Jeremiah, Week 23: The Attitude that will Determine Your Future

Devotional

Day 1: The Condition of Your Heart Determines Your Future

Just as wood can be hard or soft, our hearts can be resistant or receptive to God’s correction. A hard heart, stubborn and prideful, resists God’s voice and refuses to acknowledge sin, while a soft heart is humble, aware of its shortcomings, and open to repentance. God desires a heart that is broken and moldable, not one that is self-sufficient and closed off. The world may tell us to be strong and unyielding, but Jesus calls us to be “poor in spirit”—to recognize our need for Him and to allow Him to shape us. Where you fall on this spectrum of heart condition will shape your future and your relationship with God. [04:33]

Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Reflection: In what area of your life are you resisting God’s correction, and what would it look like to humbly invite Him to soften your heart today?

Day 2: God Is the Sovereign Potter—We Are the Clay

God’s sovereignty is like a potter shaping clay on the wheel; He has the authority and power to mold us according to His will. Yet, the clay’s condition matters—if it is soft and pliable, the potter can shape it as He desires, but if it is marred or resistant, the potter may reshape it into something else. God’s plans are not thwarted by our resistance, but our willingness to be shaped by Him determines whether we experience His blessing or correction. We are always in His hands, and He lovingly desires to form us into vessels for His purpose, if only we will yield. [09:47]

Jeremiah 18:5-6 (NKJV)
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!"

Reflection: Where in your life do you sense God trying to shape you, and how can you surrender your plans to His hands today?

Day 3: Repentance Leads to Mercy; Pride Leads to Judgment

God has established a principle: when we respond to His correction with repentance and brokenness, He relents from judgment and extends mercy. But when we respond with pride, stubbornness, and disobedience, we invite His judgment. This is true for nations and for individuals—our response to God’s conviction determines whether we experience His forgiveness or His discipline. The story of Nineveh’s repentance and Israel’s stubbornness both illustrate that God’s heart is to forgive, but He will not force repentance upon us. The choice is ours: humility and mercy, or pride and judgment. [20:25]

Acts 3:19 (NKJV)
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin or area of disobedience you need to turn from today, trusting that God’s mercy awaits your repentance?

Day 4: Justifying Ourselves Cannot Stop God’s Judgment

No amount of self-justification, denial, or discrediting of God’s word can nullify the truth or avert the consequences of sin. The people of Judah tried to explain away their actions, relying on false prophets and their own wisdom, but their excuses did not change God’s standards or His coming judgment. We may try to rationalize our choices or surround ourselves with voices that affirm us, but ultimately, we all must answer to God. Only genuine repentance and humility can change the outcome—not our attempts to justify ourselves. [29:20]

Romans 2:5 (NKJV)
"But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."

Reflection: Are there excuses or justifications you’ve been making for your actions that you need to lay down before God in honest confession today?

Day 5: God Will Ultimately Break the Unbroken—Choose Surrender Now

God is patient and long-suffering, giving us opportunity after opportunity to repent and turn to Him. But if we persist in hardening our hearts, there comes a point when judgment is final, and restoration is no longer possible—like a potter’s vessel shattered beyond repair. The only thing that can stop the judgment of God is a humble, broken, repentant heart. We can either humble ourselves now and receive His mercy, or be broken in the end. God’s desire is always restoration, but He will not force it upon those who refuse. Today is the day to surrender, to let go of pride, and to let God do a new work in your heart. [43:04]

James 4:6-7 (NKJV)
"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.' Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Reflection: What is one area of pride or self-sufficiency you need to surrender to God today, trusting Him to give you grace and restoration?

Sermon Summary

The journey through Jeremiah today invites deep reflection on the condition of our hearts before God. Just as a carpenter avoids driving a nail into the hard knot of a board, so too does God encounter resistance when our hearts are hardened. The spectrum of our heart’s condition—ranging from stubborn pride to humble brokenness—determines not only our receptivity to God’s correction but also shapes our future. The world may celebrate self-sufficiency and strength, but God esteems a heart that is soft, humble, and repentant. Jesus Himself declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” affirming that spiritual poverty and brokenness are the very attitudes God desires.

The illustration of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18 reveals God’s sovereignty: He shapes nations and individuals according to His will. Yet, within His sovereign plan, our response to His correction matters profoundly. When the clay is marred, the potter can reshape it, but if the clay hardens, it becomes unworkable. Similarly, when we respond to God’s warnings with repentance and humility, He relents from judgment and extends mercy. But if we persist in pride and stubbornness, judgment becomes inevitable. The stories of Nineveh’s repentance and Israel’s stubbornness serve as vivid examples—one received mercy, the other faced destruction.

