“5. Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? 6. Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7. And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. 8. The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. 9. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.”
When your friends think of you, what do you think the first thing is that comes to mind? If you are a sportsmen, could it be, “he or she likes to fish”, or “that guy spends a lot of time chasing animals”. Maybe its “he really likes cars” or “man, he can really build.” There is nothing wrong with having some qualities that make people think of you, but what if they have no idea that you love the Lord? When people look your direction do they ever think, “he or she is serious about serving God”, “they really like to pass out gospel tracts”, or even ” they dont do anything on Sunday’s other than go to church”. Its sad that sometimes we are more identified with our accomplishments and pleasures than being servants of God. What is your story today? What are you most identified with, or better asked, Who are you more identified with? Its important to understand that there is nothing wrong with having a nice hotrod, trophy room, or a nice box of fishing tackle, but don’t let these things define who you are.
Jeremiah is sent to Jerusalem to cry into the ears of God’s people concerning the idols and wickedness they have allowed in their life. There was a day when Israel wasn’t treated so nicely. They spent 400 years in bondage to the Egyptians before began to see the blessing of God. The promise land was a land like they had never been to before. There was freedom along with plenty to eat. They lived in great prosperity as they inherited the great promises of God. Here in Jeremiah, there have been many years passed since the entering in of the promise land. Please be careful of your prosperity. What kind of prosperity have you had in your life? Hunting trips? Fancy Cars? Bigger House? Big Bucks? Hunting lands? You must realize that everything you have today is because God has allowed you to have it. Prosperity is where the devil creeps in. He makes us believe that we deserve all these things and that we achieve things on our own. Again, do people truly know that you love the Lord, or do you get all the glory for your own accomplishments in life? Jerusalem has forgotten God! Just as God has given them everything, He is about to take away everything. Jeremiah is the prophet that brings them warning to repent and turn from their ways. Look at what God says about his people in Jeremiah 1:16 “I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.” Notice how Jerusalem responds in chapter 2:35 “Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.” There are many believers today that choose to continue in their own way. We must come to this place to say, “I have sinned.” There is a sad ending to Jeremiah, Jerusalem refuses to listen and refuses to turn from their ways, so God brought judgement to His people He loved so much. Maybe your not quite at the place of Jerusalem today, but could there be anything trying to creep into your life? Again, what is the first thought that comes to someone’s mind when they look at you? Could it be that you may be a little farther from God than what you think? I John 1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
Memory Verse Week 8/8/21
I John 1:9-10
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
