God Speaks
The LORD Spares All and Only Those Who Are Faithful to Him
Verse of the Day: This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. . . . But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:5, 7-8 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Jeremiah 14-17:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Jeremiah 14
1. It’s for the sake of God’s reputation that we should appeal to Him as we ask for forgiveness for our sins as individuals and as a nation.
2. People have turned away from God and sinned against Him again and again. We love to wander far from the LORD and do not restrain ourselves.
Jeremiah 15
1. God promises to protect those who are faithful to Him despite difficulties.
2. At some point even God’s chosen people will bring His wrath upon themselves by continually abandoning His ways and turning their backs on Him.
Jeremiah 16
1. God will be a fortress of strength and a place of refuge to those who trust their lives to Him. He will demonstrate His power and might on their behalf.
2. People make up their own gods. These aren’t really gods at all! They are only figments of sin-filled human imagination.
Jeremiah 17
1. God searches all hearts and examines secret motives. He gives all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.
2. There are two kinds of people: those who trust in and obey the LORD God Creator of the universe (or at least follow His ways) and those who don’t.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Jeremiah 14-17?
O LORD God, for the sake of Your reputation, I appeal to You to forgive my sins and those of my nation. We have turned away from You and sinned against You again and again. We love to wander far from You, LORD, and do not restrain ourselves. You promise to protect those who are faithful to You despite difficulties. At some point even those of us who are Your chosen people or who claim the name of Christ will bring Your wrath upon ourselves if we continually abandon Your ways and turn our backs on You. LORD God, You are a fortress of strength and a place of refuge to those of us who trust our lives to You. You continually demonstrate Your power and might on our behalf. Wicked people insist on making up their own gods or rules for life and try to force them on others. These aren’t really gods at all! They are only figments of sin-filled human imagination. LORD God, You search all hearts and examine our secret motives, including my own. You have declared that the human heart is desperately wicked and deceitful. Who can know the extent of its wickedness? Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse it. You give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. Help me to be one of the people who trust in and obey You, LORD God Creator of the universe. At least may I follow in Your ways and not associate with those who don’t. I want my life to bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Jeremiah 14-17? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will appeal to the LORD on the basis of His reputation and Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and His resurrection and ask for mercy, grace, and forgiveness of my sins (and those of others) as led by the Holy Spirit.
- With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will praise and honor the LORD God and remain faithful to Him amid difficulties.
- I will bear witness that the LORD God is my fortress of strength and my place of refuge because I have trusted my life to Him.
- I will seek to build my deepest friendships with people who trust in and obey the LORD God Creator of the universe (or at least follow His ways) and pray for those who don’t.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.