The Lord told Jeremiah,
“Stand
in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say,
‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at
these gates to worship the Lord!’” (Jeremiah 7:2)
The words that we are looking at today are directed to
all of Judah who “enter in at these gates to worship the Lord”. Similarly, as
worshippers of God who congregates at the house of the Lord regularly to worship
Him, what is the message that is also applicable to us today?
Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to
Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come
and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are
delivered to do all these abominations’? (Jeremiah 7:9-10)
God through Prophet Jeremiah was warning against
trusting in lying words that cannot profit them. They have placed their trust on
falsehood and even though God had again and again sent prophets to remind them
and admonish them, they had not listened nor obey.
But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be
your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have
commanded you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or
incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of
their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:23-24)
God described them as going backward and not forward. And the Bible tells us that God has no pleasure in the one who draws back (to perdition).
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him."
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:38-39)
Paul encouraged us through his own example that he reached forward to things which are ahead.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forrward to those things which are ahead (Philippians 3:13)
As we read today's passage, we need to reflect on our own faith. Has our faith similarly gone backward, rather than forward? Are we still pressing on to lay hold of what Jesus Christ has prepared for us or do we think that we have actually attained it and so can "relax a bit"?
When I read Jeremiah 7:9-10, I get a certain pricking of my heart. While we may not have stolen, murdered, burned incense to foreign gods, have we truly been holy in our deeds and our speech? Do we truly not harbor any “idols” within us that is taking first place in our hearts over and above God? If we had searched our hearts and answered yes, how can we then go and stand before God in His house and declared that we have been set free! Have we been delivered to do all these abominations?
Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:7)
We have been created for His glory. Our purpose is to bring Him glory in all that we do, and that includes shining for Him in this dark world. If we find our candles getting dimmer, it is time to rekindle our flames to continue burning for the Lord.
May God grant us strength daily to help us move forward in our faith day by day.
God described them as going backward and not forward. And the Bible tells us that God has no pleasure in the one who draws back (to perdition).
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him."
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:38-39)
Paul encouraged us through his own example that he reached forward to things which are ahead.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forrward to those things which are ahead (Philippians 3:13)
As we read today's passage, we need to reflect on our own faith. Has our faith similarly gone backward, rather than forward? Are we still pressing on to lay hold of what Jesus Christ has prepared for us or do we think that we have actually attained it and so can "relax a bit"?
When I read Jeremiah 7:9-10, I get a certain pricking of my heart. While we may not have stolen, murdered, burned incense to foreign gods, have we truly been holy in our deeds and our speech? Do we truly not harbor any “idols” within us that is taking first place in our hearts over and above God? If we had searched our hearts and answered yes, how can we then go and stand before God in His house and declared that we have been set free! Have we been delivered to do all these abominations?
Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:7)
We have been created for His glory. Our purpose is to bring Him glory in all that we do, and that includes shining for Him in this dark world. If we find our candles getting dimmer, it is time to rekindle our flames to continue burning for the Lord.
May God grant us strength daily to help us move forward in our faith day by day.
