SCRIPTURE
But you must say to this people, "This is what the Lord says: Look, I am presenting to you the way of life and the way of death." (Jer. 21:8)
OBSERVATION
Jeremiah was warning the people of the impending invasion by the Babylonians. There were two options. Stay in Jerusalem and die by the sword, famine and plague. Or, surrender to the Babylonians and live. I'm sure the options seemed counterintuitive. Why give yourself over to the enemy? Why not stay and try to survive? But that is the way God designed it. He wanted to see if his people would listen to his voice, even if it didn't make sense.
This is one example of many where God's judgment is preceded by a warning. Before God acts he gives his people a choice. He tells in advance what he is about to do and leaves it up to us to decide. Obey him and live--the way of life. Or, do it our way and die--the way of death.
APPLICATION
I'm not facing an invading army or the threat of exile but I'm well aware of the choices before me each day. If I listen to God and follow his voice it will lead to life. I have to admit, there are commands that don't make sense and I'm tempted to do my own thing. However, I need to walk by faith and trust that when I obey God will take care of the consequences. Life is not a game of "Survivor" where God has placed me on this island and I try to outwit, outplay, and outlast to the finish. The way of life means I surrender, cooperate, and persevere. That is the way of life. God warned me ahead of time so now the choice is mine.
PRAYER
God, give me wisdom to continually choose the way of life.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Fire in My Bones
SCRIPTURE
If I say: I won't mention Him or speak any longer in His name, His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. (Jer. 20:9)
OBSERVATION
God chose Jeremiah before he was born (1:5) to be a prophet to the nations calling people back to faith in Him. However, his message was not well received. The bible tells us he became a laughingstock, everyone ridiculed him, the message he proclaimed became a source of disgrace and derision, everyone he trusted watched for his fall. He was even forbidden to marry (16:2).
Talk about a tough job. Yet, the message was so powerful and important that it drove his life and compelled him so much that he couldn't help but preach it. If he held it in it was like a fire burning in his heart and his bones. It was the passion deep within that was God's very purpose for him.
APPLICATION
I have a greater message than even Jeremiah. He called the people to repentance to avoid God's judgement and exile. I have a message of grace that comes through Jesus. How much more should this be a fire burning in my bones so that even in the face of opposition and derision I am compelled to let it out. The message (God reconciling the world through Jesus) needs to be the driving factor in my life. It needs to be the thing that motivates me and keeps me going. I can be tempted to hold it in. If I try to please people, or fulfill a need to be liked, I may compromise the message. If I'm faithful to the message I may not necessarily please others or be liked. One is external, the affection of others. One is internal, the fire within. I need Jeremiah's passion to proclaim the message of God.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for the message of the cross. Fan the fire within as the motivation for your calling in my life..
If I say: I won't mention Him or speak any longer in His name, His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. (Jer. 20:9)
OBSERVATION
God chose Jeremiah before he was born (1:5) to be a prophet to the nations calling people back to faith in Him. However, his message was not well received. The bible tells us he became a laughingstock, everyone ridiculed him, the message he proclaimed became a source of disgrace and derision, everyone he trusted watched for his fall. He was even forbidden to marry (16:2).
Talk about a tough job. Yet, the message was so powerful and important that it drove his life and compelled him so much that he couldn't help but preach it. If he held it in it was like a fire burning in his heart and his bones. It was the passion deep within that was God's very purpose for him.
APPLICATION
I have a greater message than even Jeremiah. He called the people to repentance to avoid God's judgement and exile. I have a message of grace that comes through Jesus. How much more should this be a fire burning in my bones so that even in the face of opposition and derision I am compelled to let it out. The message (God reconciling the world through Jesus) needs to be the driving factor in my life. It needs to be the thing that motivates me and keeps me going. I can be tempted to hold it in. If I try to please people, or fulfill a need to be liked, I may compromise the message. If I'm faithful to the message I may not necessarily please others or be liked. One is external, the affection of others. One is internal, the fire within. I need Jeremiah's passion to proclaim the message of God.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for the message of the cross. Fan the fire within as the motivation for your calling in my life..
