When Was the Last Time-?
Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Luis and Maricela Wedding Day!
When was the last time- you took a walk in the woods just to pray with a friend?
-you talked to your dad about God?
-you talked to God about your dad?
-you read your Bible for hours just because you wanted to know God better?
-you prayed all night because your friends were struggling spiritually?
-you gave all your heart to find someone who wanted to study the Bible?
-you fasted because you were broken about sin and begged God to change your heart?
-you were filled sorrow because a person you reached to did not become a disciple?
-you brought a visitor to church and were so excited you couldn’t sit still?
-you overcame a sin that had been dogging you for years?
-you memorized a scripture and it changed your heart?
-you remembered a scripture and were able to really help someone else?
-you led a Bible study?
-you helped someone find strength in God when they felt like giving up?
-you served, got no thanks, and yet were fired up that you got to live as a disciple?
-you went out of your way to take care of a sick or weak brother or sister?
-you gave financially until it hurt?
-you were willing to miss out on sleep to seek and save the lost or help a disciple?
-you pushed yourself to serve and love others without anyone asking you?
-you decided to share your faith until you got someone to come with you to Bible Talk?
-you rebuked someone for lukewarmness?
-you got rebuked for lukewarmness and joyfully repented?
-you decided to sing your favorite songs to God in your Quiet Time?
-you drove hours, just to get fellowship with other sold-out disciples?
-you moved to be with a fellowship of sold-out disciples?
-you searched the Scriptures until you found that perfect verse for a friend?
-you prayed for every member of your congregation?
-you set aside a whole day so you could pray, dream and plan out the next few months?
-you cried so much it hurt because of the state of the churches or the church you are in?
-you called friends in other cities in order to encourage and strengthen them?
-you lived out the scripture “zeal for your house will consume me”
-you were desperate and urgent for the thousands or even millions of lost in your city?
-you loved God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
….more wedding pictures
Of course we could go on for pages, but sincerely- how are you doing spiritually? The purpose for this article is simple- Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves 2 Corinthians 13:5. In a day and age when so many cry out against self examination or church examination, we are called by God to check our hearts and determine, “when was the last time-” you lived as a disciple and truly loved Him.
God’s love for us is undeniable- it is our love for God that should come into question. He is as constant as the sunrise, while we seem to fall in and out of love with Him. Truly, it is necessary for one to understand the love of God in order to then fall in love with Him. After His love is discovered and understood, we are called to love the Father with all of our hearts. We have to ask ourselves, what does that mean? Looking back to Jeremiah 6, the direction is to ask God for the ancient paths, to stand at the crossroads and look. Jeremiah has such a sense for knowing God and learning what it is he wants of us. In his time, as in ours- so few are willing to examine their hearts and so are left wanting in their love for God. Are you willing to search the scriptures, cry out in prayer and be humble toward challenges from spiritual men whose lives are in line with the scripture? What are you willing to do or change to be the man or woman God has called you to be? Let’s look at three keys to staying in love with God and having the heart to “do the things you did at first” Revelation 2:5.
1. Jeremiah 6:9-11 Do not take offense at the word of the Lord, find pleasure in it.
Get up every morning and dive into the Bible! Urgently go after learning the word. Commit large portions of books to memory and memorize several new verses every month. Study out topics, prophets, the heart of Jesus and any other issue or person you are interested in. Read books on how to read the Bible. One of the most helpful books I read as a young disciple was entitled: “How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth”. Firmly to this day in my convictions, are scriptures I memorized early on. Also- I got smarter! As a young man, there were so many foolish mistakes I made that it is humiliating and embarrassing to discuss. It was because I did not know or hold to the scripture. As an older disciple, I work very hard keeping my heart soft to the scriptures or I get as “dumb” as in my youth. I will never forget finding Psalm 119:98-104 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Scriptures like changed me forever! Are you consuming the word of God daily? Are you loving what you read and truly taking pleasure in it or taking offense to it? You will know by the fruit coming out of your life Matthew 7:17-21.
2. Jeremiah 6:13-15 Do not cry peace, peace, rather, deal radically with sin.
Sin destroys and brings curses, confusion and rebuke. Do not be fooled by your own thoughts of compromise or that of others. Have deep convictions as to what sin does to you, your family and everyone you touch. Deuteronomy 28:20 The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. A few years back, there was a period of time when my response to sin was anemic and filled with excuses. Once the realization came that sin was destroying me and those around me, there was alarm and anger. Alarm came from the onrush of guilt and shame when it became obvious we were far from God and drifting farther. Anger came from the slow response in my heart and the deceit that was encountered in my brothers. Jeremiah 6:13-15 From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD. Satan had fooled us and all of the people were falling for it! Although so many churches were decimated, people kept saying, “don’t overreact, you are being drastic”. It felt as if I were a lunatic, ranting and raving about the state of the churches. One thing learned- drastic times call for drastic measures and I finally got serious. Peace, peace may be preached when there is no peace. Each disciple has to take a long hard look at the Bible and their life and DECIDE; am I “in the faith”, “is the church I am part of in the faith” The call from Jeremiah is clear- are gaping wounds being dressed with band aids or are we radically dealing with sin? Your relationship with God is on the line. If there is no real peace- admit it, own it and turn back to God.
…..more wedding pictures!
3. Jeremiah 6:16 Stand, look, ask- and then decide to walk in the ancient paths.
So- now what? The Bible is so awesome because God gives us answers to the messes we create! Verse 16 is God’s answer to what Jeremiah had preached against them. When you’ve been lost for an hour driving, you may get a little upset. When you get lost in the woods in Mississippi (I grew up there) you are scared intense and urgent within 5 minutes! There is a sense of urgency, desperation and a wave of humility comes over you and now you will get advice from anyone! That is the heart we must have when we realize we have drifted from God. Here, Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites: God’s people, and yet they are lost and largely unaware of their desperation. God’s answer is to “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” When was the last time you had this heart? When was the last time you were living free and felt close to God? It is not too far away and our Father has provided the answers. We understand and know his love for us is unfailing- when was the last time your love for him was bringing rest for your soul? Phoenix church- let us not just stand, look and ask- let us walk in the ancient paths!
He stoops down to make us great,
Matt Sullivan
