by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 12-14
Jeremiah complains to the Lord. He’s been speaking God’s words to the nation, and has received nothing but flack. In fact, as he is telling the people that they need to turn back to the Lord, they ignore him and continue to prosper.
The Lord’s answer is one we should take to heart, if we really want to represent Him in the earth. He says, “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?” (12:5)
It takes courage to run with the Lord. Very often we will be misunderstood or even vilified because of our stand for Him. Even if we aren’t saying anything, sometimes our actions tend to annoy those who want to ignore God.
The Lord is telling Jeremiah, “You haven’t seen anything yet. This is minor when compared to what you will encounter in the future.”
For us to be ignored or maligned by those who don’t want Jesus in their lives is a price we pay for walking with Him. But life is not a popularity contest. In fact, when we try to make it one, we always get off track. So let’s forget that.
Let’s look to Jesus. He is the One with the real answers – and eventually we will be rewarded for our faithfulness. He is the “author and finisher of our faith,” and He never makes a mistake.
Even though our God loves every human on the earth, not everyone will follow Him – and reap the eventual reward promised to those who are His.
So let’s run this race with a desire to win it. Keeping our eyes on the One who matters most.
II Timothy 1
“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” (V. 14)
At the end of Paul’s life, he is giving this advice to young Timothy, who is his protegé. The gift of the Holy Spirit was introduced to Timothy by a godly mother and grandmother, and then activated by Paul’s laying on of hands. This tremendous grace is there for him, but Timothy is the one who has to guard and keep it.
If we belong to Jesus, we too have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit – residing within us. He is our comforter, our teacher, and our guide for a life well lived.
So let’s not take the gift lightly. Let’s cherish what our Father has given us and realize that He has trusted us with this gift.
As we study, pray, fast, and do what He bids, we will fulfill our purpose in this life. His love for us is so significant. His purpose is also.
We can say with Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (V.12)
Each day starting afresh – devoting our lives to Him. He won’t let us down.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 9-11
Human nature is strange, but predictable. Strange, because if left unchecked, human nature breeds foolishness. Speculation from within a vacuum is always absurd. And it exalts itself above any God.
It’s predictable, because whether the people are living in cavemen days or in our present time, it’s the same. Self-centered and unwise.
So we see the children of Judah (called the children of Israel) in the 6th century before Christ. They have watched their sister nation, Israel, be taken into captivity by the Assyrians. Yet they think that this will never happen to them. Why would they think that?
They have taken refuge in the vanity of their minds, and we see the same happening today.
I’m amazed at some of the thoughts people express in the media. Arrogance, selfishness, and often shallow in thinking. Professing to be wise, they are indeed very foolish.
So as we look at Jeremiah, we are not surprised to see him speaking to the people God’s words and having them shun him, from the prophets and priests down to the common man.
By this time in their history there are probably many who think that the old stories of God’s miracles in leading them are just fairy tales. They are too busy serving Baal (the God of prosperity), to pay much attention to the true God. They go through the motions, but their hearts are far away.
It’s sad to see a nation which was created and guided by the mighty hand of God, decide that they don’t need Him. Jeremiah weeps as he delivers the word to them
So what is their response? They want him to shut up! They want to kill him. They want him to just go away and leave them alone.
After all, they know more than God. Right?
Sound familiar?
We need to keep praying.
I Timothy 6
One of the most misquoted scriptures is found in this chapter.
“The love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.”(V.10)
Some people shorten this to “Money is the root of all evil…” Well, that’s not what it says. It says, “the love of money…”
You can have the love of money without a penny in your pocket. That’s what causes someone to spend the family wages on lottery tickets or gambling. It’s a lust that makes someone think that if they just had money, their problems would be solved.
In those cases, people are making money out to be a god. As if that’s all they need: money.
Throughout the scriptures, a lot is said about money and riches. Even later in this chapter Paul goes on to say that if someone is rich, be rich in giving.
What is so important about money? That’s how Satan runs his kingdom. The only reason a person would be a prostitute or a pimp or a drug dealer is so that they can get money. Why do people steal? What do people kill for? What do people lie and cheat to get? Riches.
When someone has a lust for riches, they open themselves up to all sorts of evil from the devil.
They also substitute riches (Baal) for the one true God.
Actually, there are those whom God will raise up to fund His purposes. They are those who are not looking to riches as their answer, but to God. They are willing to obey Him in their giving – even when He asks for more than they expect.
There is another scripture which says that “the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.”(Prov 13:22). The righteous are those who will be obedient to God in their giving – and who will trust in their God and not in their riches.
