My little one enjoys being told something will happen, and then seeing that happening unfold. Recently, we put some seed in a bird feeder, and I told him that in a day or two, birds would find it, and start eating it, flying to the feeder and back to the tree, back and forth. To his amazement, as we watched out the window, birds began doing just that, and he exclaimed, "You were telling me the whole truth!" Well, of course I was, but it was important for him to know that. I showed him that he could indeed trust me, and eventually, I pray he will do so without me having to prove it.
God is vastly more faithful that I am; obviously, that does not even need to be stated.
I finished Jeremiah today, and no verse in this book has stood out to me more than Jer. 50:6.
"My people have become lost sheep; Their shepherds have led them astray..."
I've been taking the family through a study of Psalm 23 very slowly, and yesterday we had to define shepherd. You find a humble servant, faithful, confidently leading, with the sheep at his disposal, trusting he is heading the right direction to keep them alive with food and water. A protector, a comforter, simply asking to be trusted. For the shepherd to not find green pastures or water would mean death to the herd. What we have been so wonderfully reminded of is God's faithful provision for our flesh and soul, in so-called good times and bad.
God often refers to leaders of His people, Old Testament and New, as shepherds, with the expressed intent of faithfully leading as He does in Psalm 23 and other places with such descriptions. Jeremiah accurately relays God's Word to Judah when he condemns the spiritual shepherds then as having led God's people astray. Over and over and over again God has demanded to be heard, pleaded with His people to listen to Him, and they repeatedly decide that they will not trust Him. Perhaps they felt He was not actually telling them the whole truth, and now in exile, they must see how wrong they were.
It was a painful lesson to learn; it was painful for Jeremiah to observe. Just as I implanted trust into my little one, God had tried to do the same. Jeremiah hearkens to the prophets before him, rehearsing what God had done for His people down through history. He could be trusted!
We today have the great privilege of being ministered to by shepherds in our churches. They have the immense and awesome responsibility to not lead God's sheep astray. Sadly, in far too many churches today, there exist many lost sheep. The truth is not upheld, religion has taken the place of Biblical doctrine, and people want to feel good about church and life, with little or no attempt to live for the Lord.
My prayer today is for those faithful pastors, God's under-shepherd's in this world, who are taking a stand, refusing to compromise God's truth, and who selflessly give of the gifts they have been given, in order that someone like me, like you, might stay on the path that pleases the Creator. I also pray for those in pastoral positions who might be astray themselves, with wrongly-faithful followers behind them. May the Spirit work His truth in their lives.
When we see Him in glory, I pray that we are not surprised that, indeed, He was telling us the whole truth all along. We need to know and accept that...NOW.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Love Ministry? Really?
Think life is tough trying to be a Christian? Just how resolved are we to stay on that path set before us by the Lord? How often do we complain when things just don't go our way?
I'm not sure how well I would handle the ministry laid out before Jeremiah. Wrapping up this book this week, and today, reading through chapters 39-44, here is a quick snapshot of Jeremiah's life and ministry leading up to and just beyond Jerusalem's destruction.
He is thrown into a cistern when the leaders are tired of hearing him rebuke, warn, and teach.
Zedekiah brings him out and asks about his future and his family's future. Jeremiah tells him the truth, that if he goes out to the officers of Babylon, he and they will live and be unharmed. He swears Jeremiah to secrecy, and keeps him locked up in a guardhouse. Naturally, Zedekiah ignores Jeremiah's words, and when Babylon breaches the walls, Zedekiah's sons are killed, his eyes taken, and he is bound, taken to Babylon.
Jeremiah is spared, on Nebuchadnezzar's orders, with the option of going to Babylon and being cared for, or remaining behind in Judah, or really, to go where he pleases. He stays.
He warns those thinking about fleeing to Egypt not to do so. Think about this, EVERYTHING he has prophesied up to this point has been accurate to a "T". Again, he is ignored, people flee, and Jeremiah must go there and prophesy that they will die there, that Babylon will also take Egypt.
No wonder Jeremiah was not well liked! But he was with the Lord, and he was right! Take a moment and read some of Lamentations, Jeremiah's mournful dirge as he watches Jerusalem crumble, God's people justly punished. Was Jeremiah effective? Well, we don't see converts, but we see a faithful man and his obedience.
