July 24, 2021
What does it say?
Jeremiah prophesied God’s punishment on the lying prophets and wicked priests.
What does it mean?
In Jerusalem, self-proclaimed prophets were distorting God’s Word, dismissing the evil deeds of the people, and encouraging the worship of false gods. The priests in the Lord’s house were also intentionally leading God’s people astray. The spiritual leaders of Judah no longer sought God; none of them spent time with Him or listened to Him for truth and direction. Instead, they invested their efforts and time in making people feel better about their sin. God’s true word from Jeremiah was like a fire, meant to penetrate and purify their hearts. While harsh, it was sorely needed in a city where lies were embraced, and truth was ignored.
How should I respond?
The truth is sometimes hard to hear. Since all truth comes from God, His Word is the standard by which we can test what we read and hear. Any preaching, teaching, or advice that makes you feel better about your sin will eventually destroy you. How might you have accepted sweet-sounding promises and lies over truth? Spend some quiet time with God in order to evaluate the influences on your life with truth from Scripture. Even when it’s painful to hear, truth is for your benefit because it chips away at sinful thoughts and habits, making you more like Christ.