working on Sunday, I am sanctifying the day as yours and showing others that I respect your commands. It didn’t take long for the people to get tired of hearing Jeremiah tell them that Jerusalem would be destroyed. They argued with him, insisting that you had promised to build up Judah and so the city couldn’t be destroyed. You sent Jeremiah down to the potter’s house and showed him that your promises were conditional—they depended on the actions of your people. Sin could keep you from prospering a nation, while repentance could keep you from destroying a nation (Jer 18:7–10). This teaches me that my relationship with you depends on how I respond to your grace. If you didn’t spare your chosen people when they turned away from you, you won’t spare me if I reject the precious blood of your Son (Heb 2:1–3). The object lesson of the broken jar—“I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel”—proved to be the last straw for Pashhur the priest. He seized Jeremiah, beat him and forced him to spend a night in the stocks. Jeremiah was humiliated by the experience and complained bitterly to you: “I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. Cursed be the day on which I was born!” (Jer 20:7, 14). This teaches me that I can expect to be persecuted when I tell people the truth of your word. I need to remember that success is found in obedience to you, not in the reactions of the people I’m serving. Reflection Jeremiah did well to bring his anger and frustration to you, but I can’t help wondering how things might have turned out if he had spent the night singing hymns (cf. Acts 16:22–26). Request Father, may I never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If Jeremiah could be faithful in proclaiming the bad news, how can I be any less faithful in proclaiming the good news! Give me the courage and strength to stand firm in my witness for you! Thanksgiving Thank you for showing me that you will be with me just as you were with Jeremiah! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Lord Jesus, Help Me” — William J. Henry. Meditation Verse: Jeremiah 17:7–8. |