Today you should read: Jeremiah 2:1-13
Oh, young love. Do you remember what it was like to receive that note from your crush in middle school saying, “I like you, do you like me? Circle yes or no.” Today is no different , just done over texting or Twitter. It’s also the same reason why top 40 mainstream radio stars sing about this type of love so often. Of course, we all know that these feelings don’t represent true love the way God speaks about it. But whether it’s a young crush or a new marriage still in the honeymoon stage, it’s easy to be passionate about or devoted to that relationship when you are young and everything is so new. The same goes with our devotion to God as Jeremiah warns in the beginning of Jeremiah 2:1-3:
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah not only reminds us of the fickle devotion and love Israel had when they first followed God to the promised land but reminds them that they went after worthless things – therefore becoming what they went after (v. 5). Jeremiah calls out the fathers, priests, shepherds and prophets of Israel, the spiritual leaders of God’s people for allowing them to get into this spiritual state (vs. 5, 8). However, he still extends grace and mercy by reminding them that God will contend for them – despite their spiritual adultery (v. 9) and pointing out their specific sins so they will know what they need to repent of (v.13, an illustration of how they had forsaken God to worship their own false, manmade gods which is similar to drinking from toilet water when God gives you pure, filtered water.)
So in light of these 13 verses, let’s see how we make the same mistakes Israel once did and was warned about:
- Have you been less devoted and passionate about Jesus since you first became a Christian and everything seemed so new, and the feeling of forgiven and loved was fresh? How can you continue to love Jesus and live for Him the same way you did in the beginning and the same way you will need to for a long lasting marriage after the “honeymoon stage?”
- Are there worthless idols in your life that you need to repent of that are making you worthless as a Christian in His mission?
- Do you need to be reminded that God is contending for you and your children; that despite unfaithfulness, God is still fighting for you and those you parent and disciple?
- Are you drinking from the dirty water of the world in any areas of your life when Jesus has promised to give you pure, filtered water to nourish you and keep you alive in Him?
Posted by: Erik Koliser
JumpstartCPC.com 
These are great questions Erik! We can so easily be tempted by the world……your example of the water is such a good analogy. As we discussed in our womens Bible study last night, God wants abundance for us…..accepting anything else but him is settling for so much less than what he wants to give. So grateful for the time and prayer you guys put into Jumpstart!