Today's Passage:  Jeremiah 24-26

The book of Jeremiah so far has been pretty gloomy to say the least.  The people are serving idols, and God has had enough.  Most of what we've read over the past few days has been about the coming punishment.  But now, in chapter 26, there is a glimmer of hope.  God decides to send Jeremiah to prophecy to the people again what will happen.  If they hear his words and repent, then God says He will relent from His punishment. 

As bad as things have been, God once again extends His mercy...and the people respond by wanting to kill Jeremiah for what he says!  Jeremiah was told not to omit a word...not to soft-sell or diminish God's anger or the people's sin...and all the people seem to say in response is, "We don't like what you are saying, so we want to kill you."  Their response to God's extension of mercy is to once again choose to rebel against His word.

There are times when we don't want to hear someone tell us the truth.  We get so angry with the truth-teller that we don't even listen to the true words coming out of his mouth.  They are trying (usually with much difficulty and worry on their own part) to help us see the road we are on leads to destruction.  If the people had heard Jeremiah, they would have been spared.  But their anger only contributed to their coming destruction.

The next time someone approaches you with a hard truth, how will you react?  Will you get angry at words you don't want to hear or have the patience and humility to listen?  They may be words that bring safety in times of danger!