Returning to Our First Love: A Call to Devotion

Devotional

Day 1: The Subtle Drift from Devotion

The relationship between God and His people, as depicted in the book of Jeremiah, serves as a poignant reminder of how easily one can drift away from their initial devotion. This drift is often gradual and imperceptible, beginning with small compromises that eventually lead to a complete departure from the fervor and love once held for God. The Israelites, once wholly devoted to God, began to turn to idolatry, seeking fulfillment in things that could not satisfy. This serves as a warning to remain vigilant in maintaining a relationship with God, ensuring that hearts remain devoted and lives centered around Him. [12:45]

Jeremiah 2:2-3 (ESV): "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.'"

Reflection: What small compromises have you made that might be leading you away from your initial devotion to God? How can you address these today to realign your heart with Him?

Day 2: The Battle of the Mind

The mind is a battleground where the desires of the flesh and the spirit vie for dominance. A mind focused on the Spirit brings life, joy, and peace, while a mind focused on the flesh leads to corruption. This calls for a conscious effort to fill the mind with things that edify, such as worship music and the Word of God, creating an environment that nurtures spiritual growth. By doing so, one can cultivate a life that is pleasing to God and aligned with His will. [07:35]

Galatians 6:8 (ESV): "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Reflection: What specific thoughts or habits are currently occupying your mind? How can you intentionally shift your focus to things that nurture spiritual growth today?

Day 3: The Futility of Idolatry

Turning to idols or material things for fulfillment leads to emptiness, as only God can fill the void in one's life. The Israelites' pursuit of other gods serves as a reminder of the futility of seeking satisfaction in things that cannot satisfy. God calls His people to return to Him, the fountain of living waters, instead of relying on broken cisterns that hold no water. This is an invitation to recognize the emptiness of idolatry and to seek fulfillment in a relationship with God. [26:14]

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Reflection: What are the "broken cisterns" in your life that you are relying on for fulfillment? How can you turn back to God, the true source of living water, today?

Day 4: God's Unwavering Call to Return

Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God continues to plead with them to return, demonstrating His enduring love and desire for a relationship with His people. This is a powerful reminder of God's mercy and grace, calling individuals to return to their first love and ensure that God remains at the center of their existence. It is an invitation to examine one's life and make the necessary changes to align with God's will. [23:22]

Hosea 14:1-2 (ESV): "Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, 'Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.'"

Reflection: In what ways have you strayed from your relationship with God? What steps can you take today to return to Him and place Him at the center of your life?

Day 5: The Necessity of Self-Examination

Self-examination is crucial in maintaining a life that is pleasing to God. It involves considering what occupies one's mind and heart, and whether one is sowing to the flesh or to the spirit. This process helps individuals live in the spirit and be led by God, ensuring that their lives are aligned with His will. By regularly examining one's life, one can make the necessary adjustments to remain faithful and devoted to God. [56:54]

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Reflection: What specific areas of your life need self-examination today? How can you invite God into this process to help you align more closely with His will?

Sermon Summary

In the book of Jeremiah, we find a profound message about the relationship between God and His people, Israel. God repeatedly spoke to Jeremiah, directing him to deliver His words to the people of Jerusalem. This message was often unpopular because it challenged the corrupted priesthood and false prophets of the time. God reminded Israel of their early devotion, likening it to the excitement and commitment of an engagement period. During this time, Israel was wholly devoted to God, and their lives were centered around Him. However, over time, they drifted away, turning to idolatry and forgetting their roots and the God who delivered them from Egypt.

This drifting away from God is a gradual, often imperceptible process. It begins with small compromises and leads to a complete departure from the initial fervor and love for God. The Israelites began to worship other gods, seeking fulfillment in things that could not satisfy. God, in His mercy, continued to plead with them, reminding them of His faithfulness and the emptiness of their pursuits. He called them to return to Him, the fountain of living waters, instead of relying on broken cisterns that could hold no water.

The message is a call to self-examination. It challenges us to consider what occupies our minds and hearts. Are we sowing to the flesh or to the spirit? The mind of the Spirit brings life, joy, and peace, while the mind of the flesh leads to corruption. We are encouraged to fill our minds with things that edify, such as worship music and the Word of God, creating an environment that nurtures spiritual growth.

God's plea to Israel is a reminder of His enduring love and desire for a relationship with His people. Despite their unfaithfulness, He continues to extend His invitation for them to return. This message is a call to return to our first love, to examine our lives, and to ensure that God remains at the center of our existence.

Key Takeaways

1. Examination:** We are encouraged to examine our lives, considering what occupies our minds and hearts. Are we sowing to the flesh or to the spirit? This self-examination helps us maintain a life that is pleasing to God, living in the spirit and being led by Him. [56:54]
** [56:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:32] - Jeremiah's Calling
[01:59] - God's Remembrance of Israel's Youth
[03:48] - Holiness Unto the Lord
[05:25] - The Mind of the Spirit
[07:35] - Sowing to the Spirit
[09:43] - Israel's Drift from God
[12:45] - The Imperceptible Drift
[14:21] - The Emptiness of Idolatry
[16:48] - Forgetting God
[19:03] - Corrupted Leadership
[22:45] - God's Plea to Return
[26:14] - Broken Cisterns
[31:38] - Consequences of Forsaking God
[56:54] - Self-Examination and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Jeremiah 2:1-13
Romans 8:5-6
Galatians 6:7-8

