Perhaps They Will Listen

I was reading in Jeremiah the other day, skimming through way too many of the words, when a phrase gave me pause.

 ““This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard in front of the Temple of the Lord, and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from all over Judah. Give them my entire message; include every word. Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins. “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you,” (Jeremiah 26:2-4, NLT)

 I read it several times, trying to grasp why it stood out to me so much. Then, it hit me. The God of the Universe, Creator of all things, all-knowing and all-powerful, saying…hoping…that people would listen to His Words, turn from their evil ways, so that He would not have to allow disaster to come upon them.

 “Perhaps they will listen”

 I could almost hear the hesitant hope in God’s voice, “perhaps they will listen.”  If they would only listen to Me, they would live in such peace, hope, fulfillment, promise, prosperity, and blessing. I will warn them one more time, I hope they will listen because time is running out.  

 How often do we do the same thing? We hear God’s Word, but we do nothing about it. We do not change our thoughts and actions to align with God’s Word.

Instead, we question, allow doubt to creep in, listen to others more than God. We do not turn away from things we know are not right. We think we can keep getting away with bad behavior against God, against ourselves and against others.

 The Word of God is clear about the consequences of evil.

 He is saying once again, “perhaps they will listen.”

 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)