Jeremiah 19:15: “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.'”

October 18th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Through Jeremiah, God had been telling His people over and over again that He was going to discipline them if they did not repent. But they refused to listen to Him. Jeremiah 8 says that they held “fast to deceit,” they refused to return to Him, that they were not ashamed or even able to blush at their own sin. God had shown Jeremiah a potter at his wheel, molding his clay. And here God says that the people had stiffened their necks. They, the clay, had resisted the potter’s hand for so long they had become hardened and brittle, no longer able to be molded and shaped. What a frightening picture for believers; we must be careful to stay pliable and soft in the hand of God our divine potter.

How do we stay soft and pliable in God’s hand? We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us the gift of conviction of sin. We need Him to show us anything, any sin or disobedience, that mars us and stands between Him and us. And then we must confess and repent, turning away from it and back to Him. Freedom and softness comes with simple, heartfelt repentance toward God.

In the White House collection of letters, there is one heartfelt letter from a child, written to President Cleveland in September 1895. It reads:

To His Majesty, President Cleveland.

Dear President:
I am in a dreadful state of mind, and I thought I would write and tell you all. About two years ago—as near as I can remember, it was two years—I used two postage stamps that had been used before on letters, perhaps more than two stamps, but I can only remember of doing it twice. I did not realize what I had done until lately. My mind is constantly turned on that subject, and I think of it night and day. Now, dear President, will you please forgive me, and I promise you I will never do it again. Enclosed find cost of three stamps. Please forgive me, for I was then but thirteen years old, for I am heartily sorry for what I have done. From one of your subjects.

“LORD, we confess our sins, turn back to You and ask You to forgive us because of Jesus. Thank You, LORD, that You have paid the price for our sins.”