June 7, 2024

Passage Read: Jeremiah 1-4
Meditation Verse: 1:17

Thought

Jeremiah is a youth, yet he is called by God to proclaim His message of judgment and warning. He is called to speak to rulers and nations and crowds of people, and God warns him not to be dismayed by them, not to fear them or be overwhelmed by them, otherwise the Lord would dismay him before them. He is not to fear the people or be intimidated by them, otherwise the Lord would confuse and confound him before all the people. He had to choose whom he would allow to intimidate him, whom he will fear. If we convince ourselves that the Lord will forgive our every trespass, then we are free to fear the people and live as we desire. But if we realize that the Lord will bring worse terrors into our lives to bring us to repentance so that we fear Him alone and speak His Word in truth, then we will choose to fear the Lord and live by His decrees.

Application

God has never been a God who overlooked sin. He has always been a God who demanded righteousness from His people, and a pure faith in Him alone. Even in Christ, He calls us to repent of our waywardness and receive His forgiveness and all we need for life and godliness. He disciplines His disciples and calls them to discipline themselves to walk in His ways, to live for His kingdom and His righteousness. So I too must choose whom I will fear, the Lord or people. Whatever message He gives me, I must not be afraid to speak it, I must not fear what people will think or if they will get angry at me. Instead, I should fear what the Lord will think and whether He would be angry with me for not speaking.