Jeremiah 7–9: I have loved doing the Focus study with Jena Forehand. Last night as she talked about how for many years the church was focused on the spiritual disciplines like reading your bible, giving, being evangelistic. We were so focused we had envelopes that we gave our tithes in each week that had us check off what we had done that week for accountability. Now we have swung the other way and the focus of most churches is on grace. The truth is that both are necessary, but we can’t excuse a lack of growth and obedience to following God’s commands by saying grace covers that. Here is how the people in Jeremiah’s day were acting,
Jeremiah 7:8″Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. 9Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, 10and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?”
Granted Jeremiah’s audience did not live under the cross, but they still had the mindset that you can live as you like them come to church and all will be fine. God doesn’t see it like that. the Bible is clear when it says, “If you love me you will obey my commands.” We are not living under the law, so we don’t have to check the box, but God longs for us to want a deeper relationship with Him. That deeper relationship will take us away from doing anything that would displease the Father. You may have read the list in vs. 9 and though, I don’t steal or murder or commit adultery so I am good. Wrong! When we gossip, exaggerate the truth, talk about others, are the source of division in our church, or even contribute to grumbling and complaining we are choosing the wrong path. As we focus our attention on being more like Christ daily these temptations will become much less alluring. We will walk in the Light as He is in the Light and have fellowship with others who are running that same journey.