Passage Read: Jeremiah 21-24
Meditation Verses: 23:21-22
Thought
There are no lack of teachers and prophets who love to speak and teach the people, but not all of them actually spend time in the counsel of the Lord. They speak from their own ideas and from their own understanding, instead of spending time with God in His Word. The counsel of the Lord is not far off, but it has been recorded as the Scriptures, and anyone who wants to know God's thoughts, His heart, His purposes and goals only needs to spend consistent time in the Bible, listening to the Lord, watching His deeds, hearing His judgments. Then he can understand what needs to be said to people.
Application
We're so quick to admit that we who believe in the Lord are sinners in need of grace, but somehow that becomes an excuse that frees us from diligently obeying the Lord. Or we're so afraid of saving ourselves by our own efforts that we don't try very hard to reform our ways. Instead of gaining God's favor, we're heaping up wrath against ourselves. God through Christ came to change us into righteous people, who finally do what He has called His people to from the beginning! So sadly, God's Word more often has words of rebuke for us, fire and a hammer that is meant to burn away our chaff and shatter our hard hearts. It's too easy to fall into the trap of only preaching happy things. God wants me preaching and teaching the truth of His Word, words of rebuke and correction and training in righteousness.