He was right, and he cared! What a great combination for ministry. What had God asked us to do in our own personal ministries? Share Christ with others? That's one, but let's focus on that one for a moment. But it's hard, right? We must speak the truth, and do so while caring for the plight of the lost. Truth is great, being right is even better! Caring for others means we actually understand God and His truth. Truth without caring shows up as arrogance. Caring without the truth shows up as foolishness.
Praying today for a Godly balance in our personal ministry. Though we live in tough times, we have great examples before us, Jeremiah for one.
I'm not sure how well I would handle the ministry laid out before Jeremiah. Wrapping up this book this week, and today, reading through chapters 39-44, here is a quick snapshot of Jeremiah's life and ministry leading up to and just beyond Jerusalem's destruction.
He is thrown into a cistern when the leaders are tired of hearing him rebuke, warn, and teach.
Zedekiah brings him out and asks about his future and his family's future. Jeremiah tells him the truth, that if he goes out to the officers of Babylon, he and they will live and be unharmed. He swears Jeremiah to secrecy, and keeps him locked up in a guardhouse. Naturally, Zedekiah ignores Jeremiah's words, and when Babylon breaches the walls, Zedekiah's sons are killed, his eyes taken, and he is bound, taken to Babylon.
Jeremiah is spared, on Nebuchadnezzar's orders, with the option of going to Babylon and being cared for, or remaining behind in Judah, or really, to go where he pleases. He stays.
He warns those thinking about fleeing to Egypt not to do so. Think about this, EVERYTHING he has prophesied up to this point has been accurate to a "T". Again, he is ignored, people flee, and Jeremiah must go there and prophesy that they will die there, that Babylon will also take Egypt.
No wonder Jeremiah was not well liked! But he was with the Lord, and he was right! Take a moment and read some of Lamentations, Jeremiah's mournful dirge as he watches Jerusalem crumble, God's people justly punished. Was Jeremiah effective? Well, we don't see converts, but we see a faithful man and his obedience.
He was right, and he cared! What a great combination for ministry. What had God asked us to do in our own personal ministries? Share Christ with others? That's one, but let's focus on that one for a moment. But it's hard, right? We must speak the truth, and do so while caring for the plight of the lost. Truth is great, being right is even better! Caring for others means we actually understand God and His truth. Truth without caring shows up as arrogance. Caring without the truth shows up as foolishness.
Praying today for a Godly balance in our personal ministry. Though we live in tough times, we have great examples before us, Jeremiah for one.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Reliable Trust
Most do not spend time in the Old Testament, or at least don't really read it to gain lessons or personal growth. The stories are interesting, often fast-paced, and enjoyable. But, beneficial for learning? How do we find the "So What" in these passages?
Jeremiah 37 is a great example of an Old Testament account that is complete with accurate history, compelling drama, and a life lesson to never forget.
Jerusalem is under siege by Babylon. Egypt, not wanting Babylon to advance that close to its borders, sends out an army to deal with Babylon, not really defending Judah, but perhaps a bit indirectly. Egypt was all about Egypt, and Judah being Babylonian was not in Egypt's best interest. Babylon, seeing Egypt respond, withdraws the siege.
So what is the response of the people of Judah? They put their trust in Egypt, and strengthen their belief in the false prophets who had been saying that Babylon would not invade and destroy Judah. It was much easier to believe them than to believe one of God's true prophets. The message was easier to swallow.
Historians have documented Babylon's siege, Egypt's advances, we do not have to doubt the authenticity of Scripture. If we didn't already know the end of the story, we might think at this point that Jeremiah was mistaken, that Judah did get a reprieve. But we do know that Babylon only re-grouped, and came back stronger to re-siege Jerusalem and overthrow Judah.
God is all about one thing...HIS glory! He displays time and time again that He CAN and IS TO BE trusted above anything and anyone else. Judah trusted Egypt more than they trusted the Lord. Who or what do WE trust similarly? Just as God showed Judah, and Israel before that, and just as He has written it down for us, we are to trust in Him with all our heart, yet too often, we lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3).
