Jeremiah 11:1

 Jeremiah 11:1 says, The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  Verse two adds, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;  God called on Jeremiah to first hear the words of His covenant and then to speak them to the men of Judah.  Before we can speak God's word, we must first hear His word.  In order to do this, we must be in a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse three states, And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,  God told Jeremiah to tell the people of Judah that those who did not obey the words of His covenant would be cursed.  Today, if we do not enter into a covenant relationship with God through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord then we are likewise cursed.  Verse four adds, Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:  God reminded the people that the covenant relationship was established when He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, but also that it was a perpetual covenant that each person would have to enter into from then on.  Verse five declares, That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.  God said that He promised them a land flowing with milk and honey if they were faithful to their part of the covenant.  Jeremiah replied, So be it, O LORD.  All we can do when we know what God wants us to do and be successful followers of Christ is to say, So be it Lord  Verse six adds, Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.  God told Jeremiah to proclaim all these words in the streets of Jerusalem, calling on the people to obey His word and to live up to His covenant.  This is what we are to do today.  We are to proclaim the gospel and call on people who profess to be Christians to live in accordance with God's word.  Verse seven continues, For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.  God said that when He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt that He earnestly called on them to obey His covenant.  God still calls on people to earnestly enter into a covenant relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ.  God would not have any to perish spiritually, but He will allow them to do so if they refuse to accept His gift of salvation.  Verse eight declares, Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.  God said that the people of Judah had all failed to follow His covenant and therefore He was going to bring about the punishment that was promised if they did not.  If we are truly following Christ, we must obey all that God teaches us in His word.  Verse nine declares, And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  God said that there was a conspiracy among the men of Judah.  They were all involved in living outside if God's covenant.  Verse ten adds, They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.  God said that the people of Judah and of Israel had gone after other gods and had broken their covenant relationship with Him.  We cannot allow other gods to come between God and us and still expect God to bless us.