Through the Bible - Jeremiah 21-23, 2 Timothy 3
Good morning,
Last week we touched on the subject of being "desperate for God". Webster's defines "desperate" as - "driven to or resulting from loss of hope; rash or violent because of despair."This weekends' Old Testament reading included Jeremiah 17 where we go for today's verse.
Jer 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
10 I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings. NKJV
Verse 9 tells us that the heart is "desperately wicked" without God. It is in a hopeless state, subject to rash and violent actions which come from it's state of despair.
Our hearts deceive us in several ways, one of them is for us to tell ourselves that we are strong enough to stand on our own in the face of temptation and danger. Today's society, and even our churches, are full of people who have been deceived and have gradually drifted, and crossed the line. Their hearts are desperate, in need of the Saviour's strength, wisdom, and guidance.
It seldom happens all at once, it is often a slow fade.
"Slow Fade"
Casting Crowns
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Don't trust in your own strength, trust in God, trust Him to guard your heart.
Prov 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones. NKJV
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Jer 17:5-14
5 Thus says the Lord:
"Cursed is the man who trusts in manAnd makes flesh his strength,Whose heart departs from the Lord. 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,And shall not see when good comes,But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,In a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,And whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,Which spreads out its roots by the river,And will not fear when heat comes;But its leaf will be green,And will not be anxious in the year of drought,Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 "The heart is deceitful above all things,And desperately wicked;Who can know it? 10 I, the Lord, search the heart,I test the mind,Even to give every man according to his ways,According to the fruit of his doings.
11 "As a partridge that broods but does not hatch,So is he who gets riches, but not by right;It will leave him in the midst of his days,And at his end he will be a fool."
12 A glorious high throne from the beginningIs the place of our sanctuary. 13 O Lord, the hope of Israel,All who forsake You shall be ashamed.
"Those who depart from MeShall be written in the earth,Because they have forsaken the Lord,The fountain of living waters."
NKJV
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