"But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine." (Jeremiah 44:18)
Not only were the people in great delusion, it seemed that their motive to turning away from idols was rooted in "What can I get from this?" and when God justly did not grant their desires, they blamed Him. What is my motive for serving the Lord? My love for Him or my love for the benefits? Would I serve God even if I saw no blessings come my way?
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Thanks for sharing, Amanda! I'm currently reading in Jeremiah and it's sobering to read about the spiritually perverseness of the people Jeremiah was called to prophesy to.
ReplyDelete"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these." ~ Jeremiah 7:3-4
Since reading this passage last week, the Lord has brought to mind how one of the first acts of a backsliding people is to trust in the externals of religion. It's tempting for us to fall into thinking a church building, tradition or praising God with our lips are true worship when in reality, God does and always will be seeking those who worship in spirit and in truth.
@ Kenzi,
ReplyDeleteAgree with you there on the soberness of reading through Jeremiah! And yet, there are so many beautiful passages "if only" a nation will turn to God!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
~Amanda
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God;" 1 Corinthians 3:5