Jeremiah 20:7-13 is like a lament psalm. Jeremiah begins by telling God that He deceived Jeremiah! Jeremiah pours out how he feels about being mocked and ridiculed by the people God has him prophesying to. Jeremiah wants to stop, but God's word burns like a fire inside him that has to get out. But in the final analysis, Jeremiah trusts God implicitly. He will prevail and the stubborn people will pay. Then Jeremiah closes with an exhortation to sing to God and praise Him because God rescues the needy from the wicked.
It is ok (that is humanly normal) to get feeling of loss and worry and feel like God has abandoned us. However, godly people catch themselves by what they KNOW about God. A godly person's reason recenters them on who God really is - not how they feel at the moment in despair.
Do not be controlled by your emotions - your heart - it will lead you astray. Be anchored by what you know about God in your mind. Don't let a momentary experience shape who you are in Christ.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
July 31 Jeremiah 15:10-17:18 Present Day Idol Worship
Jeremiah 16:20 Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!"
For the most part, people don't go out any more today and chop down a tree to get wood to carve an idol to worship and pray to. People don't worship a physical idol of their own making. However, idol is still alive and well.
People pick and chose various tenets of religion(s) and add their own beliefs and come up with their own belief system. The only thing missing from the old days is the physical idol.
Other people believe a false religion from top to bottom - these have all been fabricated by men.
Other people don't really pay too much tome wondering about God - they instead focus on believing science, chasing wealth, pursuing their careers or education, etc. Setting aside God to chase after these things for their needs is the same as physical idol worship.
Anytime we cast the true God aside to trust in anything else for our salvation and earthly needs, this is idol worship.
What idols are you really worshiping in your life?
For the most part, people don't go out any more today and chop down a tree to get wood to carve an idol to worship and pray to. People don't worship a physical idol of their own making. However, idol is still alive and well.
People pick and chose various tenets of religion(s) and add their own beliefs and come up with their own belief system. The only thing missing from the old days is the physical idol.
Other people believe a false religion from top to bottom - these have all been fabricated by men.
Other people don't really pay too much tome wondering about God - they instead focus on believing science, chasing wealth, pursuing their careers or education, etc. Setting aside God to chase after these things for their needs is the same as physical idol worship.
Anytime we cast the true God aside to trust in anything else for our salvation and earthly needs, this is idol worship.
What idols are you really worshiping in your life?
Monday, July 29, 2013
July 30 Jeremiah 13-15 Illustrations for the Visual Learner
God uses many different genres (narrative, poetry, etc.) in the Bible to get at every mind, heart (emotion), and will. he also uses illustrations or picture messages. In Jeremiah 13:1-11, God uses a linen belt to make a point.
Be awake for all of God's illustrations and images that He uses in the Bible to get to you. The more that we meditate on God's Word and take time for the word to soak in, the more that we will get out of His teachings.
Be awake for all of God's illustrations and images that He uses in the Bible to get to you. The more that we meditate on God's Word and take time for the word to soak in, the more that we will get out of His teachings.
July 29 Jeremiah 10-12 Pleading to Deflect the LORD's Anger
In Jeremiah 10:23, Jeremiah acknowledges that a man's life is not His own. We all belong to our Creator, so our life is actually His. Accordingly, it only makes sense that our steps be directed by our Creator, God!
But the truth is that we all go our own way to varying degrees. Jeremiah prays for God to correct him. Interestingly enough, Jeremiah asks that God corrects him according to His justice, not with His righteous anger.
God's wrath could destroy us. His wrath against us for going our own way is justified. A correction from God to give us the opportunity to repent is a blessing, not a curse.
May we all respond to the truth that our lives are NOT our own - they are God's. Therefore, we must let him direct our paths.
But the truth is that we all go our own way to varying degrees. Jeremiah prays for God to correct him. Interestingly enough, Jeremiah asks that God corrects him according to His justice, not with His righteous anger.
God's wrath could destroy us. His wrath against us for going our own way is justified. A correction from God to give us the opportunity to repent is a blessing, not a curse.
May we all respond to the truth that our lives are NOT our own - they are God's. Therefore, we must let him direct our paths.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
July 28 Jeremiah 7-9 It's OK to Boast - About the LORD
Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, Who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
There is a lot here:
There is a lot here:
- What not to boast about:
- Our worldly or secular wisdom
- Our physical strength
- Our monetary wealth
- OK to boast:
- Understands God
- Knows God
- What do we need to understand and know about God:
- He exercises kindness
- He exercises justice
- He exercises righteousness
- He delights in all of the above!
Friday, July 26, 2013
July 27 Jeremiah 5:14-6:30 Fearing God Based on Nature
Jeremiah 5:21-24 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD.
"Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.
They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'
God is making a case for acknowledging His awesome power over all creation just by looking around and seeing nature. We can learn a lot about God and His power over us just by being observant and acknowledging that we are but a blade of temporary grass in this universe compared to the God who made this whole thing and Who sustains it all - on and on. If we stop and consider this - we will fear God in the totality of fear - terror, reverence, awe, etc.
Once we fear God, we will seek to find our place UNDER Him. He is who He says He is, NOT who we make Him out to be. We need to seek Him and our role that He created us to fall into.
All this can begin with us glorifying and praising Him through nature.
Romans 1:18-21 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
"Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.
They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'
God is making a case for acknowledging His awesome power over all creation just by looking around and seeing nature. We can learn a lot about God and His power over us just by being observant and acknowledging that we are but a blade of temporary grass in this universe compared to the God who made this whole thing and Who sustains it all - on and on. If we stop and consider this - we will fear God in the totality of fear - terror, reverence, awe, etc.
Once we fear God, we will seek to find our place UNDER Him. He is who He says He is, NOT who we make Him out to be. We need to seek Him and our role that He created us to fall into.
All this can begin with us glorifying and praising Him through nature.
Romans 1:18-21 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Paul tells us about the absolute, utter importance of beginning to seek God (the Creator and Sustainer) by at least glorifying Him and giving thanks to Him for Who He is as Creator and Sustainer. Both Paul and Jeremiah tell us about the growth of sin that takes place when God is not glorified and thanked. Proper fear brings one to glorify and thank God for your own existence and all that is around you.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Begin! Then, God will move you on.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
July 26 Jeremiah 3:6-5:13 God Loves Repentors
In vv. 3:12-13, God says, "I am merciful...I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt."
God loves to see us repent! God is merciful and longs to show us mercy - when we confess our wrongs against Him. Then, He looks to purify us from that unrighteousness.
Because of our human inabilities, sinfulness, sin nature, and frailties, we will sin. But we can be purified if we confess and repent - to will ourselves to turn from our sinning ways.
There is no sin in the world worth the wrath of the Lord. There is nothing more pleasurable than being blessed by our gracious God for our obedience.
God loves to see us repent! God is merciful and longs to show us mercy - when we confess our wrongs against Him. Then, He looks to purify us from that unrighteousness.
Because of our human inabilities, sinfulness, sin nature, and frailties, we will sin. But we can be purified if we confess and repent - to will ourselves to turn from our sinning ways.
There is no sin in the world worth the wrath of the Lord. There is nothing more pleasurable than being blessed by our gracious God for our obedience.
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