Today And Always With Christ Daily Devotions

FRIDAY, 10 MARCH 2023

TEXT: Jeremiah 2:20-37

20. “Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you and tore away the chains of your slavery, but still you said, ‘I will not serve you.’ On every hill and under every green tree, you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols.

21. But I was the one who planted you, choosing a vine of the purest stock-the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?

22. No amount of soap or lye can make you clean. I still see the stain of your guilt. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!

23. “You say, ‘That’s not true! I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’ But how can you sat that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel desperately searching for a mate.

24. You are like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time. Who can restrain her lust? Those who desire her don’t need to search, for she goes running to them!

25. When will you stop running? When will you stop panting after other gods? But you say, ‘Save your breath. I’m in love with these foreign gods, and I can’t stop loving them now!’

26. “Israel is like a thief who feels shame only when he gets caught. They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets-all are alike in this.

27. TO an image carved from a piece of wood they say, ‘You are my father.’ To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say, ‘You are my mother.’ They turn their backs on me, but in times of trouble they cry out to me, ‘Come and save us!’

28. But why not call on these gods you have made? When trouble comes, let them save you if they can! For you have as many gods as there are towns in Judah.

29. Why do you accuse me of doing wrong? You are the ones who have rebelled,” says the LORD.

30. “I have punished your children, but they did not respond to my discipline. You yourselves have killed your prophets as a lion kills it prey.

31. “O my people, listen to the words of the LORD! Have I been like a desert to Israel? Have I been to them a land of darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘At last we are free from God! We don’t need him anymore!’

32. Does a young woman forget her jewelry; or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have forgotten me.

33. “How you plot and scheme to win your lovers. Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!

34. Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and the poor, though you didn’t catch them breaking into your houses!

35. And yet you say, ‘I have done nothing wrong. Surely God isn’t angry with me!’ But now I will punish you severely because you claim you have not sinned.

36. first here, then there-you flit from one ally to another asking for help. But your new friends in Egypt will let you down, just Assyria did before.

37. In despair, you will be led into exile with your hands on your heads, for the LORD has rejected the nations you trust. They will not help you at all.

(New Living Translation Holy Bible)

TOPIC: DANGER OF SELF-DECEPTION

The Israelite’s condition was very pathetic. They deceived themselves that all was well and that they were now free from what they considered the yoke of God. They chose to live according to their own standards and worshipped mere idols which they elevated higher than Yahweh.

Unfortunately for them, these dumb idols could not deliver them from the impending judgement. All their sacrifices and ceremonial washings could not cleanse their filth and sin.

God compared their attitude to that of a camel that behaves like a prostitute. Thus, Israel would be caught and punished “As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced-they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets” (verse 26).

Despite such pronouncements of judgement, they insisted on living away from God. They were faced with double jeopardy as God turned His back on them and their ‘trusted’ allies refused to come to their aid when judgement finally struck.

Today, there are people who consider God’s seeming delay in judging sin and rebellion as a sign that all is well and that they can continue on that path without consequences.

QUESTION: How long will you continue living in sin, deceiving yourself that all is well?

PRAYER: Is there any sign of rebellion, idolatry, etc, in your life that today’s message brings to your mind? Talk to God about it can confess it.