Sunday: The Two Ways
From the earliest chapters of Genesis to the last chapters of Revelation, the Bible presents to us only two options on how to live: we either follow the Lord with all our heart and soul, or we don’t. As Jesus said, in words that many have found troubling, He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth
(Luke 11:23).
Image © Greg Walker from GoodSalt.com
This is a powerfully unambiguous statement about spiritual realities greater than what appears to the naked eye or than what common sense would seem to tell us. It’s the great controversy theme at its most basic level. And yet, in one sense, Jesus isn’t saying anything new or radical. It’s always been this way.
Read Jeremiah 17:5-10. What crucial spiritual principles do we find here, especially in light of the great controversy between Christ and Satan?
The immediate context of these words probably reflects Judah’s political dalliances, and the Lord wanted them to understand that their only help was in God, not in political or military powers, a point that they would later learn, but only after it was far too late. Though the Lord can and does use other people to help us, in the end we must always put our trust only in Him. We can never know for sure the motives of others; we can always know God’s intentions for us.
With good reason, Jeremiah 17:9 warns about the deceitfulness of the human heart. The Hebrew text says that the heart is more deceitful than everything.
The horrific physical effects of sin, as bad as they are, aren’t as bad as the moral and spiritual effects. The problem is, because our hearts are already so deceitful, we can’t fully know just how bad they really are. Jeremiah was soon to see for himself how very bad human intentions can be.
How can you learn to trust in the Lord more than you have before? What are ways that you can step out in faith, right now, and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord?
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God is awesome He should be first and foremost in our lives. Sabbath is the seventh day. It is set aside.
How can you learn to trust in the Lord more than you have before?
With Jeremiah 17:9 at hand it is noteworthy not to trust anyone that breath comes from his nostril for it is deceitful and nothing can heal its perverseness unless God heals but still we should not ever trust human. After all only Jesus can understand and will keep your secret, walk with you trough the fire, flood, cyclone and earthquakes of life's ills and problems and no one else.
What are ways that you can step out in faith, right now, and do
Just to share Christ as the only best friend and has you as His top priority than any other human being.
what is right in the eyes of the Lord?
Love God and others. So we must promote and share for people to have a bble and seek to be obedient to your best ability not to acquire heaven but a sure sign that you have intimate relationship with Him
Psalm 1; 2, 3 "But his delight is in the law of THE LORD and in His law he meditates day and night." Jeremiah 17;7 Trust the Lord and hope in Him. Isn't that saying we
must be teachable and always willing to learn. Obedience to God the Father and Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit brings rewards verse 8. Sin is deceitful, but we have choice, and Luke 11; 13 suggests we ask for the Holy Spirit every waking hour 'cause we are no match for the devil. Doing good is a learned experience- not self made. "All that the Lord has said, we will do." No not in your own strength.
The last major warning in the form of the Three Angels’ Messages caps the effort of the Savior through scripture to get mankind to choose rightly (Revelation 14:6-12). Adam and Eve used their freedom of will to choose the wrong way and since then the Redeemer has been pointing to the narrow way which is complete surrender to the will of God; nothing less (Genesis 2:16-17).
The great controversy between Christ and Satan is largely a contest of wills. In Heaven Lucifer unashamedly touted his own will. “I will, I will, I will” he repeated (Isaiah 14:13-14). The Father did not suspend His will, but He put it up for examination (Jeremiah 21:8). Then He says choose.
Many like Lucifer see freedom of will as something to exploit, rather than a gift to be surrendered, and have proceeded to abuse it, thinking they can successfully manage it on their own (Proverbs 21:2). The perfect pair faltered and fell (Genesis 3:6) as did the perfect covering cherub before them (Ezekiel 28:13-19). Humans who already possess a fallen nature are even less able to constrain their own will (Luke 16:15).
Jeremiah reveals, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who shall know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Yet pride will not allow many to acknowledge their own depravity. People generally want to believe and enjoy being told they are good. Everyone retains a measure of self-righteousness until completely surrendered to the Savior.
Ultimately the question all will answer is which is supreme; their will or God’s will? (Joshua 24:15). The redeemed answer rightly in word and deed, “Not mine, but Christ’s” and they surrender all, including their will (Luke 22:42).
There's only two ways darknes or light. If u blongs to jesus everyone will know bcause they can see the light in u.
Jer 17:10 tells me that Jevohah is interested in my heart and mind first and then my actions. He wants to have a relationship with me.
I always read Jeremiah 17:9 and thought that it meant that the heart was so deceitful and that's why you couldn't trust other people. Then it dawned on me that it meant that *I* couldn't trust my *OWN* heart! Talk about being deceived into applying to others what should be applied to myself. The heart is indeed deceitful.
You said it well. Yes it is MY heart that is defective. Praise God for His cleansing blood which alone can purify my heart.
Haha Very true! At times, find myself applying Biblical counsel to others instead of me. Especially when listening to sermons.
