July 6, 2018
What does it say?
The people ignored Jeremiah’s warnings of the approaching siege on Jerusalem. They rejected God’s path that would have allowed them to escape the destruction.
What does it mean?
God explicitly told Judah how to avoid His wrath on their wicked behavior – repent. But they still refused to listen to Jeremiah’s warnings, even as the enemy made plans to invade. Their hearts had become so hardened that they no longer valued what God said. The conscience of the entire nation had been seared; even the leaders showed no embarrassment when confronted with their vile behavior. Just as silver is refined to rid it of impurities, God planned to use the coming judgment to purify their hearts. Sadly, they thought they could rely on ritualistic religious practices to please God.
How should I respond?
Do you ever compare your own actions with others and think, “Well, at least I’m not doing THAT!”? When we do, we ignore the Holy Spirit’s conviction, allowing our sin to become a normal part of our lives. Gradually accepting sin leads to a mindset that is not embarrassed by it anymore. Yet all sin drastically affects the quality of our relationship with God. What sin have you slowly accepted into your lifestyle? Will you confess it to the Lord today? Ask God to prick your conscience with conviction and to forgive you for accepting sin’s presence and quenching the work of the Holy Spirit.