“So Johannen, the son of Corea, and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the Lord to remain in the land of Judah.”
– Jeremiah 43:4
God had said, do not take to Egypt the captives they had rescued. God spoke it so clearly and so what did the people do? They took to Egypt the captives they had rescued. Even some of the people who had returned from exile. They went directly against God’s word. And so when we read Jeremiah 43:4, I we’re encouraged to examine our lives, my life, your life. Is there any area right now where you are directly disobeying God’s word? Either doing that which God’s word says not to do or not doing that which God’s word has said clearly to do.
In what areas of your life are you directly disobeying God’s Word? Lord, help us to trust and obey You.
I would just encourage you in this moment, examine your heart. Where is there a lack of obedience in you? Where is confession of sin needed? It’s frightening how easily, if we’re not careful, we can go on with our lives just day to day, even reading the Bible or listening to a podcast like this or praying and not stop and examine our hearts and just ask where am I disobeying God? How am I not walking in obedience to God?
And I want to encourage you, that is a dangerous way to live the Christian life: deceiving ourselves about sin in our lives. So God, search us, know us, open our eyes to hidden faults, the things we that we might not even see that we’re doing or not doing.
Seek Obedience
I think about how we often pray on this podcast for boldness to share the Gospel, and I know I see it. I see it in the church I pastor. Like, the number of people who say, “Yeah, I’m not sharing the Gospel.” God, we are not obeying your word. Help us to obey your word. In this way and in so many other ways. God, that people might be convicted of how they’re not your word. I’m not obeying your word right now. God, it just seems like Jeremiah 43 is just deliberate disobedience.
You think, “Why? No, don’t do that. Don’t! God clearly spoke. Obey God,” so God, help us to preach that to ourselves. You have clearly spoken. You have given us your word. Help us to obey. By your grace God, help us to obey. Forgive us of our sins just as you promised 1 John 1:9. We confess our sins. You’re faithful and just to forgive us, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We praise you for your forgiveness and we pray you’d help us to walk in obedience today, specifically in areas where we have been disobeying you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
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