Monday, 13 March 2023

Jeremiah 11:9-13 – Be steadfastly committed to God

In Jeremiah 11:9, the Lord found a conspiracy among the men of Judah and the people who dwelt in Jerusalem. These people  were probably going against the rigorous reform that King Josiah had brought. This was likely to take place immediately after Josiah’s death. They were quickly turning their back on God. Refusing to listen to His word, they went after other gods to serve them. Returning to the stubborn ways of their ancestors, they chose to break their covenant with God just like the people of Israel.  

For their defiance, God said in verses 11-13 that He was going to bring an inescapable calamity upon them. They could come crying to Him, but He would not listen to their cries. They would also turn to the idols that they served and burned their incense to, but all their cries would be futile because they would have no power to save them. It was appalling to learn that God’s people had a whole load of idols. Every city had its own favorite idol. Besides the streets in Jerusalem were filled with altars which they had set up to burn their incense of Baals shamefully.     

God desires steadfastness in our allegiance to Him. He expects us not to be vacillating people. Once we have made up our minds to follow Him, we must stay focused and not be upended by anyone or any circumstance. Jesus said that if we have set our hand on the plow and then look back longingly for the things of the past, then we are not worthy to be His disciples. We must make up our minds not to behave like the wavering people of Judah and never deflect to serve meaningless idols. Let us heed the call of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58 and “…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.    

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