April 17th, 2025: Jeremiah 12.1-3

Jeremiah 12:1-3
1 Righteous are You, O Yahweh, when I would plead my case with You; Indeed I would speak matters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked succeeded? Why are all those who deal in treachery complacent?
2 You have planted them; they have also taken root; They grow; they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips But far from their inmost being.
3 But You, O Yahweh, You know me; You see me; And You test my heart’s attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage!

Jeremiah is highlighting individuals who appear to be firmly rooted in their faith, even seemingly bearing fruit for God. They profess their reverence for Him and invoke His name; however, their inner lives are separated from genuine faith. We can falsely feel secure in our faith due to feeling like we are doing works for God and professing His name; yet, we can have a heart far from God, not following after His righteousness. We need to ask God to test our hearts, as Jeremiah did, so that we can have true faith for our God. If we don’t and continue in a false security, we will be a part of those destroyed. How do we test our hearts to avoid this destruction? Through prayer and self-evaluation, we need to find what drives us. Is it a love for God and fear for Him or is it the pleasures of this life and praise from man? We have to be true to ourselves as to why we are doing the work we do so we do not deceive ourselves. Let our God test our hearts and be proven true to Him!