Smooth sailing!
Jeremiah is in Egypt with the remnant who have chosen to reject the Lord's leading. Yet Jeremiah, without flinching, continues to faithfully proclaim the words the Lord gives him. He warns them of the consequences of their rebellion, but notice their response:
""As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble." Jeremiah 44:16-17
Basically, they say, "Everything was going well when we were doing what we wanted to do, so why change now?"
They looked back at their former prosperity and wrongly credited their idolatry for it. In their minds, following their own way seemed easier than obeying the Lord. So they rejected Him and continued down their own path.
The same temptation can affect us. We are called to obedience, but obedience can cost us something. Following the Lord may sometimes seem like the harder road, while doing things our own way appears easier. But is it really?
Judah's way certainly wasn't easier. Their land had been devastated, Jerusalem had fallen, and now this remnant had fled to Egypt. Yet somehow they convinced themselves that life had been better when they were following their own desires.
Even if following Jesus costs you something, will you still follow?
Sometimes obedience really is the harder road in the moment. But following Jesus is always worth the cost. Don't be fooled into thinking that going our own way leads to smooth sailing. A path may look easier and still lead us farther from the Lord.
Choose obedience. Choose His way. Choose Jesus.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.