PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Jeremiah 43-44
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“We will not listen to the message you have spoken in the name of the Lord!” (Jeremiah 44:16)
We live in very different times than the days of Jeremiah.
Their world sounds very foreign, and frightening to us.
We don’t relate to worshiping idols or offering incense to the ‘Queen of Heaven’.
And God doesn’t speak to us as clearly as back then… or does He?
Is there a way where we refuse to listen to God’s message to us today?
I believe that Jesus is the final and greatest message of God to humanity.
What Jesus said and did is the greatest revelation of truth we have received.
In Jesus we see and hear amazing grace and radical love.
Through Jesus God reveals love FOR us, but God also seeks it FROM us.
We are called to love to forgive, to be generous, to deny ourselves, etc.
And yet we find ways around this, excuses for saying this does not apply to us.
We love that Jesus died for us, but do not join Jesus in loving others this way.
Jesus has spoken clearly, the Jesus Way is plain for all to hear and know.
Are we as christians similarly saying, ‘we will not listen to your message!’
PRAYER
Lord, help me to see that you have spoken clearly to me too, and that I am guilty of saying “I will not listen’ in some ways too. Forgive me – and help me – where I am being a hypocrite.
Stubborn: “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!” and defiance: We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.” The people said they had it good when they did this – but the end is in sight. Lord, help me to see when I have the notion to think that all my assets are by my effort and credit – far be it from me! I recognize that it is all from the hand of my Lord – it is He would entrusts me – I owe faithful stewardship and use of my assets for His Kingdom! Lord, you humbled your people and punished them – help me stay on the right path too!
Hear the word of the Lord – Do this and live. But do I listen? How does God speak to me today as He did through His prophets yesteryear. He still speaks through His word to be like Christ to all those I meet and greet. I need always to live for Jesus, living His way, doing His work, living always in His presence. His will be done. He must be first in all I do and say.
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy [redemption],*
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.