Read Jeremiah 26 – 28

Highlights:

Sinners resist the Word and try to execute the messenger (26:1-15). Five more kings (27:2); Judah's king, Zedekiah (27:12); the priests and the people (27:16), all warned: Thus saith the Lord. Check out the "yoke." Sin's yoke is heavy and leads to death (chap. 28) while God's "yoke" is light and leads to life (Matt. 11:28-30).

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent Me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings (Jer. 26:1-3).

What voices are we listening to today? When God speaks to us, do we hear Him? If we hear Him, do we obey Him? As Christians, the simple answer is that we all want to be able to say, "yes we hear and obey God." The trouble is that questions like this rarely have a simple answer.

In Jeremiah's time, there was a great spiritual problem that had taken hold of the nation of Judah like a plague. Unfortunately, it was a problem that was very familiar to God and His people. The people, as they had so many times before, had turned their backs to the Lord and were worshiping false gods. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Col. 3:5).

The Word of God is clear on this issue. As a matter of fact, this sin may be mentioned more in the Bible than any other. It all comes down to whether we obey or disobey the Word of God. When we disobey God's Word we are openly acknowledging the fact that something has greater influence over our lives than God. Obeying something other than God's Word says that we believe there is a greater truth than His Word. Could there be a greater truth than God? Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come (John 16:13).

Most of us probably would never put those ideas into words. However, that is not the issue. The issue is whether the actions of our lives speak these things.

This world has many voices, and we as believers are not always listening with our spiritual ears. When we are not listening correctly, we hear, and sometimes obey, other voices besides the voice of the Lord.

As believers, we should all want to be obedient to God. Obedience to the Word of God is one of the ways that we express our love to the Lord. The desire of the believer's heart should be to show their love and obedience to God. We must learn to always match our choices to the guidance that God's Word provides to us. In doing so, we will live a life that bears fruit for God.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (Rom. 6:16)?

Thought for Today:

When you are fearful, it's time to trust in the Lord.

Christ Revealed:

By Jeremiah, who was falsely accused by the priests and the false prophets (Jer. 26:8-9). Our Lord was also threatened and falsely accused by the religious rulers of His day. The elders . . . and the chief priests and the scribes. . . . began to accuse Him, saying, We found this Fellow perverting (misleading) the nation, and forbidding to give tribute (pay taxes) to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a King (Luke 22:66 – 23:2; also John 8:48,59).

Word Studies:

26:14 meet, right; 27:19 the sea, the bronze laver at which the priests cleansed their hands and feet before entering the Temple; residue, remainder.

Prayer Suggestion: Praise the Lord for His love (Ps. 63:3).

Optional Reading: 1 John 3

Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 90:4