Jeremiah 5:25-26
Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have withheld good from you. For wicked men are found among My people, they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap, they catch men.
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The 'these' things that have been turned away by the sins of God's people were the autumn and spring rains that were so necessary for the harvest. The people were, as the Lord says immediately before today's verses, a stubborn and rebellious people who chose not to say in their hearts, 'Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain in its season.' {Jer.5:23-24} They did not turn and repent!

The simple truth is that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. {Rom.3:23) And so as John wrote, 'If we say we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.' {1Jn.1:8} But, praise God, he goes on in the next verse to say that If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. {v.1:9} However, that does not give us a license, permission, to sin! {Rom.6:1-2}

There is ALWAYS consequence to sin—starting with Jesus on the cross to pay the price for our sins and open the door to salvation. The very thought of that should cause us to hate our own failings and to be on guard for ourselves to not fall short. Don't blame ‘them’, whoever you think ‘them’ are. We should truly celebrate the fact that we who have been saved by the sacrifice, the shed blood, of Jesus are now new creations filled with the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us—power to obey, not just hear, the Lord’s instructions. But even now if we sin we open a door for Satan to attack us. So it is written, do not give the devil an opportunity. {Eph.4:27}

Religion, the only pure and undefiled true kind in the sight of God {Jas.1:27} is always a true blessing—but it is only righteousness that will keep that old prowling imitation of a lion {1Pt.5:8} at bay and cause us to always walk in the triumph of Christ Jesus. {2Cor.2:14} So keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith {Heb.12:2} as we carry the shield of faith as we go onto the field of battle. {Eph.6:16}

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’ For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.” (Psalms 91:1-3)

P.S.: If you have not read that entire 91st chapter recently, it would well be worth your time to do so!

THERE IS INDEED VICTORY IN JESUS