Jeremiah reinforces the expectations here in chapter11. “Anyone who does not keep the terms of the covenant is cursed”. It doesn’t get a lot clearer than that. God has an expectation. He goes on: “the terms are clear”. What God has set as an expectation is not a mystery – He has given us a book to follow – His Word. But just to be sure we all understand: “Obey what I tell you. Do exactly what I command you. Your obedience will close the deal”. It is all about obedience. God expects us to obey. We have to do what He has instructed. There is no room for our interpretation or spin on it. God wants us to know His Word and live by it. Period. No excuses, no interpretation needed by us.
As you would expect the people then (and now) want to do it their own way. Here is the state of things: they “did whatever they wanted to do, whenever they wanted to do it”. Do you see the problem her. We are like this some days too. We want to do it our way, if we chose to obey at all. God is not into our shell game of deciding if or when we should obey. It really is pretty black and white. We either do or we don’t. He will bless those who do, and punish those who don’t. Read the rest of the chapter. It doesn’t require much imagination.
Are you walking in obedience to God’s stated plan – His Word? That is step one. Then we can begin to line up with His direct plan for us which He shares through prayer and others. But it starts with knowing the Word and living by it. Do you know what He wants from you? That matters because if not it is hard to be walking with Him the way He desires. Get into a bible study, have a daily time with God in reading His Word, go to a Bible teaching church. Make sure you are getting fed with the truth that is required for us to be obedient.
