ESOCS Devotional 15 July 2022
TEXT: JEREMIAH 5:1-19
MEMORY VERSE: “And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thine vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.” Jeremiah 5:17 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
Sin holds man under its authority (captive), just as a child is under his parents or an army is under its commander. It is viewed as a living, active, forceful and dynamic power that has man under its sway. It is a servant and it puts man under slavery. John 8:34 says, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”
In our text, God outlines the terrible sins committed in the land of Judah, and despite God’s warning, they refused to take to correction. God begins to talk about the punishment they will face as a result of their sins.
Do we refuse to take correction? When the Scriptures and the Confessions speak against our traditions, do we hold to our traditions for dear life? When shown that this is so, do we take correction, or cling to what feels right.
Unfortunately, people are helped along by a multitude of false prophets. Empty winds who have no word in them is what Jeremiah says about them. But even in this, we are tempted to be, and often are, open and accepting of different teachers, whatever their false doctrine may be. In the same way, we are too often tolerant of the immorality of our culture around us.
So, turn away from your sins, and eagerly seek the forgiveness of Christ. Accept correction, and be better by it. To such as cling to Christ, there is good news. Although great punishment is coming, and perhaps is at the door even now, God will not make a full end. He will not sweep away the righteous with the unrighteous. You are in Christ. You are His true vine branches. He shall not strip you away with the false branches who make a show of being Christians, yet are not.
The scriptures tell us over and over that sin leads to death and destruction because there are consequences with going against the grain regarding how God designed us to live and obey Him. But you have the true substance. You have Christ the Vine. In Him is life and strength and vitality forever. Although you may have to share the consequences of sin in this fallen world for a time, He will not make a full end of you. You are in Christ, so you are forever.
- Many today are of the opinion that sin no longer has significance in their lives. Does this attitude affect our society?
- Oh Lord, help me to overcome my flesh so I can live for you everyday
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: 1 Kings 3:5–14; John 13:1–20; Acts 9:1–22
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ESOCS Devotional 15 July 2022
