Intro: While I was in seminary, I did a great deal of driving back and forth from Seminole to Orlando (FL). Traveling I-4 has never been my favorite thing to do, but during my seminary commutes (115 miles) I continually faced significant traffic issues resulting from accidents, weather, road construction, and a bunch of detours that took me way off course. I became so nervous about the drive each time, John bought me one of the first plug-in GPS models. How wonderful it was to be able to make choices on how to move around the ever-changing and sometimes dangerous road conditions. My GPS helped me navigate with greater confidence.
The Word of God is our spiritual GPS—God’s Positioning System—to give our lives direction around the issues of life Satan uses to rob, steal, and destroy our abiding relationship with God. The choices we make today give direction for our lives in the future. There are two choices before us: the righteous path or the wicked path. We love choices, but we don’t always love where our choices take us. In fact, I am going to encourage you to pray a great deal about the choices you make today, because every choice becomes a seed sewn that will bring a time of reaping. We face rewards or consequences in the harvest of our choices.
In our passage today, God addresses Israel’s choices based on the spiritual leadership they have welcomed. False prophets had successfully twisted God’s Word; making it what the people wanted to hear. The people let go of the Truth they received in the beginning from God. Therefore, God judges the nation of Israel for living in sin by choice. So, please hang on to the Truth of God’s Word and apply it to your life. You will never regret living to please God. He is the ultimate GPS, my friends!
Jeremiah 8:4-9 Deception by False Prophets
4 “Jeremiah, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?
5
Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back?They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around.
6
I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth.Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”?No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!
7
Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration,as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each year.But not my people! They do not know the Lord’s laws.
8
“‘How can you say, “We are wise because we have the word of the Lord,” when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies?
9
These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness,for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they so wise after all?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the wisdom of Your Word to guide our lives. We desperately need Your Word and the work of the Spirit in the days in which we live. Navigate our lives into successfully living for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.