Daily devotional – listen and turn
1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word. 3 Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.’ 4 And you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, 5 to heed the words of My servants the prophets whom I sent to you, both rising up early and sending them (but you have not heeded), 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
In Jeremiah 26:1-6, God calls His people to repentance through the prophet Jeremiah, warning them of the calamity that would come if they failed to listen. This passage speaks not only to the people of Judah but also to us today. Every day, God patiently calls out to us, inviting us to turn from our ways and align with His will.
Verse 3 resonates deeply: “Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.” It’s a reminder of God’s great mercy and desire for us to repent before facing the consequences of our actions.
This message is personal for each of us. How often have we ignored God’s warnings or been slow to respond to His voice? We are prone to resist His Word, just like the leaders in Jeremiah’s time, who should have called for prayer and fasting but instead plotted against God’s messenger.
James 1:19 gives us wise counsel: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Are we ready to listen to what is right for us personally, for our families, and for our nation? Or are we more inclined to follow what is popular or convenient?
In these last days, God is still calling His people back to Him. Are we walking in obedience, or have we drifted away? Today is the perfect day to return to our first love—to recommit ourselves to following God’s Word and His ways.
God was with Jeremiah as he stood his ground in difficult times. He will be with us too if we stand firm in faith and obedience. Let us choose today to heed His voice and live fully for Him. There’s no better time than now to return to our Savior!