Attempts to justify or rationalize our actions, or to discredit God’s messengers, do not shield us from the consequences of our choices. God’s truth stands firm, regardless of human denial or manipulation. Ultimately, if we refuse to be broken before God, He will bring about a breaking that is final and irreversible, as symbolized by the shattered potter’s flask. This is not a hasty or capricious judgment—God’s patience and repeated calls to repentance are evident throughout history. Yet, there comes a point when persistent hard-heartedness leads to unavoidable consequences.

No one, regardless of position or power, can escape God’s judgment through force, argument, or denial. The only way to avert judgment is through a humble, broken, and repentant heart. The testimony of Carice Spencer powerfully illustrates this truth: rebellion and self-assertion led only to emptiness and despair, but surrender and repentance brought restoration and peace. Each of us faces the same choice—will we harden our hearts, or will we allow God to soften and shape us for His purposes?

Key Takeaways

1. The Condition of Your Heart Shapes Your Future The state of your heart—whether hard or soft—determines your openness to God’s correction and ultimately your destiny. A hard heart resists God, while a soft, humble heart is receptive and moldable. This is not merely about outward actions but about an inner posture that either welcomes or rejects God’s transformative work. [02:54]
2. God’s Sovereignty Invites, But Does Not Override, Our Response God is absolutely sovereign, yet He has chosen to respond to our repentance or rebellion. His plans are not thwarted by us, but He weaves our responses into His dealings with us. This means our choices matter deeply, and God’s mercy or judgment is often contingent on whether we humble ourselves or persist in pride. [13:03]
3. Justifying Sin Cannot Nullify God’s Truth No amount of rationalization, denial, or discrediting of God’s word can change the reality of His standards or the certainty of His judgment. Human excuses and self-justification are powerless before the unchanging truth of God. Ultimately, every person will answer to Him, regardless of their attempts to evade or reinterpret His commands. [28:50]
4. Refusal to Be Broken Leads to Irreversible Consequences If we persist in hard-heartedness, there comes a point when God’s judgment is final, like the shattered flask that cannot be remade. God’s patience is immense, but it is not infinite. The call is to humble ourselves now, while there is still opportunity for mercy, rather than face the finality of judgment later. [40:02]
5. Only a Broken, Repentant Heart Receives God’s Mercy No power, position, or argument can shield us from God’s judgment—only a heart that is humble, broken, and repentant can. This is the heart God delights to restore, as seen in the testimony of those who surrender pride and rebellion for His grace. The invitation is always open: will we let God soften our hearts today? [50:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - The Carpenter’s Lesson: Hard and Soft Wood
[01:57] - The Heart’s Condition: A Spiritual Spectrum
[04:51] - Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
[06:03] - The Potter and the Clay: God’s Sovereignty
[09:47] - Principles of Grace and Judgment
[13:03] - Our Response Shapes God’s Response
[15:16] - Repentance Leads to Mercy
[17:05] - Pride and Disobedience Lead to Judgment
[21:56] - The Danger of a Hardened Heart
[26:37] - Justifying Actions vs. God’s Judgment
[33:39] - God Breaks the Unbroken
[40:02] - The Finality of Judgment: The Shattered Flask
[45:21] - Only Repentance Stops Judgment
[50:58] - Testimony: From Rebellion to Surrender
[54:19] - Invitation: Soften Your Heart Today

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 18:1–12 (NKJV) — > The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.”’” And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.”

Matthew 5:3 (NKJV) — > “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) — > For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation Questions

In Jeremiah 18, what does the potter do when the clay is marred in his hands? What does this teach us about God’s relationship with His people? ([06:54])
According to the passage, what is God’s response when a nation or person turns from evil and repents? ([14:18])
How did the people of Judah respond to God’s warning through Jeremiah? What was their attitude? ([22:19])
In Matthew 5:3, what does Jesus say about those who are “poor in spirit”? How does this connect to the message in Jeremiah?

