Jeremiah 7-9

This is what the LORD says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 1-3

"If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers–would you now return to me?" declares the LORD.

"Look up to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been ravished? By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers, sat like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame. Have you not just called to me; 'My Father, my friends from my youth, will you always be angry? Will your wrath continue forever?' This is how you talk, but you do all the evil you can."

These verses really spoke to and convicted me this morning. I was reminded of the need for me to come before God every day and ask him to search my heart for the idols in my life. And as far as I am concerned, idols are any little thing in my life that takes my focus away from God.

I have noticed that many people are very much unaware of the idols in their lives, even though they may be very apparent to me. If that's the case, the same must be true for me.

It says in this verse that if I hold onto my idols and refuse to feel shame and repent of them, then God will withhold his blessings from me. At that moment, it does not matter how I pray to him. I can say all the Christian things that pops into my head. Say that I love God. All the praise in the world will be empty to God, because I have not repented of my sins.

I cannot be a blessing to others, if God does not bless me. And I do desire to be a blessing to all the people God has put in my life.

Let's allow God to truly search our hearts for any idols in our lives this day. And when he reveals them to us, let us not make excuses that so many other people have the same exact idols. Whatever idols we get rid of, God will fill that void with his eternal love. Praise God:)

Luke 22-24

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

This is what Jesus said to his disciples after the resurrection. Although Jesus told them again and again about who he was, they could not fully understand his word on their own. Jesus had to open their minds so they could understand.

I know when we hear sermons from pastors, we get so blessed because the Holy Spirit anoints and uses them to speak God's word with such authority and understanding. It's because they truly desire God's word.

I always pray that God will speak to me before I read the bible, but I have lost that passion and hunger for God's word. We really need God's help to understand his word because we are so finite and stubborn that many times our pride and knowledge cause us to doubt the scriptures.

It's my prayer that we become lovers of the word of God and that God will open our eyes, ears, and minds so that we may understand his word in a very clear and powerful way. So that his word will become so real to us and that we will meet him every time we read his word. Let us expect great things from God's word!