Perhaps you are going through a tough time right now, and think the easy way out is the way to go. You might be tempted to trust someone or something, some solution that makes sense to you but is contrary to God's Word. Let me encourage you to heed His advice, or seek it from Him if you have not already asked. The biggest challenge I face is listening to Him, following Him faithfully.
Doing the right thing, always, may not make life here easier, but God's glory is reflected in our obedience to Him.
Holding Fast to the Name of Our Creator
Jeremiah 37 is a great example of an Old Testament account that is complete with accurate history, compelling drama, and a life lesson to never forget.
Jerusalem is under siege by Babylon. Egypt, not wanting Babylon to advance that close to its borders, sends out an army to deal with Babylon, not really defending Judah, but perhaps a bit indirectly. Egypt was all about Egypt, and Judah being Babylonian was not in Egypt's best interest. Babylon, seeing Egypt respond, withdraws the siege.
So what is the response of the people of Judah? They put their trust in Egypt, and strengthen their belief in the false prophets who had been saying that Babylon would not invade and destroy Judah. It was much easier to believe them than to believe one of God's true prophets. The message was easier to swallow.
Historians have documented Babylon's siege, Egypt's advances, we do not have to doubt the authenticity of Scripture. If we didn't already know the end of the story, we might think at this point that Jeremiah was mistaken, that Judah did get a reprieve. But we do know that Babylon only re-grouped, and came back stronger to re-siege Jerusalem and overthrow Judah.
God is all about one thing...HIS glory! He displays time and time again that He CAN and IS TO BE trusted above anything and anyone else. Judah trusted Egypt more than they trusted the Lord. Who or what do WE trust similarly? Just as God showed Judah, and Israel before that, and just as He has written it down for us, we are to trust in Him with all our heart, yet too often, we lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3).
Perhaps you are going through a tough time right now, and think the easy way out is the way to go. You might be tempted to trust someone or something, some solution that makes sense to you but is contrary to God's Word. Let me encourage you to heed His advice, or seek it from Him if you have not already asked. The biggest challenge I face is listening to Him, following Him faithfully.
Doing the right thing, always, may not make life here easier, but God's glory is reflected in our obedience to Him.
Holding Fast to the Name of Our Creator
Friday, April 13, 2012
Be like the Rechabites
What? Who are these people? Jeremiah 35 makes mention of the group of people called Rechabites, and I could not resist but do a quick study on just who these people were. After all, they are commended here by God through Jeremiah.
The Rechabites (descendants of Rechab), were actually distant relations of and descended from Jethro, whom you may recall was Moses' father-in-law. I cannot say for sure they were God-fearers at the time of Jeremiah, but when they are brought into the temple and offered wine, they refuse, as they had been instructed from generation to generation to abstain, and to stay true to principles taught them. That alone made this group of people stand out to Jeremiah. By this time, the people of Judah were ignoring the legitimate prophets and God's Word, and would have imbibed at will for their own pleasure. Not the Rechabites, and Jeremiah uses their example of living principled lives to further rebuke the people of Judah.
God says in verse 16 of chapter 35, "Indeed, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have observed the command of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to Me." It would appear that this group of people, the Rechabites, heeded the advice of their ancestors, who were indeed God-followers, and passed those principles on to their subsequent generations. What a great teaching point for Judah, and for us.
What principles do we live by? What are we teaching our children and future generations, not only on principle, but more importantly, about God, His Word, and His expectations for us? His guidance is ever so trustworthy, and life lived for Him must be maintained and passed along. It's what He demands.
The Rechabites (descendants of Rechab), were actually distant relations of and descended from Jethro, whom you may recall was Moses' father-in-law. I cannot say for sure they were God-fearers at the time of Jeremiah, but when they are brought into the temple and offered wine, they refuse, as they had been instructed from generation to generation to abstain, and to stay true to principles taught them. That alone made this group of people stand out to Jeremiah. By this time, the people of Judah were ignoring the legitimate prophets and God's Word, and would have imbibed at will for their own pleasure. Not the Rechabites, and Jeremiah uses their example of living principled lives to further rebuke the people of Judah.
God says in verse 16 of chapter 35, "Indeed, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have observed the command of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to Me." It would appear that this group of people, the Rechabites, heeded the advice of their ancestors, who were indeed God-followers, and passed those principles on to their subsequent generations. What a great teaching point for Judah, and for us.
