Scripture:

Jeremiah 35:1-2,6-9

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 “Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.” 6 But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab[a] son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’ 8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters

The Committed 

The Lord is looking for committed people (2 Chron 16:9); in fact, the word says He looks throughout the world for those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.   Here in today's portion, we see something on the surface that seems peculiar: the Lord tells Jeremiah to go and get the Rekabite family and invite them into the house of the Lord and give them wine.   You have to ask yourself: "Did not the Lord know they do not drink wine?"   Of course He did!   

The Lord Tests Our Commitment

Jeremiah 17:10: "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways

There will be times when your faith, your commitment, and your heart after the Lord will be tested.   But this family, the Rekabites family, passed the test; they stayed faithful to their father's word, and because of it, the Lord established a place for them in His presence. 

Today our God-Shot is to stay faithful, committed even when the opportunity to do the wrong thing comes; remember what you have been taught; this will be your saving; it was their obedience to their father that stood out to the Lord, and because of it they had a place forever in His presence; it says before Him.  If God is looking for fully committed people, be one. When you are tempted, remember what you've been told; hold fast to it; in the end, your commitment will be the blessing that lasts.

Lord, even when we are tested, I pray that we would pass the test, that our hearts would always stay committed to you, your way, that we would seek you with all that is within us, staying true to you and that we would have a place before you always. In Jesus' name, Amen!