Jeremiah 18:15 - How Do We Burn Incense To Worthless Idols And End Up Walking In Muddy Paths?
Jeremiah 18:15 (ESV) But my people have
forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they
made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient
roads, and to walk into side roads, not the
highway,
Jeremiah 18:15 (TLB) These can be counted
on. But not my people! For they have deserted me
and turned to foolish idols. They have turned
away from the ancient highways of good and walk
the muddy paths of sin.
COMMENTARY PEARLS
When my children were small, they were
mystified that I so often knew when they were lying to
me. "My other superpower," I told them. "That,
and having eyes in the back of my head."
I knew what the truth looked like and
sounded like from a child. When I heard hesitation
or saw eyes darken or dart, my mom instincts
sent up a red flag. "Lie alert! Lie alert!"
Jesus made it clear that He is "the way
and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me" (John 14:6, NIV).
So many have forgotten that time-proven
premise and adopted other belief systems as their
pseudotruth. God the Father proclaimed centuries ago that
when we fail to follow the Truth - His Son - we
are susceptible to following and sacrificing our
lives to lies.
If I believe my solutions are up to me,
I'm falling for a lie. If I act out of character
with the character of Jesus, I'm living a lie. If
I lean on an unstable economy or shaky
emotional structure, I serve and give priority to -
sacrifice to - a lie rather than the One Who is Truth
personified. If I resort to lies, I'm doing the liar's
bidding.
"Truth is always the right choice," I
told my kids. "Even when there are consequences,
always default to the truth. Lies are too easy to
trip over. And they rot your soul."
Now that my kids have children, they're
using the same lines. And they have keenly
calibrated lie alerts. I'm blessed that they also
recognize the Truth when they see Him. by Cynthia
Ruchti
Faith step: If you've ever had a
relationship with a compulsive liar, you know how
liberating it is that a relationship with Jesus means
all truth, all the time. The Way. The Truth. The
Life. Make that the song your heart sings today.
[Mornings With Jesus 2018 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
Scrolling through pictures on my phone,
it was easy to be distracted by scenes of Mount
Hood, Mount St. Helens, Cannon Beach. I flipped
through images of a week at a beach in South
Carolina and a fondly remembered vacation in
Charleston.
It was good to be reminded of where we'd
been.
Someday my husband and I are going to
pack our bags, get in the car, and head for
destinations unknown. It will be a vacation unlike the
others, which were carefully researched, planned,
and mapped out. We'll stop at every location
that catches our interest rather than adhering to
a schedule. We'll choose the slowest route.
We'll check out places that aren't on every
tourist's must-see list.
But side roads don't work well on
spiritual journeys.
In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet
often warned people to return to God's ways. But
the people replied, "We will continue to live as
we want to, stubbornly following our own
desires. Jeremiah 18:12 (NLT).
A few verses later, veering off His path
sounded like this: "My people have deserted me;
They have stumbled off the ancient highways
and walk in muddy paths. Jeremiah 18:15
(NLT).
God's way is Jesus. The Way. He is a
faithful path. But that doesn't make the trip boring.
Ask anyone who has followed Jesus. Heartening
sunrises with mercies new every morning and sunsets
with the promise of the sweet sleep of a soul at
peace. And curves and cliff edges that have us
clinging to His robes. Boring? Never.
Life with Jesus is always a grand
adventure. by Cynthia Ruckti
Faith Step: Take a look at your travel
itinerary for today; your heart's pursuits and habits.
Can you confidently say they stick to the main
road - the Way - the path Jesus carved and
invites us to follow? [Mornings With Jesus 2018
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Jeremiah 2:13 - Living Water or Broken
Cistern? part one:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090519-2108.html
Jeremiah 2:13 - Living Water or Broken
Cistern? part two:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090520-0745.html
Jeremiah 6:16 - When You Are At The
Crossroads:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20181006-2024.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
