What steps can we take to ensure we heed God's warnings today? Setting the Scene “When they had heard all the words, they turned to one another in fear and said to Baruch, ‘We must surely report all these words to the king.’” (Jeremiah 36:16) The officials who heard Jeremiah’s scroll responded with sober fear and immediate resolve. Their reaction sketches a pattern for every generation that desires to heed God’s warnings. Key Observation: A Heart That Trembles • The officials “turned to one another in fear.” • The fear is not panic but reverent recognition that the living God has spoken. • Genuine fear of the Lord drives obedience, not avoidance (Proverbs 1:7). Step 1: Cultivate Reverent Fear • Ask the Spirit to impress the gravity of God’s Word on the heart (Isaiah 66:2). • Meditate on accounts where disregard brought judgment—Noah’s day (Genesis 6–7), Sodom (Genesis 19), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). • Keep worship central; awe grows where God is exalted (Psalm 95:6-7). Step 2: Seek the Whole Counsel of God • Daily Scripture intake guards against selective hearing (Acts 20:27). • “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Read, study, memorize, and listen to preaching that handles passages in context. Step 3: Submit Promptly • Delay breeds hardness; immediate obedience softens the heart (Jeremiah 26:13). • “Be doers of the word and not hearers only” (James 1:22-25). • Write down specific actions the text calls for and follow through the same day. Step 4: Share the Warning Faithfully • The officials moved to “report all these words to the king.” • God still appoints watchmen (Ezekiel 33:7-9). • Speak truth lovingly but plainly, whether or not it is popular (2 Timothy 4:2). Step 5: Guard the Message from Distortion • Handle the Word accurately (2 Timothy 2:15). • “If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues” (Revelation 22:18-19). • Test every teaching by Scripture; reject any gospel contrary to the apostolic one (Galatians 1:8-9). Step 6: Maintain Continual Humility and Repentance • A contrite spirit keeps ears open (Psalm 51:17). • Regular self-examination under Scripture’s light (Psalm 139:23-24). • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). Step 7: Remember Christ, the Ultimate Messenger • “In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). • At the transfiguration the Father commanded, “Listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5). • Obedience to Christ sums up every prophetic warning and every promise of life. Putting It All Together Reverent fear, full exposure to Scripture, prompt submission, faithful testimony, doctrinal vigilance, humble repentance, and a Christ-centered focus form a sturdy pathway for heeding God’s warnings today. |
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