Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 23 February 2022 

TOPIC: Importance Of Spiritual Enquiry

Read: Jeremiah 6:9-21 (NKJV)

9. Thus says the LORD of hosts: “They shall thoroughly glean as a vine the remnant of Israel; As a grape-gatherer, put your hand back into the branches.”
10. To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear [is] uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.
11. Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD. I am weary of holding [it] in. “I will pour it out on the children outside, And on the assembly of young men together; For even the husband shall be taken with the wife, The aged with [him who is] full of days.
12. And their houses shall be turned over to others, Fields and wives together; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD.
13. “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone [is] given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely.
14. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When [there is] no peace.
15. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the LORD.
16. Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way [is,] And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk [in it.’]
17. Also, I set watchmen over you, [saying,] ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
18. Therefore hear, you nations, And know, O congregation, what [is] among them.
19. Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people — The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words, Nor My law, but rejected it.
20. For what purpose to Me Comes frankincense from Sheba, And sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”
21. Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people, And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them. The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”

Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 23 February 2022 STUDY

In today’s reading, God gave the people of Judah the opportunity to …ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls (v.16). Anyone who is not used to the enquiry will not be a critical scientist and will not be able to learn, discover or invent things. God likes enquiry and asking to know. When we make genuine enquiries about the past or to know why situations are the way they are, God will always come to our rescue.

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The problem is that like the people of Judah answered God, ‘.. We will not walk in it. ‘Many of us want to cut corners or find quick solutions that may bring us to a cross-road. Is this what you are doing? Beat a retreat now.

We make gains when we ask questions, chief of which is that we know the right way to follow and avoid the mistakes of our predecessors. Enquiry about our state and self-examination of our Christian life are exercises to be carried out ona daily basis. Christians of today really need a serious retreat and enquiry about the old paths of Christianity (old time religion). Are things not being watered down? We need to listen to God to know how to do things right and to be agents of change.

PRAYER: Lord, give me the grace to ask for the old paths and to walk therein.