Something to think about, isn’t it? It’s good to give ourselves an attitude check every now and then.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 6-8
Have you ever been praying for someone and been overcome with grief because you knew what destruction they were running into if they continued down their present path? That’s what Jeremiah was experiencing as he presented the Word of the Lord to the nation of Judah.
Jeremiah loved his country. He knew what glorious days had gone before. Yet at this time in history, there was apostasy all around. The priests and prophets were even speaking falsely to the people. They were saying “Peace, peace” when there was no peace from the Lord.
God was calling these men whom He had established as His own to repent. Yet even the priests and prophets were corrupt. They had turned away from God, as had most of the nation.
They worshiped the idols of the surrounding lands. Yet they would still go into the house of the Lord at the proper time and go through the rituals. They were hypocrites.
They would steal, murder, swear falsely, commit adultery, burn incense to Baal, go after other gods, and still come into God’s house and pretend to be His people. It was an abomination to God.
These were dark days in Jewish history. Centuries had passed since they had been brought out of the land of Egypt and given the land of Canaan. They had been a prosperous nation, and these people thought that they were more sophisticated than their forefathers.
Well of course they were more sophisticated in the ways of the world, but they weren’t smarter than their ancestors. Their ancestors knew to trust in Jehovah who had blessed them. This present generation ignored Him.
God’s plan was going awry, because He was to bring a Messiah through these people. He couldn’t bring a Messiah to such a backslidden bunch!
His hand of blessing was about to be lifted from this nation. They just refused to listen.
The prophets continued to say, “Peace, peace.” But there was no peace.
Somber moments.
God’s plan was going to be done – as it always is – but through a different bunch. He was going to reject those who were rejecting Him.
I Timothy 5
There are many practical matters in the church, and Paul addresses some of these to Timothy.
It’s clear that the early church took care of its own. If there were widows who had no means of support, the local body of believers would take care of them.
If they had children or grandchildren, the family should meet their needs. However, if they didn’t have anyone else to care for them, the church would step in.
This is something for us to ponder in our day. In the western world, the government has made provisions for the elderly. And there are nursing homes which help out.
Ultimately, however, it’s our responsibility to take care of our own families. Even if the provision is provided elsewhere, the elderly need our love and support.
I know some people who go into nursing homes every week and sing for those there. Hearts have been lifted and many have come to Christ in their last days through this ministry.
I don’t want to forget those who have labored so much for me in the past. They deserve my love and honor.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 3-5
What does our God want from His people? What does He expect?
He desires and expects loyalty – as a husband expects it from his wife. Faithfulness to the one man to whom she is married.
God’s people are married to Him. He is the one who provides for them, protects them, and leads them. God is the husband and His people are the wife.
Yet there is adultery all over the land of Judah. At first, when the kingdom split between Israel and Judah, the latter was faithful. There was a long season when there would be good and bad kings, but there were some like Hezekiah and Josiah who brought back the ordinances of God and increased the faith in the land.
Those days were over. As Jeremiah speaks God’s words to the people, he has dire predictions. No longer will God contend with His people. They are committing adultery, and He is about to separate from them. When He does, they will be taken into captivity and lose their great nation He had provided. No longer His blessing. Now His judgment.
How can you tell when a nation has turned from God? They become extremely selfish, extremely proud, and extremely evil. No longer do they honor the ordinances placed into effect by their God; they replace these with those of other men. Reasoning replaces faith. Hearts become hard to the words of their God.
And sin reigns instead of righteousness.
These are sad days in the nation of Judah. They have been warned again and again, but the prophets who have spoken have been ignored. Some have been killed; others imprisoned. Anything to shut up the words from God.
Jeremiah is warning one last time – and telling them what is coming if they don’t repent.
You see, God has a special plan for this nation. From Judah is to come the Messiah who will be the salvation for all the world, but in this condition they couldn’t bring forth a Messiah. There aren’t enough people to even care about that. They are corrupt to the core.
I can’t read these words without thinking about our modern world – especially the United States. We were started as a Christian nation. Of course, we had some problems, but for the most part, our forefathers were devout Christians. In the Mayflower Compact, the Pilgrims dedicated the new land to the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When you look back, you realize that all of the Ivy League schools were started primarily as learning centers for those called to the ministry. If you walk the halls of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, you will see scriptures chiseled in the stone walls. One of my favorites inscribed at Harvard is “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
What in the world has happened to our nation? Humanism, pride, arrogance. Man has raised himself higher than God.
If you think that you know more than God, or if you think that there isn’t a God, you are certainly in trouble. A nation that goes that way is headed for trouble – and lots of it.