What principles do we live by? What are we teaching our children and future generations, not only on principle, but more importantly, about God, His Word, and His expectations for us? His guidance is ever so trustworthy, and life lived for Him must be maintained and passed along. It's what He demands.
Monday, April 9, 2012
God, Our Focus of Service
Did you ever give someone something he or she really wanted, even if you knew it was bad for him or her? In the proper context, doing so can be used for great teaching. I had a dog once that insisted on knowing what was in my coffee cup. She was a real pest about it. I finally decided to let her understand what coffee was (it was hot, but not burn-your-tongue hot), and I lowered the cup to let her see, smell, and even taste, she was never again curious about it! She never forgot that, and from then on, I could have put anything in my cup, and she would have had no interest. It was an amazingly-teachable moment.
Reading through Jeremiah 24-30 this morning, I came across a passage that demonstrated God's desire to teach, even through a painful experience. Jeremiah 27:12 explains God's plan for those in Judah who wanted to live. "I spoke words like all these to Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live!"
Without rehearsing the first 26 chapters here, Judah had been found guilty by God of serving other gods. God repeatedly urged them, begged them to worship and serve Him, but they refused, choosing rather to serve and worship imaginary, false gods. Finally, after generations of this occurring, God seemingly decided to give them what they yearned for, a god to serve. In Babylon, similar to Egypt's Pharaohs, the king could be considered deity. Nebuchadnezzar certainly felt himself worthy to be worshiped, as can be ssen in the book of Daniel. So God sent Judah into exile to serve Nebuchadnezzar, a "real" god, or at least a false god who was at least living.
God makes it clear that He does not want His people destroyed, and He will even promise to judge Babylon for its treatment of God's chosen, but first, they needed to learn a painful lesson, one they would never forget. The faithfulness God displayed is so very evident by His desire for His people to change, to fully devote themselves to Him.
It is no different for us believers, and it's not a new theme. God wants us to give Him our full devotion, too. At times, I know we must wear His patience thin. Any time we sin, His Spirit convicts us of the error, and we have to make a choice to be corrected or ignore Him. Correction can be painful. Ignoring Him is disastrous. We must be teachable, ever growing, ever learning, ever serving the only true God.
Reading through Jeremiah 24-30 this morning, I came across a passage that demonstrated God's desire to teach, even through a painful experience. Jeremiah 27:12 explains God's plan for those in Judah who wanted to live. "I spoke words like all these to Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live!"
Without rehearsing the first 26 chapters here, Judah had been found guilty by God of serving other gods. God repeatedly urged them, begged them to worship and serve Him, but they refused, choosing rather to serve and worship imaginary, false gods. Finally, after generations of this occurring, God seemingly decided to give them what they yearned for, a god to serve. In Babylon, similar to Egypt's Pharaohs, the king could be considered deity. Nebuchadnezzar certainly felt himself worthy to be worshiped, as can be ssen in the book of Daniel. So God sent Judah into exile to serve Nebuchadnezzar, a "real" god, or at least a false god who was at least living.
God makes it clear that He does not want His people destroyed, and He will even promise to judge Babylon for its treatment of God's chosen, but first, they needed to learn a painful lesson, one they would never forget. The faithfulness God displayed is so very evident by His desire for His people to change, to fully devote themselves to Him.
It is no different for us believers, and it's not a new theme. God wants us to give Him our full devotion, too. At times, I know we must wear His patience thin. Any time we sin, His Spirit convicts us of the error, and we have to make a choice to be corrected or ignore Him. Correction can be painful. Ignoring Him is disastrous. We must be teachable, ever growing, ever learning, ever serving the only true God.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
God Restores
The theology in Jeremiah 23 is rich, to put it mildly. The lessons being taught through this prophet are ones that were to be etched in the memories of those listening. We, too, can benefit from this teaching, despite it residing in the Old Testament, delivered to Judah, about to be exiled to Babylon.
Jeremiah returns to the rebuke of Judah’s leaders, how they have not been faithful in “attending to” the flock. Those leaders, he writes, will soon be gone, and one day new leaders will replace them, and they will do the tending that God desires of His shepherds. Coinciding with that, God makes reference 19 times in this book of a “remnant”, that faithful group of God-fearers in Israel/Judah who will one day (70 years from the exile) re-inhabit the land.
