Jeremiah 10:1-7 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

1 Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2This is what the LORD says:
“Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by the signs in the heavens,
though the nations themselves are terrified by them.
3For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut down a tree from the forest;
it is shaped with a chisel
by the hands of a craftsman.
4They adorn it with silver and gold
and fasten it with hammer and nails,
so that it will not totter.

5Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch,
their idols cannot speak.
They must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them, for they can do no harm,
and neither can they do any good.”

6There is none like You, O LORD.
You are great, and Your name is mighty in power.
7Who would not fear You, O King of nations?
This is Your due.
For among all the wise men of the nations,
and in all their kingdoms,
there is none like You.

The Nations

In the world we live in there are multiple independent (or seemingly independent) nations (countries). But this isn’t just about the ways of different cultures in various physical nations throughout the world. This is about the world and worldliness and worldly customs and practices. We, as the people of God, are not to adopt worldly and ungodly ways into our lives which are contrary to the will and purpose of God for our lives. We are to be unlike the world as we are being conformed to the image of Christ Jesus.

But we live in a time and age where the world and worldliness are shouting out at us every day, inviting us to join them via the internet, television, radio, smart phones, lap top computers, marketing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Since the ministry God has given to me requires that I be on the internet daily, because this is where I share what I am learning from the Lord each day during my times with Him, I can’t miss seeing all the advertising and news stories, etc. calling out to be noticed and believed.

Wisdom and Discernment

So, it takes wisdom and discernment from God to help us to navigate through all of this so that we do not get captivated by worldliness and idolatry and worldly ways and practices which are against God and against His teachings, and against His will and purpose for our lives. And this does not require that we live in caves in the woods separate from all humanity. We are to live in the world but we are not to adopt worldly and ungodly ways which are contrary to the will of God, i.e. which engage in sinful practices.

Idolatry

And this is speaking of idolatry, i.e. the worship of what is not God, which can be anyone or anything we raise up above God and to which (or whom) we give our loyalties and devotion above God or in place of God. This is speaking of spiritual adultery. For when we believe in Jesus Christ, we enter into a spiritual marriage relationship with Him. He becomes our husband and we (male and female) become His bride. And we are now to be faithful to our Lord in following Him in the ways which He would have us to go.

And this is speaking about “lip service” only versus true worship of God as our only Lord (God). For many profess faith in Jesus Christ, but many are not following the Lord in obedience to His commands in godly and moral living. Far too many professing Christians are living ungodly and worldly lives which are contrary to God and to His commands. And way too much of what are called “churches” are pacifying them in their sins and are refusing to call people to repentance and to obedience to God’s commands.

The Gospel

Yet by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in Him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For it is not the one who claims he is “in Christ” who is “in Christ,” but it is the one who has denied self, died with Christ to sin, and who is now walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in practice, and no longer in sin. We have the hope and the promise of eternal life with God in heaven (see Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1-3).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

So, if you have been living in idolatry and in adultery against the Lord, I pray you will repent of your sins today, turn to God, and follow Him in obedience.

The Ways of The Nations
An Original Work / October 24, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

[A Prayer of Devotion to God Alone]