How can we ensure our hearts remain sensitive to sin like Jeremiah 6:15 warns? Facing Jeremiah’s Warning “Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they are not at all ashamed; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 6:15) Setting the Scene: Why Sensitivity Matters • A conscience that can still “blush” is evidence of a heart aligned with God (Romans 2:15). • When shame vanishes, judgment follows; God’s pattern never changes (Hebrews 13:8). • Guarding tenderness keeps us from the tragic spiral in Jeremiah’s day. Recognize the Drift: Signs of a Dulled Conscience • Re-labeling sin as “personal choice” (Isaiah 5:20). • Laughing at or indulging what once grieved us (Ephesians 5:12). • Excusing disobedience because “everyone does it” (Exodus 23:2). • Feeling boredom, not brokenness, when Scripture confronts us (James 1:23-24). Practical Steps for a Tender Heart Scripture Saturation • “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) • Read, recite, and reflect daily; God’s Word recalibrates moral sensitivity. • Memorize verses that specifically address your recurring temptations. Consistent Confession and Repentance • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) • Keep short accounts with God—deal with sin the moment the Spirit convicts. • True repentance turns from sin and toward obedience (Acts 3:19). Spirit-Led Self-Examination • Invite God’s searchlight: “Search me, O God, and know my heart…see if there is any offensive way in me.” (Psalm 139:23-24) • Quiet, unhurried moments allow the Holy Spirit to expose hidden motives. • Record insights in a journal to track growth and repeated pitfalls. Accountable Community • “But exhort one another daily…so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13) • Transparency with mature believers provides loving correction and encouragement. • Choose partners who ask hard questions and celebrate obedience. Guard Your Gates • “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23) • Filter media, conversations, and environments that normalize impurity. • Replace corrupting input with edifying worship, teaching, and fellowship. Celebrate Grace, Not Guilt • Conviction is a gift leading to life, not a weight of condemnation (Romans 8:1). • Rejoice in Christ’s finished work every time He reveals sin; gratitude fuels obedience (Titus 2:11-12). • The cross both humbles and emboldens us to walk in holiness. Living Alert: A Daily Checklist ✓ Word read and pondered? ✓ Sin confessed immediately? ✓ Heart examined with the Spirit’s help? ✓ Accountable contact made? ✓ Influences filtered? ✓ Grace remembered? Staying soft toward sin is not complicated, but it is intentional. Practice these habits, and the blush of a tender conscience will remain vibrant, steering you away from the fall Jeremiah foresaw. |
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