Jeremiah
July 19
Jeremiah 1:4-10, 2:1-3
Remember!
Jeremiah lived during the reign of King Josiah and the kings after him. One day the Lord spoke to Jeremiah and said, “I chose you before you were born. I have a special purpose for your life: to be a prophet to the nations.”
Then Jeremiah answered the Lord, “Almighty Lord, I am too young. I don’t know how to speak.”
But the Lord said, “Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I am sending you to. Do not be afraid of them for I will be with you and will protect you.” Then the Lord told Jeremiah to give the people of Judah this message; “I remember how faithful you were when you were young, how you loved Me as a bride loves her husband; how you followed Me through the desert. You belonged to Me alone; you were My special possession.”
How can I keep my love for God from growing cold?
What does someone have to do to become lazy and unfit? Nothing! How does a friendship fizzle out? By doing nothing!
Over time, the Israelites had stopped praying to God because they believed that other gods could help them. They had stopped reading God’s Law because they had lost it and forgotten to teach it to their children. They had stopped going to the Temple to worship God because they worshiped gods in other places. It was obvious that their love for the Lord was no longer important.
Jesus said that in the last days (before He comes again), most people won’t care about loving Him: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13).
Don’t let your love for the Lord grow cold. Stay close to others who love Him; read His Word, and talk to Him about everything. That is how the warmth of His love will keep you faithful and strong to the end.
Verse for today
Jesus said to the Church at Ephesus, “You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelation 2:4-5
