@Mindy,
There is difference to make between questions that are asked to profit, and those tha are asked to distract or deter. And verse 9 here is very clear: “.. avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” Those should be avoided, because they bring nowhere.
Now coming to Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” That means that above all things, our heart can tell us lies than ever, because it is wicked, it tends to tell us that evil is good, which actually is not the case.
The only cure is in Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
When the word of God dwells in us, and is in rule in our life, God’s judgments become our judgments, God’s views become our views; and with that the word shall separate very sharply, like a twoedged sword, what is of God and what is not, it shall bring light in every single aspect of our life; and then show us the way out.
God bless you.
Jeremiah 17:11 is a good verse to remind us that we as true Christians are not here on this earth to build material wealth, but to advance the Kingdom of God. Building treasures in Heaven is a wise investment; treasures on earth are very temporal.
I'm a practising Christian. I regard myself as having 'signed up' at some point in my past, and attend a boisterous CofE church. But in my darkest moments of doubt it occurs to me how absolute is the vision of Man in these words. Christians want nothing short of perfection (for themselves and unfortunately sometimes of others). How can we, human-all-too-human beings use that vision in our daily lives without an huge subconcious arrogance. Sometimes it seems I become aware of that secret arrogance and flip over into the most morbid thoughts of isolation and worthlessness in immense cold Universe. In that state I watch myself gradually return to a smug forgetfulness of the intuition. Yes, I have sinned/do sin. Yes, I ask forgiveness. But what rings most true to me is Jeremiah 17:9.
Jer 17:1 Pretty harsh comment concerning Isreal and what they have done. Are we any different today? Could we, current day humanity, be accused of the same?
There is difference to make between questions that are asked to profit, and those tha are asked to distract or deter. And verse 9 here is very clear: “.. avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” Those should be avoided, because they bring nowhere.
Now coming to Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” That means that above all things, our heart can tell us lies than ever, because it is wicked, it tends to tell us that evil is good, which actually is not the case.
The only cure is in Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
When the word of God dwells in us, and is in rule in our life, God’s judgments become our judgments, God’s views become our views; and with that the word shall separate very sharply, like a twoedged sword, what is of God and what is not, it shall bring light in every single aspect of our life; and then show us the way out.
God bless you.