As the prophet Jeremiah ministers to the people of Judah, the Lord gives insight into their hearts. 8 Then I received this message from the Lord: 9 “This is what the Lord says: This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem. 10 These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods.[1]Jeremiah 13:8-10a.
If the people of Judah had been patient in a doctor’s office, they received a very bad medical report on the condition of their heart. The sin of pride was destroying the people. I don’t know of one person who wants to be around people who are filled with pride. Pride is disobedience to God’s most important command to love Him above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves.
“We know the disease,”Jaquelle Crowe writes, “but we don’t recognize the symptoms. And that’s why we need the insight of our Great Physician and to reveal its symptoms and release us from its grip. She warns of the following signs: fear, entitlement, ingratitude, people-pleasing, prayerlessness, hypocrisy and rebellion. Faith, a gift from God, kills pride. Faith, by nature, looks away from ourselves. We can recognize pride by staying connected to Christ. Through prayer and study of God’s word, the Holy Spirit will alert and convict us to the chains of sin in our lives and walk us through the steps of sanctification to breaks us free. But we have to have ears to hear, and the gumption to follow His lead.”
Through spiritual transformation, our Lord can change us from being filled with pride to walking in humility. 1 Peter 5:5 says,“In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [2]
How can I be transformed? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 12:2. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [3]
When we spend time in pray and in God’s word, He begins to transform us. What do I do if I don’t have the discipline to pray much or spend time in the word of God? Pray and ask the Lord to help you. The Lord understands the we are on a journey and we need his help to change. Half the battle is won when we realize we can’t change on our own, and we need the Lord to walk with us.
Don’t wait too long! Ask the Lord today to transform your life to become the humble person He desires you to be.
To hear more of Jeremiah’s story, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-jeremiah/jeremiahs-belt
If you would like more teaching on Jeremiah listen to these podcasts:
[1, 2, 3]Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation(Jeremiah 13:8–10, 1 Peter 5:5, Romans 12:2). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.