Give Me That Old-Time Religion – Jeremiah 6:16

“This is what the Lord says: Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16, NLT).

God, through the prophet Jeremiah, chided the people of Israel and Judah to repent and warned them of the terrible consequences that awaited them if they refused. He admonished them to follow the tried and true ways of God’s laws, which would lead to rest for their souls.

When you come to a crossroads in your life and you are trying to determine which way to go, go the old, godly way, follow the tried and true ways of God.

Such everlasting truths as:

In the beginning God created…
You shall have no other gods before me…
Honor your father and mother…
Blessed are the poor in spirit…
For God so loved the world…
God is love…
The greatest of these is love…

will assuredly lead you to God’s will, will help you find His godly way.

And when you are walking in God’s will, in His godly way, then you will also find peace and rest for your soul.

Too often, when we are in crisis or facing a crucial decision, we don’t look for God’s tried and true way. That’s too simple for our complicated problems!

So, we find other ways to go. Usually, we try to go our own way. Sometimes, we may even attempt to go the way somebody has suggested.

But only God’s way will lead us into God’s will where we will find the satisfaction of following Him.

The lyrics of an old southern gospel song seem to remind us of this simple truth: “Give me that old-time religion…It was good for Paul and Silas…It will take us all to heaven…And it’s good enough for me.”

I think that’s sort of what Jeremiah was saying!

“I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ, You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.” (Galatians 1:6-8, NLT).