When they do return to the land, people such as Nehemiah and Ezra do their best to fulfill faithful leadership roles. We know this, the re-claimed Israel forsakes their idolatrous ways under new leadership.
Shifting gears then, Jeremiah makes reference to a future “righteous branch” to reign as king, given the name “the LORD (YHWH) our righteousness. It is likely this was written at the time Zedekiah was king, as his name means “the Lord is righteous” or “the Lord my righteousness”. By using a terms that meant OUR righteousness, he meant a coming time when all people would acknowledge the Lord as the source of righteousness. The “righteous branch” is a phrase used to denote the legitimate heir to the throne. We understand this branch to be none other than Jesus.
We are long and far removed from the days of the Exile and Restoration. Yet I continue to see faithful “Jeremiahs” today, speaking the truth of God’s Word to a culture who wants nothing to do with Him or it. We can be frustrated, and while I am not saying that this remnant spoken of by Jeremiah refers to us, which it does not, we must likewise keep in mind what awaits us in Glory. One day, perhaps very soon, every knee WILL bow and confess Jesus to be Lord, saved or not. We are ultimately on the winning side! Man, do I praise God for that!
I also praise God for the faithful shepherds in our midst, providing a watchful care over us by proclaiming God’s truth and challenging us to live according to His Word.
Jeremiah, in verse 36 of this chapter, says then what could be said today. “For you will no longer remember the oracle of the Lord, because every man’s word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God...”
I pray this evening for us to follow God’s Word, not man’s word. Though the world will challenge desperately for our attention, we must remember we have a God who is near, He is nor far off. We cannot hide from Him, as He fills the heavens and the earth. He speaks to us if we will only listen. I pray for us to allow Him to win the battle for the affection of our hearts, as we head into this Passion Week, our Savior’s sacrifice front and center.
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
Jeremiah returns to the rebuke of Judah’s leaders, how they have not been faithful in “attending to” the flock. Those leaders, he writes, will soon be gone, and one day new leaders will replace them, and they will do the tending that God desires of His shepherds. Coinciding with that, God makes reference 19 times in this book of a “remnant”, that faithful group of God-fearers in Israel/Judah who will one day (70 years from the exile) re-inhabit the land.
When they do return to the land, people such as Nehemiah and Ezra do their best to fulfill faithful leadership roles. We know this, the re-claimed Israel forsakes their idolatrous ways under new leadership.
Shifting gears then, Jeremiah makes reference to a future “righteous branch” to reign as king, given the name “the LORD (YHWH) our righteousness. It is likely this was written at the time Zedekiah was king, as his name means “the Lord is righteous” or “the Lord my righteousness”. By using a terms that meant OUR righteousness, he meant a coming time when all people would acknowledge the Lord as the source of righteousness. The “righteous branch” is a phrase used to denote the legitimate heir to the throne. We understand this branch to be none other than Jesus.
We are long and far removed from the days of the Exile and Restoration. Yet I continue to see faithful “Jeremiahs” today, speaking the truth of God’s Word to a culture who wants nothing to do with Him or it. We can be frustrated, and while I am not saying that this remnant spoken of by Jeremiah refers to us, which it does not, we must likewise keep in mind what awaits us in Glory. One day, perhaps very soon, every knee WILL bow and confess Jesus to be Lord, saved or not. We are ultimately on the winning side! Man, do I praise God for that!
I also praise God for the faithful shepherds in our midst, providing a watchful care over us by proclaiming God’s truth and challenging us to live according to His Word.
Jeremiah, in verse 36 of this chapter, says then what could be said today. “For you will no longer remember the oracle of the Lord, because every man’s word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God...”
I pray this evening for us to follow God’s Word, not man’s word. Though the world will challenge desperately for our attention, we must remember we have a God who is near, He is nor far off. We cannot hide from Him, as He fills the heavens and the earth. He speaks to us if we will only listen. I pray for us to allow Him to win the battle for the affection of our hearts, as we head into this Passion Week, our Savior’s sacrifice front and center.
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
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