Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered." But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me." (Jeremiah 35:12-19 ESV)
We are a stubborn people. God continually cries out to us. He shows us the right ways that we may walk by still waters in the abundant life of walking in the narrow path of The Lord. When we turn away, he guides us back. When we turn around and sin he rebukes us to save us.
God works all things for his good purposes. But if we are stubborn we may walk away from The Lord and from life. But if like Jonadab and his family are faithful and trust God even when we don't understand we will get to be with God forever. For we have chosen God in this life and his ways. We will know him and his ways. So in eternity we will rejoice in simply being with God.
Amen
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
How much this side of heaven?
"You are saying about this city, 'By the sword, famine and plague it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon'; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
(Jeremiah 32:36-41 NIV)
That all sounds great. But when did it happen? In the return from exile? In Jesus Or is it only in part now? For it seems like we still turn from you God.
How much of this is fulfilled this side of heaven God.
God I want to remember that you bring freedom and healing in this life. But our eternal home and our hope is in heaven. Not in relationship. Not in being fully righteous now. For though Christ is in me this side of heaven I am still in flesh and sin. But Christ is victorious. So how much do we recieve of your promises this side of heaven?
God thank you for your faithfulness. Please help me to trust in you and to hope in heaven as my home and not anything in this world. Thank you for all the blessings you give me. Help me to be generous! God remind me everyday of the cross and my hope in you alone.
Amen
(Jeremiah 32:36-41 NIV)
That all sounds great. But when did it happen? In the return from exile? In Jesus Or is it only in part now? For it seems like we still turn from you God.
How much of this is fulfilled this side of heaven God.
God I want to remember that you bring freedom and healing in this life. But our eternal home and our hope is in heaven. Not in relationship. Not in being fully righteous now. For though Christ is in me this side of heaven I am still in flesh and sin. But Christ is victorious. So how much do we recieve of your promises this side of heaven?
God thank you for your faithfulness. Please help me to trust in you and to hope in heaven as my home and not anything in this world. Thank you for all the blessings you give me. Help me to be generous! God remind me everyday of the cross and my hope in you alone.
Amen
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Restoration: Israel or Christianity?
But I will restore you to health
and heal your wounds,'
declares the Lord,
'because you are called an outcast,
Zion for whom no one cares.' "This is what the Lord says:
"'I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents
and have compassion on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,
and the palace will stand in its proper place. From them will come songs of thanksgiving
and the sound of rejoicing.
I will add to their numbers,
and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,
and they will not be disdained. Their children will be as in days of old,
and their community will be established before me;
I will punish all who oppress them. Their leader will be one of their own;
their ruler will arise from among them.
I will bring him near and he will come close to me—
for who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?'
declares the Lord. "'So you will be my people,
and I will be your God.'" See, the storm of the Lord
will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
on the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand this.
(Jeremiah 30:17-24 NIV)
When I read this passage I see Israel and the return from exile that is promised. But I also see hints of Jesus and the church in the new covenant. For a new leader will arise from the people. And Gods wrath and anger will be unleashed. Yet somehow God has his purposes in mind to work our evil and the wrath set for us into his glory.
Thank you God for your promises in the past that have been fulfilled. I pray that reading of the history of Israel through struggles, your rebuking ands seeing your promises and good plans fulfilled that we would be strengthened in our faith. God I want to hold to your promises. I want to find my identity and my hope in you alone. For only with you is there anything lasting.
Amen
and heal your wounds,'
declares the Lord,
'because you are called an outcast,
Zion for whom no one cares.' "This is what the Lord says:
"'I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents
and have compassion on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,
and the palace will stand in its proper place. From them will come songs of thanksgiving
and the sound of rejoicing.
I will add to their numbers,
and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,
and they will not be disdained. Their children will be as in days of old,
and their community will be established before me;
I will punish all who oppress them. Their leader will be one of their own;
their ruler will arise from among them.
I will bring him near and he will come close to me—
for who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?'
declares the Lord. "'So you will be my people,
and I will be your God.'" See, the storm of the Lord
will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
on the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand this.
(Jeremiah 30:17-24 NIV)
When I read this passage I see Israel and the return from exile that is promised. But I also see hints of Jesus and the church in the new covenant. For a new leader will arise from the people. And Gods wrath and anger will be unleashed. Yet somehow God has his purposes in mind to work our evil and the wrath set for us into his glory.
Thank you God for your promises in the past that have been fulfilled. I pray that reading of the history of Israel through struggles, your rebuking ands seeing your promises and good plans fulfilled that we would be strengthened in our faith. God I want to hold to your promises. I want to find my identity and my hope in you alone. For only with you is there anything lasting.
Amen
God's plans: bigger and better
This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
(Jeremiah 29:10-14 NIV)
God may have been angry with Israel. He was enraged to destruction and to exile his own people from his promised land. But his plans did not end thee. God had plans to bring his people back to him and his promised land for them. What we mean for evil and the way of the world may seem hopeless, but God has bigger plans.
The things the world, all of us sinners do in evil and even the devil may be seemingly evil and hopeless. But God means then and works them for his good. Just like Joseph's life struggle works out for his good. So God has good plans for Israel and for us. But we have to remember Gods perspective and promise are bigger than us. And that their fulfillment is only complete in heaven.
Thank you God for the good plans you have for us. I pray you would work I the hearts of unbelievers that they would seek you and find you!
I pray that we would seek you in prayer you would hear us and we would hear you.
