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Read: Jeremiah 18:11-12
Listen: Jeremiah 18

But they will reply, “It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.” Jeremiah 18:12

The illustration at the potter’s house ends with God urging his people to return to him again. He’s sent prophet after prophet for hundreds of years to call them back to himself. They have a choice to make. They can continue their rebellion against God, suffer destruction and go into exile. Or they can repent and return to God, and he will relent. The people refuse to repent, saying it’s no use. Their devastating response reveals how far they’ve fallen away from him. They’d rather follow their own plans and stick with their evil, rebellious, hard hearts. Yet even in their refusal, God offers hope by promising a new covenant where he will write his law on their hearts and remember their sins no more (Jeremiah 31:33-34).

We might identify with one of Israel’s excuses. The lie of “too far gone” says our failures are beyond redemption. The illusion of self-sufficiency claims we can handle life without God’s help. “This is just who I am” refuses transformation. We can continue in our own ways, or we can confess our sin and turn toward God. Jesus paved the way as the fulfillment of the new covenant. Jesus is the potter who became clay. He lived the perfect, sinless life we couldn’t and took the punishment we deserved on the cross. When we accept his forgiveness through Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit, who gives us new hearts to follow God’s Word.

TODAY: Identify which excuse resonates with you. Confess it to God and ask him to soften your heart toward him and his ways. If you’ve never trusted Jesus, invite him into your life today.