Fri.’s Devo - Our Supreme God

Read: Jeremiah 6:16-8:7; Colossians 2:8-23; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 24:26 Jeremiah told the people to return to their roots, “the old, godly way, and walk in it.” There is where they would find rest for their souls. But that was not the road they wanted. God had posted prophets all along their way to lead them back to that road, but they refused to listen or head their warnings. So now they would face the consequences of their rebellion. A great army was coming from the north that would have no pity or mercy. *** Jeremiah begged them to repent. Their test would be to see if they listened to what Jeremiah said or not. The people had hard hearts that were full of slander and corruption. Since God could not refine them through fire of oppression, he would reject them like discarded silver. *** In Chapter 7, God sent Jeremiah to the entrance of the Temple to give a message to the ones who chose to worship at his Temple. Their message was also to repent and not be deceived by those who told them they would be safe because of the Temple. They were not safe because of a building but their safety depended on the condition of their hearts. He told them to stop their evil thoughts and start treating each other with justice. Stop exploiting foreigners, orphans and widows. Stop murdering and stop harming themrselves by worshiping idols. Then they could stay in their land forever. *** If they didn’t think God would destroy his Temple, they should go to Shiloh where they used to worship and see what happened to it. God is not confined to a place. Shiloh became so wicked, God had to destroy it and he would do the same to Jerusalem. *** God told Jeremiah to stop praying for them because they refused to give up worshipping their false gods. God would consume them all in his unquenchable fire of his anger. God never wanted what they brought to sacrifice, it was their obedient hearts He wanted, then their sacrifices would be accepted also. But they hadn’t listened or wanted to listen. They were more stubborn and sinful than their ancestors. *** Since they were a nation who refused to be taught the truth, God’s fury would destroy them. They set up their idols in the middle of the Temple and did child sacrifices to Topheth which was another name for Molech. God would put an end to their happy singing and laughter in the streets. *** The people were walking on a self-destructive path and they refused to turn back. They defied nature to go their own way. *** Paul was warning his people of Colossians the same warning. He told them not to let anyone capture them in their nonsense that came from human reasoning or any spiritual being but Christ. In Christ was the fullness of God in human form. We are also made complete in Christ. He is the head over every ruler and authority. *** When we came to Christ, he cut out our sinful nature. Our old nature was buried with Christ in baptism and raised to new life through the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. He set us free from the powers of this world. Rules of self-denial don’t help us in conquering our evil desires. The realization that Christ has conquered them does. *** Lord, may we walk in your power and authority over sin and the evil powers of this world. You are supreme above every power or authority in the seen and unseen world and You are our God. We trust in You.