God had a problem with those in Jeremiah’s time. So, He sent the Prophet to warn them of coming judgment. Instead of listening, their leaders assured the people they were fine with God. After all, they were His people, they had His temple and He would never let it be destroyed. And when the Prophet and others tried to speak the truth, it was a reproach to them. They hated it and refused to listen.

Sadly, many of our leaders today have, also, compromised the truth. Rather than biblical morality, they are more concerned about popularity, being politically correct, or furthering their own agenda rather than speaking the truth.

Even many of our spiritual leaders seem more concerned with not offending anyone than with speaking the truth. While we can’t fully understand all the motives, it seems that selling books and filling their churches are more important. Even whole denominations have twisted the truth to accommodate the culture in which we live and have deceived many.

And from our New Testament reading, how did the Apostle Paul pray? Could his prayers become a model for ours and hold a key to how we should pray for our families, our leaders, and our nations?

Welcome to “God’s Word Day by Day.” If you would like to join us every day, you can sign up here. But even if you only stop by occasionally, each day’s devotion stands on its own. 

Today’s Readings:

Jeremiah 5 & 6
Psalm 117.1-2
Proverbs 27.3-4
Colossians 1.1-29

Have Many Come to Hate the Truth?

Jeremiah 5 & 6:

Promoting Every Evil Thing

It’s hard to watch the news or read the latest headlines without realizing that our nation and much of the Western world are in a moral free fall. Many of our leaders seem intent, not on merely tolerating but promoting every evil thing. Many of those same leaders claim to be believers. Some attend one church or another at least occasionally. And yet as in Jeremiah’s time …

Though they say, ‘As the LORD lives,’ surely they swear falsely (Jer. 5.2).

God rebuked the people for saying they believed in Him without taking His commands seriously. The same principles apply to us.

While our nation has not been without struggles, we have been greatly blessed by God. We have an abundance of resources, have enjoyed relative security from outside attacks, have had the greatest freedoms imaginable, great prosperity, influence, and so much more. Yet, we should not think that if God removes His hand from us it cannot all go away.

And while many faithful pastors are standing for the truth around our nation, many others are deceiving people into thinking they are right with God despite clear commands to the contrary. There are so-called “gay” churches, even openly homosexual pastors and leaders in many liberal denominations. Other biblical truths are being ignored, as well, but the sexual revolution seems to be one of the biggest battlegrounds right now.

And it’s not just our leaders …

Not Just Our Leaders

Chapter 5 ends with this:

Each of Us Is Accountable

God’s Truth is a Reproach to Them

Perhaps the people in Jeremiah’s time were content not to question their leaders. It was easier to believe they could act and think like the world around them and still be right with God. Jeremiah said:

10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
That they may hear?
Indeed their ear is uncircumcised,
And they cannot give heed.
Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them;
They have no delight in it. (6.10)

It should be no surprise that those who make no claim to know God would view the Word of the Lord as a reproach. And it’s more evident than ever that they hate hearing it by how quickly they become angry if you bring up God or His Word.

But for those who claim to be Christians yet deny the central truths of Scripture or simply refuse to call others to repentance it is even more dangerous.

“Peace, Peace” When There Is No Peace

Now, just as then, many paint a picture of a benevolent God who never judges sin.

14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
When there is no peace (6.13-14).

And many of those who should be calling us back to repentance are not.

13 ‘Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is given to covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the priest,
Everyone deals falsely’ (6.13).

In Jeremiah’s day, even the priests and prophets were corrupt and no longer able to understand or hear the voice of God.

They were “given to covetousness …” Money isn’t the only thing some might covet. Today many so-called religious leaders covet fame or popularity, invitations to talk shows and public events, selling books and filling their churches, more than the truths of God.

I am not saying that appearing on TV, having a big church, or writing a best-selling book is wrong. But we shouldn’t downplay the clear commands of Scripture or teach less than the full counsel of God to achieve those ends.

What Can We Do?

So, what can we do to be part of the solution?

First, if our churches are not standing for the truth, we need to lovingly, respectfully, and prayerfully confront our leaders. And sometimes to leave and find a Bible-teaching and believing church.

Second, we need to be willing to speak up when opportunities present themselves. I understand this can be costly and, certainly, we need to do so wisely. But to refuse to speak up out of fear or intimidation is wrong.

Third, we need to be willing to engage unbelievers who are caught up in sin in our personal circles of influence. We need to remember that no one’s sin is beyond the reach of the cross (Rom. 6.4). We’re called to speak the truth in love (Eph. 5.15), but we are still called to speak the truth (Eph. 4.25). We should do so wisely and gently not judgmentally remembering they first need the gospel. This requires seeking God’s wisdom in prayer and looking for doors of opportunity to initiate conversations.

With God’s help, may we be found faithful in our personal lives and our ministry to others (1 Cor. 4.1-2; 2 Cor. 5.10).

Today’s Other Readings:

Psalm 117.1-2:

Our Unchangeable God

… the truth of the Lord endures forever (v. 2).

What was true in Old Testament times is just as true today.

Proverbs 27.3-4:

A Fool’s Wrath

A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them (v. 3).

A fool is one who rejects the truth of God. Anyone who has stood up for the truth has probably seen this verse in action. Yet, we need to be careful that we are never guilty of the same. As Paul told Timothy:

²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will (2 Tim. 23-26).

Colossians 1.1-29:

What Do Your Prayers Look Like?

I wrote about praying Paul’s prayers in a recent post, “A Blueprint for Prayer.” If you missed it, I would encourage you to check it out. We can learn so much from how the great apostle prayed. Here is one more example from today’s reading:

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (vv. 9-10).

While it’s not wrong to pray for health, finances, or other material blessings, notice Paul’s primary concern was the spiritual well-being of those for whom he prayed.

What About You?

Do you speak the truth in love or are you more concerned about being politically correct and not offending anyone? Even as our culture and laws change, we are called to be salt and light to a lost and dying world. Salt sometimes stings and light will be hated by those in darkness, but God will give us the grace to do what He has called us to do.

And what about prayer, do you pray like Paul prayed with an emphasis on spiritual well-being, fruit, and growth, or is your focus on material or physical things?

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we will look at the itching ears about which Paul wrote to Timothy, who the queen of heaven really is, how to test ourselves spiritually, the importance of standing up for the truth, and ask the question, “Should you follow your heart?” We will also talk about Halloween, witchcraft, and conscience issues a little later in the month.

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.

If this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.

And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback (the paperback has 31 days of blank journaling pages with prompts to help you get started).

Blessings as you grow in Christ,

Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.