(Jer) 17:1, 5, 9-10, 14 CJB “Y’hudah’s sin is written with an iron pen; with a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of your altars. Here is what Adonai says: “A curse on the person who trusts in humans, who relies on merely human strength, whose heart turns away from Adonai. “The heart is more deceitful than anything else and mortally sick. Who can fathom it? I, Adonai, search the heart; I test inner motivations; in order to give to everyone what his actions and conduct deserve.” Heal me, Adonai, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are my praise.”

God does not diagnose surface behavior.

He exposes the heart.

Sin is not merely something we do.

It is something written within us.

Engraved.

Embedded.

Rooted.

This is why change is so difficult.

We are not naturally good people who occasionally do bad things.

We are fallen people who occasionally do good things.

Most of us see evil clearly in others.

We recognize pride, selfishness, anger, and rebellion in those around us.

But when it comes to ourselves, we excuse.

We minimize.

We justify.

We compare.

We say:

“I’m not that bad.”
“At least I’m better than most.”
“I had a reason.”
“That’s just how I am.”

Jeremiah explains why.

“The heart is more deceitful than anything else.”

Our hearts lie to us.

They protect our pride.

They defend our rebellion.

They disguise our sin as “personality” or “preference.”

But God is not fooled.

He sees thoughts, words, motives, and deeds as one connected reality.

God says:

“A curse on the person who trusts in humans… whose heart turns away from Adonai.”

This includes trusting ourselves.

Our culture says:

“Follow your heart.”
“Trust yourself.”
“Believe in you.”

God says:

“Your heart is sick.”

Self-trust is not wisdom.

It is rebellion.

When we rely on our own strength, insight, and morality, we drift from God.

And drift always leads to decay.

An iron pen.

A diamond point.

These images matter.

God is saying:

Sin is deeply carved.

Not easily erased.

Not quickly removed.

Not self-healed.

No amount of motivation, education, religion, or self-discipline can change the heart.

We cannot save ourselves.

We cannot reform ourselves.

We cannot purify ourselves.

We need divine intervention.

God also gives hope:

“Heal me… save me… and I will be healed and saved.”

God diagnoses the disease.

And He provides the cure.

Through Jesus.

Christ lived in perfect obedience.
Christ bore our sin on the cross.
Christ paid our penalty.
Christ rose in victory.
Christ sends His Spirit.

When we repent and believe, God forgives us and gives us a new heart.

Not a repaired heart.

A new one.

Empowered by the Spirit to overcome sin.

Jesus summarized God’s will:

Love God with all your heart.
Love others as yourself.

That is simple.

But it is impossible in the flesh.

Only a renewed heart can love God sincerely.

Only a transformed life can obey consistently.

Grace does not lower God’s standard.

It empowers us to meet it.

Jesus says His burden is light.

Not because obedience is meaningless—

But because He carries it with us.

He humbled Himself.

He suffered.

He died.

He rose.

He did everything necessary for reconciliation.

Our part is not complicated:

Believe.
Repent.
Submit.
Follow.

Yet we resist.

We delay.

We negotiate.

We excuse.

We continue in patterns we know dishonor God.

Despite our stubbornness, God keeps calling.

By His Spirit.

Through His Word.

Through conviction.

Through discipline.

Through mercy.

He woos us.

He invites us.

He waits.

Not because sin is small—

But because His love is great.

When will we stop pretending?

When will we stop trusting ourselves?

When will we stop excusing what God condemns?

When will we give Him our whole hearts?

God already knows what is written there.

He is waiting for us to acknowledge it.

Run Today’s Play:

1. Ask God to Search You

Pray honestly:

“Lord, show me my true heart.”

Stop hiding.

Start confessing.

2. Repent Specifically

Don’t generalize sin.

Name it.

Turn from it.

Forsake it.

Grace grows in honest repentance.

3. Stop Trusting Yourself

Replace self-reliance with God-dependence.

Seek Scripture.
Pursue prayer.
Invite accountability.

Walk humbly.

4. Live From Your New Identity

You are not ruled by sin anymore.

You are a redeemed son.

Act like it.

Choose obedience daily.