But if you listen to me, declares the Lord, and bring in no burden by the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but keep the Sabbath day holy and do no work on it, 25 then there shall enter by the gates of this city kings and princes who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their officials, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And this city shall be inhabited forever. Jeremiah 17:24-25 – Much of this chapter is revealing the hardness of Judah’s rebellion against God. God had searched the depths of their hearts and found no desire for Him but only a desire for their sinful ways. In this last section God commands Jeremiah to tell the people to follow the command about no work on the Sabbath. Not that this command was uniquely more important than others, but that it would be a simple one to follow for it wasn’t about doing anything but the opposite, not doing things. If the people would follow God, even in this one command, it would show they were willing to actually repent and God would change His course of punishment. The image we get of the Lord here is one that does not long to bring wrath upon His people, but one that is seeking even the smallest amount of a sign that His people want to live faithfully so He can relent from bringing destruction. In our story the Lord behaves the same way. God is not seeking to condemn to Hell masses of people, His heart is that no one should suffer but that all would come to Him. Yet like in this chapter, even though the escape from Hell is a simple “yes” to following Jesus, many will refuse. In your life is the Lord seeing signs of a pursuit of holiness or a rejection of the word He’s given you? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3246
Question To Ponder: What is something told to us within God’s word that we should faithfully follow today?
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