Our positions of leadership and prosperity have been as a result of blessings from God.
Let’s pray for our nation. Let’s pray that our leaders will repent and humble themselves before the Mighty Hand of God. Let’s pray that arrogant ministers will turn back to God and that the people who call themselves by His name will repent also.
We need Him today in a mighty way!
I Timothy 4
From the chapters in Jeremiah, it’s an easy transition into this chapter in I Timothy.
“In the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…” (V. 1)
Now does that sound familiar? So what do we as believers do about it? Do we get up on a pedestal and rant?
I think not. I think that the changes have to come from hearts that are truly repentant before God, and no amount of ranting will cause those changes.
Don’t get me wrong. There will be times when ministers or individuals will get a bold word which God wants them to speak. That’s different. A Word for God in season will prick the hearts which are ready to receive from Him.
But until a bold word is given to us, we must pray and pray diligently. Ask God to give you a list of people to pray for. They may be those in authority, or they may be members of your own family. Or friends.
Then pray for them. Ask God to open the eyes of their hearts so that they can see the truth. Then speak God’s words into their situations.
Our God is looking for intercessors – those who will pray for His will to be done in the earth. His will is for our country and our world to turn back to Him – and for the gospel of Jesus Christ to be brought to all of the nations.
Let’s do our part!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Jeremiah 1-2
About 65 years pass and Isaiah’s words hang in the air. The Babylonians haven’t captured Jerusalem yet, but neither have the people of God repented. They are still rebellious and self-centered. Still there is corruption in the priesthood as well as the nation.
Jeremiah comes on the scene and his words seem to echo the same as his predecessor. Yet his words are weightier, because the time of judgment is nigh. In fact, during Jeremiah’s lifetime Jerusalem will be overthrown.
The sin of the people basically is rooted in unfaithfulness to the one true God. They are enamored by the idols of the surrounding cultures, and they don’t worship God and Him only.
When other people hold up their gods and introduce false worship, those who don’t know their God can easily be swayed. They begin to forget the history of God’s miracles and His faithfulness. They begin to think in humanistic terms and come to believe that there are many paths to the truth.
During times of such apostasy, it takes brave people to stand up and speak the truth. Jeremiah was such a brave one. The Lord spoke to him and said, “Do not be afraid of their faces. For I am with you to deliver you.” (1:8)
So the Lord gives Jeremiah a message – reminding the Jews of their heritage with the Lord. They are reminded of His faithfulness to them as they were led out of Egypt and nurtured in the wilderness. With great signs and wonders the Lord led them to this land and prospered them above all nations.
What has He done to them to cause them to turn to idols? They have forsaken their God and gone after the idols of Egypt and Assyria.
So since they don’t trust in Him, He will turn His back. He has called to them for many years, begging them to return to the truth, but to no avail. Now they will have to reap the fruit of their choices. They will discover soon enough that Egypt and Assyria will not be able to deliver them. The final hours are upon them.
In our society it’s so easy to follow in the way of the unfaithful. There are many voices out there beckoning us to follow them. Sometimes, without even realizing it, we can follow the wrong voice. We have to be very careful.
We have to be careful to listen and obey the One True God. There is only One. The other voices have to be kept at bay as we look to His Word and His voice.
As Jeremiah was sent to root out, destroy, build and plant, we have to do the same in our own hearts. We have to root out and destroy the words which come to us from those around us which aren’t from God. We have to build and plant what our Father wants in our hearts.
Purity. Wholeness. Refreshment from the Lord. That’s what the abundant life of the faithful exudes. And promises of better things to come.
I Timothy 3
There are requirements laid down by our Father for those who lead the church.
Basically it gets back to this: if people are following the leader, where will they be going? if there is the leaven of greed, hypocrisy, drunkenness, or strife in the leadership, then the same seeds will be popping up throughout the church.
I have seen this demonstrated in our modern church. When a leader gets exposed for adultery, you can see the same sin in the lives of many of his followers. The sin seems to pop up repeatedly – here and there. The same goes for any sin – strife, greed, or pride.
The leader is like the door of God’s work. What he lets in, comes in; what he keeps out, stays out.
So you can see why it is so important for leadership to be held to a high standard.
Paul even mentions that there should be a time of training before someone takes charge. “Not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.” (V.6).
The principles are for the good of all. The leaders can’t bear the weight of leadership when they are in sin or immature in the faith, and those in his charge will be led astray if the leadership isn’t pure.
Our God is faithfully directing us to a place of strength and holiness. His ways are always the best!
