Topic: Cost of Disobedience [Saturday September 26, 2015]
Text: Jeremiah 11:1-14
Key Verse: “Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them” (Jeremiah 11:11).
Whoever wishes to enjoy the best God offers must be ready to trust and obey Him all the way. Our passage today reveals God’s heartfelt disappointment over Israelites’ broken covenant with Him. Towards this, He wanted Jeremiah to point out their acts of disobedience, which had strained His relationship with them, and that He would put a curse on anyone who did not keep to the covenant. God had a covenant with their forefathers when He liberated them from the hardships imposed on them by the Egyptians.
At that time, the Israelites had promised to listen, not only to God’s instructions, but also to completely obey Him. Consequently, they became His special people while He became their God. Unfortunately, the Israelites reneged on keeping to the covenant. They neither listened to, nor obeyed God. For the people of Judah and Jerusalem, God said He would bring suffering upon them and no one would escape, maintaining that when they begged for help, He would not listen to their prayers. He sternly warned Jeremiah not to plead for them because He would not listen, neither would He answer their prayer.
Their sin was so great that God would not defer judgment even though Jeremiah or the people cried out to Him for mercy. The same appalling situation is playing itself out in our society. People no longer obey God. Evils of kidnappings, ritual killings, corruption and murder, among others, have dominated the land. What is your current relationship with God? You must realise that God will not bestow His blessings upon anyone who persists in willful disobedience to His commandments, except those who decisively repent of sin and fully turn to Christ. Even so, a practical life of holiness and righteousness, through God’s grace, is the only way by which God’s goodness and blessings are assured in time and eternity.
Thought for the day: Absolute obedience to God is required to receive the best He freely gives.
Bible Reading in one Year: James 1-5
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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