January 9, 2026 WEST

This powerful exploration of Scripture calls us to examine the authenticity of our relationship with God. Through Jeremiah 2, we're confronted with a sobering reality: God's people had forsaken Him—the fountain of living waters—to dig broken cisterns that couldn't hold water. The priests who handled the law didn't know the Lord, the shepherds transgressed, and the prophets prophesied by false gods. This isn't just ancient history; it's a mirror held up to our own hearts today. Are we ministers who handle Scripture yet lack intimacy with its Author? Have we allowed our first love to grow cold, treating God as common rather than sacred? The chapter reminds us of Israel's devotion as a young bride, but over time, familiarity bred complacency. We're challenged to keep our spiritual feet 'shod'—just as horses need regular care to stay healthy, we need consistent spiritual maintenance to avoid disease creeping into our hearts. The call is clear: return to first love, pursue living water, and refuse to settle for dead things that cannot satisfy our souls.