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Where is the Lord?
SCRIPTURE
For My people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jer. 2:13)
OBSERVATION
It's tempting to turn from the true God (fountain of living water) and create our own forms of spirituality (dug cisterns). There is a longing in each of us to connect with God. If it's not God, with the big "G" then it is a god, with a little "g." If we don't' connect with the Creator, we may connect with something created.
In the beginning of this chapter, Jeremiah gives a clue to part of the problem that can cause us to pick up the shovel. The fathers and the priests quit asking: Where is the Lord? (2:6,8) When we quit seeking God, quit looking for him in the midst of our everyday lives, we tend to look for him elsewhere. It's tempting to dig our own cisterns and create our own gods because they ask nothing of us in return. Yet, in the time of disaster, trials, suffering, they also cannot deliver, they are empty.
APPLICATION
I need to keep asking: Where is the Lord? It helps me to focus my attention on him, the true living water. It is not a question of doubt but a question of faith. Doubt asks the question, does not expect to find God, and is surprised if it does. On the other hand, faith asks the question, expecting to find God, and is surprised if it doesn't. Seeking God needs to begin when my feet hit the floor every morning. Where is he today? I want to see him and expectantly wait for him to show up. While I'm seeking him I have no thought to pick up a shovel and start digging my own cistern.
PRAYER
Where are you God? Father, I seek you, the living water, today. Reveal yourself in my life.
For My people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jer. 2:13)
OBSERVATION
It's tempting to turn from the true God (fountain of living water) and create our own forms of spirituality (dug cisterns). There is a longing in each of us to connect with God. If it's not God, with the big "G" then it is a god, with a little "g." If we don't' connect with the Creator, we may connect with something created.
In the beginning of this chapter, Jeremiah gives a clue to part of the problem that can cause us to pick up the shovel. The fathers and the priests quit asking: Where is the Lord? (2:6,8) When we quit seeking God, quit looking for him in the midst of our everyday lives, we tend to look for him elsewhere. It's tempting to dig our own cisterns and create our own gods because they ask nothing of us in return. Yet, in the time of disaster, trials, suffering, they also cannot deliver, they are empty.
APPLICATION
I need to keep asking: Where is the Lord? It helps me to focus my attention on him, the true living water. It is not a question of doubt but a question of faith. Doubt asks the question, does not expect to find God, and is surprised if it does. On the other hand, faith asks the question, expecting to find God, and is surprised if it doesn't. Seeking God needs to begin when my feet hit the floor every morning. Where is he today? I want to see him and expectantly wait for him to show up. While I'm seeking him I have no thought to pick up a shovel and start digging my own cistern.
PRAYER
Where are you God? Father, I seek you, the living water, today. Reveal yourself in my life.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
A Through Way
SCRIPTURE
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:1-17)
OBSERVATION
God's plan of redemption is a "through way."
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:1-17)
OBSERVATION
God's plan of redemption is a "through way."
- All things were made through the Word (Jesus), v. 3.
- John came as a witness so all might believe through him, v. 7.
- The law was given through Moses, v. 17.
- Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, v. 17.
Throughout history God works both directly and indirectly in our world. He works indirectly, through people, to bring about his redemptive end. Jesus, John, and Moses are the agents through which something is brought about...grace, truth, and light.
APPLICATION
What is God trying to do through me? I cannot be involved in the creative act, like the Word, but I can like John, point people to the light of Christ. I can, like Jesus, be an agent of grace and truth to the world. Jesus came into the world, he brought grace and truth, I receive that grace and truth, and I pass it on to others. The great thing is that God works through people to accomplish his purposes. Since I'm a "people" he can work through me. I can re-present Jesus to others. However, the question I need to answer is: Am I a throughway or a dead end?.
PRAYER
God, sometimes I think that you only work through the "biggies", the prophets, apostles, and of course your Son but you desire and will work through me. Show me how to be a way for your work to be accomplished through me in the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)