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Jeremiah 16:1-18:23; Jeremiah 35:1-19<\/strong><\/span> There are a lot of great verses in Jeremiah\u2019s readings today!\u00a0 Jeremiah 17:5 stands out: \u201cCursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think oftentimes we put more trust in others than the Lord \u2013 our spouses, our pastors, our friends, our family, and even ourselves. The risk here is that people are human and are not perfect. They will eventually disappoint at some point. God is the only perfect option to place our ultimate trust in. I do think we can still \u201ctrust\u201d others to a degree \u2013 marriage of course being a prime example of this trust in another human. But, marriage will really only ultimately work if God is the \u201cthird cord\u201d in the marriage (see <\/span>Ecclesiastes 4:12<\/span>).\u00a0 Overall, this verse wisely cautions that our highest level of trust should be reserved for God! Who will not fail us.\u00a0 Ever. Who do you trust these days the most?\u00a0 Do you trust God above anything or anyone else?\u00a0 Do you trust God more than you trust yourself?<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah 17:7-8 has some great imagery! \u201c\u201dBut blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.\u201d<\/em> These verses remind me a lot of <\/span>Psalm 1, verses 1 through 3<\/span>.\u00a0 Is God your hope and confidence?\u00a0 If so, do you feel like a tree planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water?\u00a0 How deep are your roots in God\u2019s living water these days?<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah 17:19-27 are some powerful verses on the Sabbath! I talk a lot with my friends about taking Sabbaths. I am really bad at it\u2026 and I know I need it. And I know my friends need it too. I\u2019ll have to remember verse 27 next time I\u2019m having the Sabbath discussions with my friends\u2026 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 \u201c`But if you do not listen to me and refuse to keep the Sabbath holy, and if on the Sabbath day you bring loads of merchandise through the gates of Jerusalem just as on other days, then I will set fire to these gates. The fire will spread to the palaces, and no one will be able to put out the roaring flames.\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How are you doing on taking a Sabbath each week?\u00a0 What would your response be to a modern day Jeremiah standing at the gate and telling you to keep one day a week as a holy day unto the Lord?<\/span><\/p>\n I like this verse in Jeremiah 18:15 \u2013 \u201cThey have stumbled off the ancient highways of good, and they walk the muddy paths of sin.\u201d<\/em> I like that metaphor \u2013 the ancient highways of good. These sound nice! You want to be on these. And not veering off into the muddy paths of sin\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah chapter 35 today is a fantastic example of obedience from the Recabites!\u00a0 Interestingly, the Recabites are being obedient to a human\u2019s word\u2026 This stands in stark contrast to the Israelites disobedience to God\u2019s Word\u2026 Do we do this sometimes in our lives? Obey human words and disobey God\u2019s Word?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings remind me of Casting Crowns song \u201cIf We are the Body.\u201d\u00a0 Here\u2019s a live version of this powerful song:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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