Jeremiah 11
Jeremiah went out on a limb and had to tell the people the message that God had given him. The message, a simple one that the people were to obey God.
Jeremiah 11:8--"But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.'"
After Jeremiah proclaims this message the people get hostile and plot against Jeremiah, fortunately, Jeremiah had learned to take a bold stand for the Lord even in the face of opposition. I believe that there are some times in life that we need to stop beating around the bush and tell people the way it is. Why is it in the Church we can't call a spade a spade?, or point out what people are doing is wrong? Trust me I have had enough times in my life where I could have used someone telling me just the way that it is, and show me that God still loves and cares about me but He does call me to quit doing whatever it is that is taking me away from His covenant. Maybe we should start telling it the way that it is and like Jeremiah just learn to be bold in the face of opposition.
IN HIM,
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Stick Makers
Jeremiah 10
After reading Jeremiah 10 I couldn't help but to think of all things that we put in God's place. I believe in my own life there are some things that stay that I am always fighting and then at other times there are things that come and go that take my attention away from God. Recently the men of our Church did a prayer walk together and we talked about the static on a T.V. and how our lives are filled with so much other stuff that we fail to be able to slow down and see God. We fail to realize that all those things that we put in God's place will never last.
Jeremiah 10 (message)--"Their gods are frauds--dead sticks, deadwood gods, tasteless jokes. When the fires of judgment come, they'll be ashes."
You and I can be like the Israelites and continue to be stick makers but we must realize that God will destroy all those stick gods! Are you making a stick today?
IN HIM ,
After reading Jeremiah 10 I couldn't help but to think of all things that we put in God's place. I believe in my own life there are some things that stay that I am always fighting and then at other times there are things that come and go that take my attention away from God. Recently the men of our Church did a prayer walk together and we talked about the static on a T.V. and how our lives are filled with so much other stuff that we fail to be able to slow down and see God. We fail to realize that all those things that we put in God's place will never last.
Jeremiah 10 (message)--"Their gods are frauds--dead sticks, deadwood gods, tasteless jokes. When the fires of judgment come, they'll be ashes."
You and I can be like the Israelites and continue to be stick makers but we must realize that God will destroy all those stick gods! Are you making a stick today?
IN HIM ,
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Jeremiah 9
As I continue to work my way through Jeremiah (which I hope that some of you are as well), I am continually amazed at how Israel has the same problems that you and I deal with. The people have become a vile people who seek other gods and do whatever it is that satisfies them for the time being. The people pursue those things that may make them famous or huge in the worlds eyes, but they fail to realize that while God is concerned about their achievements that their achievements are not the ultimate goal.
Jeremiah 9:23-24--"This is what the LORD says: Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
I believe that John Maxwell got it right in his new Leadership Bible: p.920 There are two types of things:
The Ultimate
1. God is the Source.
2. He provides a life.
3. Spiritual things are the end.
The Immediate
1. The others are a resource.
2. These provide a living.
3. Material things are a means to an end.
I need to do the immediate things but in doing the immediate make sure that I don't forget the ultimate!
IN HIM,
Jeremiah 9:23-24--"This is what the LORD says: Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
I believe that John Maxwell got it right in his new Leadership Bible: p.920 There are two types of things:
The Ultimate
1. God is the Source.
2. He provides a life.
3. Spiritual things are the end.
The Immediate
1. The others are a resource.
2. These provide a living.
3. Material things are a means to an end.
I need to do the immediate things but in doing the immediate make sure that I don't forget the ultimate!
IN HIM,
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The Nation That Wouldn't Obey God
Jeremiah 7
Wow, I believe that the title says it all. Here in Jeremiah's day the people would not obey God and I would say that we are in the same situation (myself included). God gives Jeremiah a message to give to the people about how they are acting and when I read this today it really hit me hard. Let me just share a part of it with you.
Jeremiah 7 (selection from the Message)
"Get smart! Your leader are handing you a pack of lies, and you're swallowing them! Use your heads! Do you think you can rob and murder, have sex with the neighborhood wives, tell lies nonstop, worship the local gods, and buy every novel religious commodity on the market--and then march into this Temple, set apart for my worship, and say, 'We're safe!' thinking that the place itself gives you a license to go on with all this outrageous sacrilege? A cave full of criminals! Do you think you can turn this Temple, set apart for my worship, into something like that? Well, think again. I've got eyes in my head. I can see what's going on." God's Decree!
Well I believe that sums it up for me. Why is it that we think that just because we walk into some Church building that we are going to be different or that God doesn't notice what we do. it's awesome how the Bible is so relevant to us today!!!
IN HIM,
Wow, I believe that the title says it all. Here in Jeremiah's day the people would not obey God and I would say that we are in the same situation (myself included). God gives Jeremiah a message to give to the people about how they are acting and when I read this today it really hit me hard. Let me just share a part of it with you.
Jeremiah 7 (selection from the Message)
"Get smart! Your leader are handing you a pack of lies, and you're swallowing them! Use your heads! Do you think you can rob and murder, have sex with the neighborhood wives, tell lies nonstop, worship the local gods, and buy every novel religious commodity on the market--and then march into this Temple, set apart for my worship, and say, 'We're safe!' thinking that the place itself gives you a license to go on with all this outrageous sacrilege? A cave full of criminals! Do you think you can turn this Temple, set apart for my worship, into something like that? Well, think again. I've got eyes in my head. I can see what's going on." God's Decree!
Well I believe that sums it up for me. Why is it that we think that just because we walk into some Church building that we are going to be different or that God doesn't notice what we do. it's awesome how the Bible is so relevant to us today!!!
IN HIM,
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