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean for our hearts to be “hard” or “soft” toward God? How does this affect our ability to receive correction or blessing? ([02:54])
The sermon mentions that God is sovereign, but our response still matters. How do God’s sovereignty and our choices work together in these passages? ([13:03])
Why do you think people try to justify their actions or discredit God’s messengers, as the people did with Jeremiah? What does this reveal about the human heart? ([28:50])
The illustration of the shattered flask in Jeremiah 19 shows a point of no return. What does this teach about the seriousness of refusing to repent? ([40:02])

Application Questions

The sermon compared our hearts to wood—sometimes soft, sometimes hard like a knot. Where do you see signs of hardness or resistance in your own heart right now? What might be causing it? ([01:57])
When was the last time you sensed God correcting you or pointing out something in your life? How did you respond—did you resist, justify, or humbly accept it? ([54:33])
The world often values self-sufficiency and strength, but God values humility and brokenness. In what areas of your life do you feel pressure to appear strong or self-reliant, and how might that be affecting your relationship with God? ([04:33])
The people of Judah said, “This is hopeless… we will walk according to our own plans.” Have you ever felt hopeless about changing or repenting in a certain area? What would it look like to trust God’s mercy instead? ([22:19])
The testimony of Carice Spencer showed that rebellion and self-assertion led to emptiness, but surrender brought peace. Is there an area where you are “choosing yourself” over God’s way? What would surrender look like for you? ([53:33])
God’s patience is great, but not infinite. Is there something God has been patient with you about, but you’ve been putting off dealing with? What step could you take this week to respond to Him? ([44:02])
The only way to receive God’s mercy is with a humble, broken, and repentant heart. What practical steps can you take to cultivate this kind of heart in your daily life? ([50:04])

Sermon Clips

In the economy of God, our response to God and what he's doing in our life, whether he's pointing out something we're doing wrong or whether he's saying, listen, I'm choosing you for something, our response to that will affect his response. [00:12:52] (18 seconds) #ChooseRepentance

So friends, in other words, what God said here, I believe, also applies to us. Friends, just like those nations, we can respond when we hear, understand we're doing something wrong, we can respond in one of two ways, right? We can respond either in an attitude of awareness and acknowledgement and brokenness of our sin and repentance, or we can respond with pride and arrogance and hard-heartedness in our ways. And friends, here's the interesting thing. How we respond affects how God responds. [00:18:11] (37 seconds) #RejectingGodsGoodness

It is that a hardened, prideful heart that rejects the goodness of God and refuses to repent will bring certain judgment from God. I know that's a long one, but I wanted to say all that. A hardened, prideful heart that rejects the goodness of God and refuses to repent will bring certain judgment from God. [00:21:49] (23 seconds) #TruthOfGodsWord

Why would Israel act so irrationally? I believe he's saying here. It's like someone abandoning cold, refreshing mountain water for sewer water. Why would anyone spurn God's goodness that is offered to them? Yet, that is exactly what Judah did. [00:23:59] (17 seconds) #BrokenNotHardened

Justifying our actions won't stop the judgment of God. The people of Judah thought that if they discredited Jeremiah, that what he said wouldn't matter and that the other people wouldn't listen. If they discredited Jeremiah, then they wouldn't have to repent because what Jeremiah was saying was not true. [00:26:37] (23 seconds) #SubmitOrBeBroken

Friends, that God will ultimately break those who harden their hearts and refuse to be broken. I know that sounds a little bit weird. I'm hoping after we talk about it, you'll understand what I'm talking about here. But God will...God will ultimately break those who harden their hearts and refuse to be broken. [00:33:42] (19 seconds) #RepentanceStopsJudgment

Either we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and submit to him as king of kings and Lord and lords and allow our hearts to become soft and broken and moldable and pliable and become aware of our need and sinfulness before God and submit ourselves to him or we will be broken in the end. Listen, the scripture teaches us that in the end, all, all, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord. People who think they, I'm not going to acknowledge God. He's not my God. I will never. Yes, you will. We either do it willingly now or we will do it unwillingly then. [00:42:50] (48 seconds) #RespondWithRepentance

No one, no matter what their position is, no matter how powerful they think they are, no matter how strong they think they are, no one, nothing can stop the judgment of God. No one gets around it. No one on their own will avoid it, friends. You won't be able to talk your way out of it. You won't be able to justify your actions in light of it. You won't be able to stall and hope it just goes away. Friends, the only thing that will help you is how you respond now to God's pronouncement of that. [00:49:30] (34 seconds) #GodConvictsHeals

Friends, don't harden your heart. Don't harden your heart to the Lord. Let Him give you a humble, broken, repentant spirit so that His wrath can be turned away from you and you can receive His blessing and be a part of His family forever. Amen? Where is your heart today? Friends, would you let God do a work in it today? [00:55:06] (26 seconds)

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