One of the basic elements of life is establishing trust. Is God really saying "trust no one"? If we maintain this position in a literal sense, could we become paranoid? In this verse, is God telling us to place Him first, and let His Holy Spirit guide us in our earthly relationships?
God is Love, and He has demonstrated that love towards us, even while we are in full rebellion against Him. He has show in His character, faithfulness, steadfastness, truth, reliability, and loving kindness...His word is sure and we can have absolute trust, and comfort in His promises. He alone we can absolutely trust!!
Good text. Trust God always and not human for human heart is deceitful. Simple! Period! What else...
I can appreciate an all or nothing philosophy when it comes to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. After all, there is no other Way to be moved by the Holy Spirit than by surrender of one's own will. This arrangement remains as a constant reminder of God's character which as a rule does not use force as a means of getting things done. The fact that my heart is broken and not a reliable guide for life is a prerequisite
I am a sinner rescued from eternal death by the mercifully Father of Heaven and earth. My heart tells me that there is a God and that He is good. The mind of Christ given to me as a gift has trained my good heart to believe truth about God's character and good will toward all men.Without that unmerritted favor my heart would be bad in every respect desperately wicked. The fact that in my flesh I still serve the law of sin and death does not deminish the gift. We are saved by grace through faith.
lets always trust in God because he is the only one who can read the heart and mind of man. Once you put your trust in men, what you will always get is disappointments.
Just to trust in self or any other flesh we announce our selves cursed and what God has cursed no man can bless. So by trusting in the Lord we announce his blessings towards us and we become a blessing to our environment.
I am learning this right now, where I need my faith to see me through this part in my life. I know that his awesome will for my life will see me though this storm.
I am grateful as this has cause me to know that Jeremiah 17:5–10 is right for this time in my life.
The heart mind is also deceitful and unless we keep our mind on Jesus will fall for the lies of Satan.
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Just a while ago my bro jokingly told someone, "If you become rich then you don't have to worry about that issue." My dad said, "Well, he doesn't need to worry even now. He's already rich. God is his and our provider. So God will provide for our needs no matter how big it is." It got me thinking.
Jeremiah17:7 - Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
That verse makes total sense. It's 100% logical. Yet it's one of the hardest things to apply in everyday life --- for me, anyway.
In view of Scripture's declaration that "the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God" (1 Pt 4:17), can Christ's present day disciples learn anything from Israel's experience?
In His conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus appears to confirm (Jn 4:22) Abijah's assessment, or judgment, of the religious state of Israel compared to Judah (2 Chr 13:9-11). Judah certainly had the advantage of the temple and correct worship practices from the law of Moses. Malachi prophesied (Mal 3:1, 3-4) that Jesus would come to that temple to perform a cleansing ministry there. In His conversation with the woman, interestingly, He doesn't direct her to leave Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, which had become a center of false worship, and go to Jerusalem's temple. Jesus points her in another direction (Jn 4:23), worship out of a truthful spirit.
Since Jeremiah was only relaying God's message (Jer 17:1-2), God's assessment, or judgment, regarding Judah was that they had good instruction that wasn't benefiting the people (Mt 23:1-3). All true ministries will follow that modeled by John (Jn 1:6-7, 20, 29, 35-37; Gal 3:24-25). How was Judah supposed to have benefited its disciples? Instead of bringing its disciples to their High Priest/Lamb for cleansing of "deceitful" hearts (Gen 8:21; Deut 5:27, 29; Eze 11:17-19), Judaism taught its people, with broken hearts, to trust in Judaism itself (Jn 8:33-34)! Ironically, Paul, a survivor, would warn that this is one of the deadly side-effect of good religion (Col 2:23; Rom 7:7; Rom 8:3). Otherwise good centers of worship becomes sort of like prisons...the murder rate is low inside but not because the inmates don't have murder on their minds.
So is God's judgment through Jeremiah (Jer 17:9) hyperbole, an exaggeration? Is there nothing, a little or a lot wrong with all human hearts? Most in answer might concede on "deceitful"...but "desperately wicked"?! Really God?!(Mt 26:31, 33-35; Jer 17:10)
When we focus on self from the vantage point of pride, we will fall away from the "good, acceptable and perfect will of God" in whom there is no unrighteousness. If we focus on God and come to truly know Him, we will see His will as being all we could hope for and will seek to be found in harmony with it.
Strange that any would wish to depart from God's will as Lucifer did, who stood next to the Giver of all Life and every blessing. How could he have exalted himself against Perfection in every regard? In our fallen and separated state, we can easily be misled and think we do well, but Lucifer?!
For those still in the darkness of deception, GOD must be revealed in the lives of those who have become one with Him in Christ. In fact, He will be. This will lighten the whole earth with His Glory and is the message of the 4 last messengers on earth. (Rev 14, 18) THIS is what has yet to happen since 1844.