For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal. Jeremiah 11:13 – As I read this verse I think of Paul’s trip to Athens in Acts 17. As he was walking through Athens, he saw the streets lined with idols. One historian from this time period wrote that it was easier to find a god in Athens than to find a man. Every street corner had a shrine of some sort and statues of false gods were everywhere to see. At this time in Judah’s history their worship of idols had become a plague on the city like it had for Athens. As many cities and streets they had were as many gods they worshipped. Scripture and history also tell us that the type of worship involved with such idols was deprave and demonic. Israel was in a darkened state at this time, so much so that even when God’s prophet came to bring the news of repentance, the posture of some of the listeners was to plot Jeremiah’s death. Here is where sin can lead us to if we’re not careful. It can lead us to a place where we are so blinded by our sin that we not only reject the truth, but hurt the message givers in our life. As we then seek to step into people’s lives whose sin is like the idols in our verse, just everywhere in their life, be prepared that the response to your messages of repentance you share with them may not be welcomed. They may listen and repent, or they may lash out in anger even seeking your harm. Our role is to trust the God that is ever with us and remain sharing this message of repentance to those who need to hear it. While in a darkened placed and not wanting to hear about Jesus, that’s the very space they need Him in most. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3240
Question To Ponder: Why might someone respond in anger to the Gospel?
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