“Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy (backsliding-NKJV) will reprove you…” – Jeremiah 2:19             

Scripture reading: Jeremiah 2:1-19

Backsliding is a grave danger. It never comes overnight. It is little by little. The devil is content to use small measures so long as we move in the wrong direction. Before you know it, you are in a bad place.

Time and again, people of the Old Testament Church turned their backs on the LORD. They wanted to be so much like the culture all around them. They lived with a false confidence.  They thought that because the temple stood in their midst they would be saved from threatening enemies. They listened to false prophets. Their ears were tickled. They “went after worthlessness, and became worthless” (verse 5).

The LORD uses His servant, Jeremiah, to contend with His people, to call them back over and over again. He lamented for His people and urged their repentance. The call fell on deaf ears.

The Lord’s Day we are given is filled with many blessings. In freedom, we are unhindered from attending public worship services to be served by God’s Word. But if we are backslidden and refuse to heed God’s Word to us, we lose the blessing. Sitting in the church pew is of itself no guarantee of salvation. Faith needs to be living and lively.

Be on your guard.

Suggestions for prayer

Pray that you would not be complacent. If you find yourself lukewarm, pray for rescue.

Rev. Peter Vellenga is presently serving as itinerant preacher waiting upon Lord for continued assignment.