warning and rejection

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Today's reading finds Jeremiah again facing opposition from the leaders in Jerusalem. Jeremiah calls out to God, pointing out that his ministry has been to protect the people of Judah but they have ignored his message and persecuted him. Jeremiah shouldn't be surprised that his message hasn't been well received; people rarely want to hear that they are living the wrong way and that their actions will bring disaster on them. We often need to hear what we don't want to hear. We need to know when we're on the wrong path so we can change direction. Most of the religious leaders weren't ready to hear that, so instead they opposed Jeremiah. I pray we would be open to hear the truth even when it hurts but that we would not give way to Jeremiah's bitterness when our words are ignored.

God bless,
Sam

Jeremiah 18:18-23
18Then they said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah—for instruction shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us bring charges against him, and let us not heed any of his words.” 19Give heed to me, O Lord, and listen to what my adversaries say! 20Is evil a recompense for good? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.

21Therefore give their children over to famine; hurl them out to the power of the sword, let their wives become childless and widowed. May their men meet death by pestilence, their youths be slain by the sword in battle. 22May a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring the marauder suddenly upon them! For they have dug a pit to catch me, and laid snares for my feet. 23Yet you, O Lord, know all their plotting to kill me. Do not forgive their iniquity, do not blot out their sin from your sight. Let them be tripped up before you; deal with them while you are angry.