Mean What You Say

Do we really mean what we say?

The people came to Jeremiah saying, “Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” (Jeremiah 42:3)

Jeremiah said, “I will certainly pray to the LORD your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the LORD says and will keep nothing back from you.” (Jeremiah 42:4)

And they replied, “Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God.” (Jeremiah 42:6)

And so Jeremiah told them everything the Lord had told him, and that was to stay in the land and not to fear the king of Babylon, and that God would restore them to the land. But if they refuse and go to Egypt then they would die and no one would escape.

But the people didn’t believe the word of the Lord, so they disobeyed, went to Egypt, and there perished.

In the end they really didn’t mean what they said about hearing and obeying God’s word, and that’s because they already made up their minds as to what they wanted to do.

This got me thinking, do we say we’ll obey God’s word, but when it doesn’t line up with our way of thinking, or with what we want to do, do we in disobey?

Do we really mean it when we pray “Lord change me?” Do we really mean it when we ask God, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting?” (Psalm 139:23-24)

Jesus hit the nail on the head when He said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” (Matthew 15:8)