The people did not want to hear Jeremiah’s message to turn from their evil ways. So they came up with a plot to silence him and give him a bad name (Jeremiah 18:11). God forbids spreading rumors, gossip, or untruths about others in the ninth commandment. Exodus 20:16 says, “You must not testify falsely against your neighbors.” Words are powerful; they can wound and damage reputations. This is what the people wanted to do to Jeremiah. If they could damage his reputation, no one would trust him and follow his instructions. The Bible warns us to stay away from those who spread rumors or gossip. “A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don't hang around with chatterers.” (Proverbs 20:19). Instead, the Bible tells us to look for ways to achieve peace and to maintain it. God’s word even connects a long and prosperous life with the words we speak! “(12) Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? (13) Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! (14) Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!” (Psalm 34: 12-14). Yes, it is harmful to spread lies and unkind things about others. God is not pleased with this kind of behavior. What comes from our mouths is important to God and so it must be important to us. Our words actually represent the condition of our heart!. “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”(Luke 6:45).

God's people did not want to change their ways. They refused to listen to Jeremiah who called them to repent. They liked how they were living even though they ignored God’s laws. “But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.” (Jeremiah 18:12). This made God very angry and brought His judgment against them. Jeremiah 19:15 says, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will bring disaster upon this city and its surrounding towns as I promised, because you have stubbornly refused to listen to me.’” Most of us have chosen to be stubborn at some time in our lives; refusing to do something or to stop something we are doing! This is not pleasing to God. Stubbornness is actually resisting the Holy Spirit's correction and direction (Acts 7:51). It causes us to do our will instead of God’s will. How dangerous is stubbornness? The Bible considers stubbornness the same as worshiping idols! (1 Samuel 15:23). Stubbornness is rooted in pride; believing that we know what is best. If we instead choose to humble ourselves before God, He will bless our lives. We can avoid what is harmful to us and what hinders us from growing closer to Him. Proverbs 28:14 says, “Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.”

Jeremiah was called by God when he was young to speak to God’s people and tell them to turn from their evil ways. They had left God and His commandments, and chosen instead to worship idols. Jeremiah was not a popular person because of God’s message that he delivered. God told Jeremiah that he would stand against the whole land, including kings, officials, priests and the people of Judah! (Jeremiah 1:18-19). Those are not good odds are they? God sent Jeremiah to tell the people the right thing to do. He was one voice against an entire nation! We too are called by God to stand up for what is right – even with the odds against us. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” It isn't easy to do what is right when it seems everyone around you is doing what is wrong! When we face difficult times, we must ask God's Spirit to guide us and lean on His power to strengthen us. “So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6). We cannot stand on our own power and in our own strength. We need the strength of God’s Spirit inside us to overcome the pressures, the temptations, and the evil of this world. Paul prayed for the Ephesian people to have this kind of strength. “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16). With God’s unlimited strength on the inside, we can stand for Him on the outside - no matter what!

God, through His prophet Jeremiah, repeatedly called people to repentance; to turn from their evil ways and return to Him (Jeremiah 25:25). Yes, Heaven rejoices when a sinner comes to God - but it doesn't stop there! To maintain a relationship with God and grow closer to Him, we not only must turn to Him, but also turn away from evil! God said “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.” (Jeremiah 7:24). We don't want to go backwards! We want to go forward with God and to grow more like Christ! In the days of Jeremiah, God did not want to punish His people. He desired that they confess their sins and turn to Him, so they might receive His mercy and forgiveness. It is the same for us today. God wants us to be honest with Him, admit our sins, and turn away from evil so we might receive His forgiveness and mercy! "People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy." (Proverbs 28:13). The people in Jeremiah's time believed that the Temple protected them. They could do as they pleased and God would be happy and bless them. Jeremiah exposed their false security. (Jeremiah 7: 1-7). The devil may try to deceive us in this way today. He wants us to believe that as long as we go to church, we are safe and can live as we choose. Proverbs 3:7 tells us that is not true. "Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil."

God called Jeremiah when he was a young man to bring a message of repentance to a nation that had turned to evil. Jeremiah objected and said that he was too young for the job! “O Sovereign Lord,”. I said, “I can't speak for you! I'm too young!” God did not agree with Jeremiah! “The Lord replied, “Don't say, ‘I'm too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:1-8). Have you ever thought you were too young to do something for God? No one is ever too young or too old to do God’s work. You see, it isn’t about us – it’s all about God! God created and breathed life into us. He gives us all of our ability. We are just empty vessels ready for His use! (2 Timothy 2:21). Mary was a young girl when Gabriel brought the news that she would give birth to Jesus. Samuel, was only a boy, when he faithfully served the Lord in the Temple (1 Samuel 2:18). Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah and ruled for thirty-one years (2 Kings 22:1). There are many examples of young girls and boys who were chosen by God to do amazing things for Him. Paul wrote a letter to encourage Timothy, his young friend and faithful helper, to be strong and lead others by example. “Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” (1 Timothy 4:11-12). This was not only true for people in the Bible. It is also true for us today. Acts 2:17 says, “In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.” You see, it isn’t about our ability and experience; it is about our willingness to allow God’s Spirit to work in us – no matter how young or old we are!