Observation Questions:

What was the initial relationship between God and Israel as described in Jeremiah 2:2-3? How did God describe their early devotion? [02:27]
According to the sermon, what are the consequences of having a mind focused on the flesh versus a mind focused on the Spirit? [05:50]
How does the sermon describe the process of drifting away from God? What are some signs of this drift mentioned? [12:24]
What does God accuse Israel of doing in Jeremiah 2:13, and what metaphor does He use to describe their actions? [26:14]

Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the sermon suggest that small compromises can lead to a gradual drift away from God? How might this apply to modern believers? [12:45]
How does the sermon explain the emptiness of idolatry, and why is it important for believers to recognize this in their own lives? [14:43]
What does the sermon suggest about the importance of self-examination in maintaining a relationship with God? How can this practice prevent spiritual drift? [56:54]
How does the sermon describe God's enduring plea to Israel, and what does this reveal about His character and desire for a relationship with His people? [23:22]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your current relationship with God. Are there any small compromises you have made that might be leading you away from Him? What steps can you take to address these? [12:45]
Consider the things that occupy your mind and heart daily. Are they more aligned with the desires of the flesh or the Spirit? How can you intentionally shift your focus to the Spirit this week? [05:50]
Identify any "broken cisterns" in your life—things you turn to for fulfillment that ultimately leave you empty. How can you redirect your pursuit towards God, the fountain of living waters? [26:14]
How can you incorporate self-examination into your spiritual routine to ensure that God remains at the center of your life? What specific practices can help you in this process? [56:54]
Think about a time when you felt distant from God. What were the contributing factors, and how did you find your way back to Him? How can this experience guide you in maintaining a closer relationship with God now?
How can you create an environment in your home or personal life that nurtures spiritual growth and keeps you focused on God? Consider practical changes you can make this week. [09:03]
Reflect on God's enduring love and plea for a relationship with His people. How does this understanding of God's character influence your response to His call in your life? [23:22]

Sermon Clips

I remember thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thine espousals when you went after me in the wilderness in a land that was not sown so God is calling to remembrance and calling the people to remembrance of their history the beginnings of the nation when God first delivered them out of the horrible conditions that they were experiencing in Egypt. [00:02:08]

Man is a spirit dwelling in a body possessing a consciousness the consciousness of man is either absorbed by the body desires or by the spirit the spirit in fellowship with God a man who is living in fellowship with God his mind is on the things of God and he is thus spiritually minded or has what the Bible refers to as the mind of the Spirit which the Bible declares his life it is peace it is joy. [00:05:20]

Whatever a man sews the Bible said that will he also reap if you sow to the flesh of the flesh you're gonna reap corruption if you sowed of the spirit of the Spirit you're gonna reap life the mind of the Spirit is life joy peace I think it is so vital and so important that you fill your mind as much as possible with with good Christian music. [00:07:19]

Backsliding is a very imperceptible process in fact in the book of Hebrews it said therefore let us take the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time and the Greek there is we should drift away from them drifting as is a moving sort of with the tide and it is an imperceptible condition when you are drifting you're not aware of the fact that you're drifting. [00:11:31]

They've walked after vanity or emptiness they've turned to the things of the world to satisfy that inner craving but they cannot you cannot fill the void in your life with the things of the world for it is a god-shaped vacuum that is in you and only God can fill that vacuum and to try to fill it with the things of the world the material things of the world will only lead to a greater emptiness. [00:14:47]

My people have committed two evils one they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters the spring of fresh living water and they have hewed out or carved out cisterns but they are broken cisterns that can hold no water the recognition that every man has to have something to live by something that he worships something that is of primary importance to him. [00:26:14]

Therefore I will yet plead with you saith the Lord and with your children's children will I plead in spite of all of this God had not given up on them God is still pleading with them God is still extending his arms to them to invite them to come that I might be your God that I might again have that close intimate relationship with you he is still pleading. [00:23:17]

God is calling them back but they refuse they will go after the strange gods and as a thief is ashamed when he is found so is the house of Israel ashamed they and their kings and their princes and their priests and their prophets but they say to a stock you are my father and to a stone you have brought me into existence for they have turned their back unto me and not their face. [00:41:45]

Why will you plead with me God says why are you why are you pleading with me to help you why are you praying to me for you all have transgressed against me saith the Lord the day when God closes his ear to your crying to your prayer because you've turned against him now God had done many things to wake them up he had allowed many things to happen. [00:45:20]

I pray that you'll have a wonderful week as the word of God dwells in your heart and as you meditate upon it and as you sort of take inventory of yourself for a little man examine himself the scripture said and thus we will not be judged of the Lord looking at your own heart looking at your own life looking at your own thoughts especially those in the semi-conscious realm. [00:56:30]

May God give you that resolve and determination to forsake the flesh and the world and the things of this world that you might live a life that is wholly pleasing unto God living in the spirit and walking in the spirit and being led by the spirit feeding the spirit may it be a glorious week of feeding on the word living in the Lord being guided and directed by him filled with his spirit demonstrating his love fulfilling his purpose in Jesus name. [00:57:37]

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. [00:58:33]

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Pastor Chuck Smith This sermon · AI assistant

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