Jeremiah 26:1-16 Tuesday, 8 December 2020
“Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the Lord will repent of the evil that He hath pronounced against you.” -Jeremiah 26:13[KJ21]
Jeremiah was a prophet who did his mission for almost forty years. He was God’s spokesman to Judah, but hardly anyone listened to him. His calling to be a prophet cost him a great deal of trouble—he underwent many trials in his life. Throughout his life, he was declaring God’s messages to the people of God and weeping over the fate of his own country.
Jeremiah may have been an unsuccessful person in the eyes of the world because no one listened to him; but in God’s sight, he was one of His very successful servants. God’s measuring yard for success is obedience and faithfulness regardless of any achievement in the physical realm.
Jeremiah’s messages to the nation were centered on one point –Turning to God to fend off punishment. But his pleas were continually rejected by the people. He met with stiff resistance: “And all the people threatened him as he stood in front of the Temple.” (Jer.26:9 NLT) There may be various reasons for his rejection— People may not be conscious enough to acknowledge sin, righteousness and judgment. Or knowing the truth, still they still chose to walk in rebellion. Another mind block is guilty feeling that takes their attention from God. Isaiah 59:1&2 says, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your inequities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
But our Creator God is slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8). He is waiting eagerly to see His creation coming back to Him. He is willing to give His people a chance to return, telling Jeremiah that people may listen and turn from their evil ways (V.3). He spoke through other prophets the same message: Zechariah 1:3 says: “Return to me says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you.”
Each of us is responsible before God for our actions which includes our speech, our motives and our intentions. God’s actions are with good intentions. If people take heed of the warnings He sends, He will not execute judgment. Though man may be in imminent danger of ruin because of sin, true repentance from his part brings a halt to God’s impending judgment as he relents from bringing calamity (V.3).
John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus and a pointer to Him preached the message of repentance: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). God’s Word in 1 John 1:8-9 is clear: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” God Almighty is eagerly waiting to pour out His grace in these end times through HIS Son Jesus Christ but are we willing to receive it through repentance and turning to Him?
Thought for the Day: “If you are renewed by grace and were to meet your old self, I am sure you would be very anxious to get out of his company.” – C H Spurgeon
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