Root Out Error Before Planting Truth

Note from today’s Bible reading: Zephaniah 1-3; Jeremiah 1-3

God told Jeremiah that He chose him to do the work of a prophet, even before he was born: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

Though we may not be specifically chosen as Jeremiah was, there is an important lesson to be learned from what God told him to do: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:9-10).

It is sometimes pointed out that two-thirds of Jeremiah’s actions in proclaiming the word of God would be perceived as “negative.” That observation is correct, but it is important to understand why Jeremiah would teach in this way. It is not because all teaching from God’s word must follow this “two-thirds rule.” Instead, it was because of the condition of the people to whom Jeremiah was prophesying.

God’s people had departed from “the ancient paths” and could no longer “blush” over their sin (Jeremiah 6:15-16). “The prophets prophesy falsely…and My people love it so” (Jeremiah 5:31). Jeremiah had to deal with their sin and error before they would be ready to hear and accept the truth. The same is true today.

So root out error before planting truth. Those who are comfortable in sin need to be made uncomfortable in order to repent. Otherwise, the truth we try to teach will be choked out of their hearts.