Read
Jeremiah 5:20-6:30
2 Kings 22:3-20
2 Chronicles 34:8-28
Jeremiah 6:13-15, “‘From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of My people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,’ says the Lord.”
Think
The ER in a hospital is an intense place. There’s no doubt that doctors and nurses see a variety of serious issues each day. As trained professionals, they’ve taken an oath to properly assess each case and administer the appropriate treatment to help each patient. It would be unethical to tell a patient that their broken limb is simply a minor muscle cramp. It would be malpractice to tell someone having a heartache that it’s just a little indigestion or that a gaping wound simply needs a band-aid.
This type of mistreatment of patients seems far-fetched to us, yet, this is why, in today’s reading, we see God calling out the prophets and priests in Israel who were tasked with guiding His people toward spiritual health. They were more concerned with their position than they were about their responsibility of pointing people towards God. Instead of speaking truth into the lives of those who needed to experience healing and restoration with God, they continued to allow the Israelites to pave their path of self-destruction until they, too, fell to that same destruction.
Today, our world is hemorrhaging and being offered band-aids by those who don’t know the truth of their Creator. They’re blind to the fact that we are sinners, but God loved us enough to send His only Son to die for our sins and defeat death to pave the way towards eternal life. Freedom and healing begin with facing the truth! As Christ-followers, we have what’s needed to mend the gaping wounds of our society — the absolute truth of God — that’s far too often replaced by the enemy’s deception and moral relativism. Therefore, know The Truth! It’s critical for your spiritual healing and the healing of others around you who are desperately in need of the ultimate Doctor — Jesus Christ!
Pray
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the absolute truth found in Your Word. Help me to consistently spend time in it each day for my spiritual growth and transformation. Use me to help others so they can experience Your overwhelming love and grace. Amen.
