ESOCS Devotional 15 February 2023

ESOCS Devotional 15 February 2023

MEMORY VERSE: “To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.” Jeremiah 6:10

Jeremiah was a prophet who spoke the word of God undiluted. Throughout his life, he stood alone, declaring the word of God to his people. But the word of God was like “a reproach unto them; they have no delight in it.” They became angry and wanted no part of God’s commands. Again, they wanted him to say what they liked to hear. He was rejected by his neighbors, his family, the false prophets and priests, his friends, his audience, and the kings. But Jeremiah was not discouraged.

As in his day, people today dislike God’s message and His demand for disciplined living. Also, they want the preacher to preach only the things they want to hear – prosperity, a free lifestyle, etc.

But as unsettling as people’s responses may be, demands to preach ONLY what they want to hear, we must not be discouraged, but continue to preach God’s word undiluted.

Our responsibility is to present God’s word, theirs is to accept it. We must not let what they want to hear set the standard for what we say. I say again, do not be discouraged.