SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 44
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows! But hear the word of the LORD…, the Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all destroyed… Then the whole remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs. [Jeremiah 44:25-28]
The bible is full of warnings about the dangers of leaving God and His way.
And yet again and again people prefer to do their own thing.
The problem is, for the moment the wrong way seems so good while the right way seems so hard.
Here Jeremiah gives up fighting them, and tells them to go for it.
But he adds this warning – one day you will know whose words were right.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [Matthew 5:18]
Jesus makes it clear whose word will stand in the end.
Everything will be accomplished, as God has predicted.
Through the bible, God warns us…
* that immorality leads to misery
* that we reap what we sow, whether good or evil
* that a day of judgment is coming
* that rejecting God is rejecting life
* that hell is a never ending judgment
* that things will get worse before the final judgment
* that many believers will fall away from faith
I could list many more warnings.
The challenge is to go beyond generalization and to apply it to me.
Where am I acting as if there will be no consequences for my deeds?
Where am I crossing the line with God’s will?
Where am I being careless about my words or actions?
Where am I becoming lukewarm or shallow in my relationship with God?
The bible gives us many examples of people who walked these paths, only to discover that what God said was true.
Then (they) will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to read the bible for more than information, help me to read it for application, to see where I need to change my life according to Your word. For at the end of the day, Your word will stand!