Tuesday 18 Jun 2013

Tuesday Reading: Jeremiah 4:22

Key Verse: Jeremiah 4:22
22  For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Devotion:
Although it was Jeremiah that was trying to foretell of God’s wrath that was to come because the people were disobeying God, God also revealed to Jeremiah that He knew what was in the hearts of the people and knew what they were like on the inside. These are the words that were revealed to Jeremiah at the time.

God knew that the people were foolish, just as was revealed to King David and others; foolish because they were refusing to believe and trust in God within their hearts. It was one thing to talk about God and to say that they believed, but it was inside of their hearts that God was looking and finding knowledge but not feelings; they did not know God in their hearts any longer. To God they were more like churlish or silly children where they were being told over and over again that they were doing wrong and yet they continually went back for more! And then, just like a child, they probably answered “I don’t know” when asked why they did something wrong…

God knew that people were teaching them about Him and about the whole Jewish Law, and yet they remained without understanding. It was not a case of them not knowing but rather that they refused to take in the truth and refused to go along with and believe in that truth. They had a good knowledge about doing things wrong, about evil ways and about everything that worked against God’s laws, and yet they continued to refuse to accept the real truth in their hearts.

God knows that there are going to be many who will simply refuse to believe the truth, but that does not stop Him from making sure that every person gets to hear the truth at some stage so that they get the choice as to believe in God or not to believe. God knows that some will reject Him and when that happens He has promised to accept their decision even though it is wrong. We are given the choice as to whether we do believe or not and God accepts our choice. But we also must understand that He is Just and has to keep His word when it comes to us refusing Him. We make the choice. We choose our destination and we need to realise that fact!

Points to Ponder:
Are you acting like a silly child?

Do you know God will accept your choice, however bad?