Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Jeremiah 37:1-38:28, 1 Timothy 6:1-21, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 25:28

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What Are We Willing To Do?

“Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern… which had no water in it, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.”
— Jeremiah 38:6 NLT

Jeremiah was beaten, imprisoned, betrayed, and nearly left to die in a pit of mud. And what was his crime? Faithfulness.

He spoke the word of the Lord without compromise, and for that, he was falsely accused, flogged publicly, and locked up in prison cells meant for criminals. When that didn’t silence him, his enemies threw him into a cistern of sludge—a hole so thick with mud that it nearly crushed the life out of him.

There was no escape plan. No applause. No “good job, prophet.” Only rejection, filth, and darkness. But here’s what gets me: Jeremiah never quit. He didn’t curse God. He didn’t demand revenge. He didn’t even try to escape his calling.

“I cannot stop! If I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in His name, His word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in!”
— Jeremiah 20:9 NLT

He remained obedient in every breath—because obedience wasn’t optional. It was who he was. It was how he worshiped.

Jeremiah wasn’t fighting for attention—he was fighting for a nation’s soul. And the Lord preserved him not because his path was easy, but because his heart was faithful.

Meanwhile today…

Some believers want to quit their calling because someone might say something mean online. We get discouraged if a post doesn’t get likes. We feel persecuted if someone rolls their eyes when we pray over lunch. We talk about sacrifice, but refuse to even be uncomfortable.

Let’s be honest: we’re soft. And in that softness, many lack the spiritual backbone to keep going when it costs something. But Scripture says:

“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” — Proverbs 25:28 NLT

When we lack the discipline to endure, when we give up at the first sign of pressure, we become vulnerable—exposed to the enemy, and defenseless in the fight. Self-control isn’t just about resisting sin; it’s about remaining steady under fire.

What are we really willing to endure for God?
Are we willing to be misunderstood, mocked, or rejected?
Or does our obedience only last as long as we’re praised for it?

Jeremiah’s self-control preserved his faith and calling. Will ours? 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Ask the Lord:

• Am I willing to be uncomfortable for You?
• Would I still obey if obedience cost me something?
• What comfort have I prioritized over calling?

Let Him search you. Then ask for strength to be faithful, no matter what.

Prayer

Lord, Forgive me for when I’ve made my comfort more important than Your call. Stir in me a fire like Jeremiah—a fire I cannot hold back. Make me bold. Make me faithful. Make me willing to endure whatever it takes to honor You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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