The Lord says, “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look around. Think about what you see. Search through the market. See if you can find one honest person who tries to be truthful. If you can, I will forgive this city. They make their promises in my name. They say, ‘You can be sure that the Lord is alive. ’But their promises can’t be trusted.”
Jeremiah 5:1-2 (NIRV)
God gave Jeremiah a challenge: to find just one person “who does justice, who seeks honesty.” If he could find even one person, He would pardon His people.
But God warned this search would be futile. If he traveled everywhere and talked with everyone, Jeremiah could not find one person who did the right thing and sought truth. Israel was filled with people who didn’t seek God’s standards but compromised and followed their own rules.
He warned Jeremiah that he would see people with a superficial spirituality who talked like they were religious but whose hearts were far from Him. Their religion was an act. When confronted, they would not change. Their faces were “harder than rock” and they “refused to repent” (v. 3). As a result, God had no choice but to send judgment to shake them up.
God still looks for “just and honest” men and women (v. 1 NLT). Are you one of these people? Are you completely honest in all your dealings? Do you seek first God’s Kingdom? Are you living according to His standards? Are you guilty of compromising with the world? Have you surrendered your life to the lordship of Jesus Christ?
Today, renew your commitment to obey God. Be passionate about doing what is right and pleasing Him. As He told Jeremiah, just one person who does justice and seeks truth can make an enormous difference. Will you be one of those people? How are you practically seeking God’s Kingdom with your time and money?
Genuinely want to please Him. The Lord will help you stand for righteousness, speak the truth, and use you to impact lives for Christ.