Jeremiah 19 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Jeremiah 19:5

“They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.”

This is one of the charges God brings against His people through the prophet Jeremiah. This is a horrible atrocity, one not to be taken lightly. But there is a spiritual truth here under this disgusting sin, one that most if not all of us have been guilty of at one time or another.

We may have never offered our sons and daughters on the altars of idols, but have we placed other gifts He has given us on the altars? He gives us the gift of time, and yet we sacrifice it so unwittingly and willingly to the idols in our hearts. He gives us the gift of money (provision), and instead of spending it in ways that honor God, we burn it up on the altars of our flesh and the world. There are many examples of God’s pure gifts given to man, and man perverting them for his own pleasure.

How grateful and thankful I am that God is patient with us, not crushing us at the first sign of these things but patiently trying to get our attention and draw us back to Himself. He continually calls out with open arms and a willingness to forgive. Because of Christ, we can come back from our idolatry with a confidence that He will accept us. Not because we deserve it, not because we earned it, not because of “we” but all because of HE!

Thank You, Jesus, for saving a wretch like me and calling me Your treasure! He is amazing and worthy of all praise,. Will we honor Him with the great gifts He has given us, or continue to waste them on idols? Each one of us must make the choice, but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!

Joshua 24:14,15- “Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

God bless! I love you, all but His love not only gives the gifts but deserves the praise for them! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!