Always On Their Lips

Jeremiah 12:2

“…You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.”

In grade school, we all had to do a science project. When the teacher told us about it, some of us were excited, but most were filled with gloom because of the amount of work it would take. We had plenty of time to complete the assignment, and when it was due, we held a science fair to display all the projects.

Brian Regan, a comedian, has a really good joke about his science project, it was just a cup of dirt. Funny to hear, but so telling of the truth for most of the projects. The reality is that most kids did the assignment with just enough effort to pass and no more.

Jeremiah is complaining to the Lord in chapter 12. The Lord has had enough, and it seems like Jeremiah is right there with Him. The people of the Lord were worshiping all kinds of gods other than the Lord. Yet, despite their idolatry, they still spoke as if they were fully devoted to Him. I’m sure many would do the “God thing” when others were watching, but in secret, they burned incense to other gods and practiced the religious pagan rituals of other nations. The people of Judah were emboldened enough to believe that the Lord would not see what was happening. But in a short time, the Babylonians would come and take the Israelites into exile. The Lord did see and hear everything that was going on.

You might be in the same spot. In front of your church friends, your speech matches the “Christianese,” and all seems well, but your attitude shifts when you’re with a different crowd. You might be saying, “Praise the Lord” with one group and spouting expletives with another.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’” In other words, action and hard work matter more in the end. The Lord desires your heart as well as your mouth. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, so whatever you are saying reflects what’s deep inside you.

Today, examine your life. Do you give more lip service than heart action in your walk with Christ? Just like those science projects, it was always obvious which ones took time and which ones were thrown together. Is your walk with Christ just thrown together? Have you truly taken the time to learn to walk with Him, or are you just saying the right words?

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Let this verse sink in. Whether you realize it or not, you are working for something in all you do. Let’s strive to do our best from the heart and stop giving shallow lip service.

Prayer: Father, I pray that we humble ourselves and admit that we do not always give You all of our hearts. I pray that You reveal the areas we need to surrender to You, Lord. I pray that our hearts match a commitment to You that is pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, amen.