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An Unbelievable Faith

                 When the worshippers approached the temple and saw Jeremiah standing at the gate, I imagine they expected a pat on the back for showing up so regularly.  Wrong!   In fact, God sent him with a completely different message.
                “’This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Reform your ways and your actions… Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!”  If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless’” (Jeremiah 7:3-8).  
                If they thought that was harsh, it was about to get worse!
                “’Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things… I have been watching!’ declares the Lord” (Verses 9-11).
                Somehow God’s people thought that as long as they showed up for worship, it did not matter what they did the rest of the week.  This attitude brings one of the most shocking responses from God in the entire Bible.  He tells Jeremiah, “Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you: (Verse 16).  God, who is “full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11), was so embarrassed by his people’s actions that he refused to listen to them!
                Do you see a warning for the church today? 
                While Sunday morning worship is important, our worship must not end there!  If we are not honouring God on by the way we live on Tuesday, no one, including God himself, will care what we say on Sunday.  When our lives do not match our teaching, we invalidate our faith and make it unbelievable to others (See James 2:14-17). 
                You are to be salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-16). 
                That will not happen if you leave your faith at the church building.

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