Amen
(Jeremiah 29:10-14 NIV)
God may have been angry with Israel. He was enraged to destruction and to exile his own people from his promised land. But his plans did not end thee. God had plans to bring his people back to him and his promised land for them. What we mean for evil and the way of the world may seem hopeless, but God has bigger plans.
The things the world, all of us sinners do in evil and even the devil may be seemingly evil and hopeless. But God means then and works them for his good. Just like Joseph's life struggle works out for his good. So God has good plans for Israel and for us. But we have to remember Gods perspective and promise are bigger than us. And that their fulfillment is only complete in heaven.
Thank you God for the good plans you have for us. I pray you would work I the hearts of unbelievers that they would seek you and find you!
I pray that we would seek you in prayer you would hear us and we would hear you.
Amen
Life in Exile: keep going and following God
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 29:4-9 NIV)
Though Israel and Jerusalem are destroyed and God's people are in exile they are still loved by God. Life goes on. For God ensures and his purposes endure. God's people endure as a remnant. God still calls to them. God still instructs them. God still heard their prayers.
Pray to The Lord for our city. Seek the peace and prosperity of it. For with it's prosperity in this world means our prosperity. I think this is a good word for us today. I don't often pray for Boulder or Colorado or the U.S. but I would be blessed and I think we are called to pray and seek the peace and prosperity of our neighborhoods and the world around us. Whether that is a college campus or town or company.
Amen
(Jeremiah 29:4-9 NIV)
Though Israel and Jerusalem are destroyed and God's people are in exile they are still loved by God. Life goes on. For God ensures and his purposes endure. God's people endure as a remnant. God still calls to them. God still instructs them. God still heard their prayers.
Pray to The Lord for our city. Seek the peace and prosperity of it. For with it's prosperity in this world means our prosperity. I think this is a good word for us today. I don't often pray for Boulder or Colorado or the U.S. but I would be blessed and I think we are called to pray and seek the peace and prosperity of our neighborhoods and the world around us. Whether that is a college campus or town or company.
Amen
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Repent and turn to God
"This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord's house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. (Jeremiah 26:2,3 NIV)
Repent: turn from our evil and turn instead towards God. This seems like such a simple concept, but in practice we are quite stubborn and hold to our darkness. We often even see the sin and pain and darkness of the way we are walking. But we often turn slightly or just try to stop ourselves instead of turning to God.
God is desperately calling out to us just as he called out to his people Israel for years and years. He is warning us of the result of our sin, the pain we will bring on ourselves and on others. God says turn to me and I will forgive you and help you walk in my ways and find abundant life the best possible life.
I wish that I was less prideful and stubborn. For I often choose to keep walking in my own ways. God is gracious and brings me back and works things for my good. But I have been hurt and worse hurt others along my wayward ways. And even when I come home to my father I start to turn away again. It breaks my heart.
Please God show me your ways and how my ways are not your ways. Convict me of my sin and show me the consequences of my ways. Lord and you for being faithful and I beg that you would keep turning me back to you. I am sorry for my heart of rebellion and turning from your light and life. God I beg for forgiveness and thank you for the forgiveness given because of the Cross Jesus. Turn others hearts to you God.
Amen
Repent: turn from our evil and turn instead towards God. This seems like such a simple concept, but in practice we are quite stubborn and hold to our darkness. We often even see the sin and pain and darkness of the way we are walking. But we often turn slightly or just try to stop ourselves instead of turning to God.
God is desperately calling out to us just as he called out to his people Israel for years and years. He is warning us of the result of our sin, the pain we will bring on ourselves and on others. God says turn to me and I will forgive you and help you walk in my ways and find abundant life the best possible life.
I wish that I was less prideful and stubborn. For I often choose to keep walking in my own ways. God is gracious and brings me back and works things for my good. But I have been hurt and worse hurt others along my wayward ways. And even when I come home to my father I start to turn away again. It breaks my heart.
Please God show me your ways and how my ways are not your ways. Convict me of my sin and show me the consequences of my ways. Lord and you for being faithful and I beg that you would keep turning me back to you. I am sorry for my heart of rebellion and turning from your light and life. God I beg for forgiveness and thank you for the forgiveness given because of the Cross Jesus. Turn others hearts to you God.
Amen
Our Sovereign God
Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: "Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon," declares the Lord, "and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. "But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt," declares the Lord, "and will make it desolate forever.
(Jeremiah 25:8, 9, 12 NIV)
God will use people for his purposes. God uses those who follow him and those who do not know him. In Genesis God used the evil that the sons of Israel committed against their brother Joseph for his good purposes. Here God uses this gentile king of Babylon to accomplish his purpose to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. Yet later God will also use kings who do not know or follow him to rebuild and pay for the restoration of Jerusalem the city they destroyed.
God you are sovereign. I don't understand your plans or how you work. But I want to trust you.
Thank you Lord for your good plans and working them out despite our sin.
God I hope in your plans and your salvation to our true home with you.
Amen
(Jeremiah 25:8, 9, 12 NIV)
God will use people for his purposes. God uses those who follow him and those who do not know him. In Genesis God used the evil that the sons of Israel committed against their brother Joseph for his good purposes. Here God uses this gentile king of Babylon to accomplish his purpose to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. Yet later God will also use kings who do not know or follow him to rebuild and pay for the restoration of Jerusalem the city they destroyed.
God you are sovereign. I don't understand your plans or how you work. But I want to trust you.
Thank you Lord for your good plans and working them out despite our sin.
God I hope in your plans and your salvation to our true home with you.
Amen
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