Popluarity is not as important as being right!

Being the bearer of bad news is not easy. Jeremiah faced this in ch 37-39. It was his duty from God to tell the king of Judah that unless he surrendered the Babylonians were going to burn the city of Jerusalem. However, to tell the king this could mean his life as a traitor or non faithful Judean! Jeremiah was faithful to God and delivered an unpopular message to the king. He suffered physically as the result, but lived. In the midst of trials and discouragements, it's more important than ever to check your focus. Are you looking at your problem or your Problem Solver? Stay true to God, even when it doesn't seem to make logical sense!

Cannot pick and choose

Pick and choose, is that how we are to read God's Word? In Jer ch 34-36 ,we read of King Jehoiakim having Jeremiah's prophecy from God read and then cutting it up and throwing it into a fire! What blasphemy we say! Yet don't we do similar when we pick and choose which of God's commands we follow? Is it better to not know, or to know and choose to not follow? Certainly doom happened to the king, what waits for us? If I'd only..... Don't let that sentence be on your lips. God has given us another day to make things right. Repentance is more than just being sorry or ashamed. It is absolutely turning from wickedness. Make a decision to read the Word with a responsive heart! Make the decision to accept and follow. And not just the parts you like!

Count on it!

Count on it! That is Jeremiah's message in ch 30-33. He is prophecying things to come, promises that God has made. At the current time of his writing, the Babylonians are about to take over in brutal fashion. Things look bleak. But remember, God's ways and timing are not ours! Our faith is often weak or anxious. We need concrete results! We often fail to see and understand the work God is doing in us. We might see it after a time, if we look. God reveals himself and His plan to us, if we know how to look. Jer ch33:3 God says Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen! Don't stop listening before you hear!

Understand before you speak

How do we heed warnings? Do we analyze the message, or the messenger? Do we pick and choose which message we "like" best and follow it? These are tough questions to honestly answer today, just as they were in Jeremiah's time. He would bring forth a message of repentance from the Lord, only to be contested by another self-appointed "prophet" with a nicer message. Jer ch26-29 show this with Hananiah. Ch28v17 tell how that ends. When we talk for the Lord, we need to be prepared for the results. God wants us to tell others about Him, but not to put words into His mouth. God knows what His plans are for us. Check out ch29v11-13. So how can we tell true warnings? They should be consistent with scripture and led by God, not just a fleeting impulse you might have. Trust and verify!

WORSHIP....more than a list

In Jeremiah 7-10, the point is reiterated that thinking that their priviledged position as God's chosen people will ensure their immunity from God's wrath, the people continue in a pattern of worthless worship. Perhaps Jeremiah is talking about the future, perhaps it is us. Do we live for God, or is He merely someone we go to with needs. Do we worship, or only request. I cannot look at nature without a wonder about God. His creation is amazing. It is amazing how God holds the whole together. So in our worship, do we acknowledge God's greatness, or just give Him our daily list....

Our response matters...

How do we heed warnings? Do we really listen and believe, or do we say that it won't be so bad? I know I shrug off the warnings thinking I can get through by my own strength, knowledge, or ability. Perhaps this is how the people of Judah felt when Jeremiah came with his warnings from God. Jeremiah 1-6 talk about the impending wrath to be poured out. He discussed the problem of reliance on idols and false gods. Even today we place our faith and security in false gods! See ch2v28-29. How often do we hear that today? People live like there is no God and thus no consequences, yet when something happens, we look to God and say "how could you let this happen". This was occuring in Jeremiah's day as well. Nothing new under the sun...except how we respond to wanrings perhaps!

Not to be taken lightly

Greetings fellow students of theology! Today, we finish Isaiah. Ch 58-66. A lot of reading, but a common theme....God exhaults the humble, the Messiah is coming, and one day, all will worship God! Some warnings though, don't take God lightly, don't ignore His warnings, and don't ignore His invitations. Ch58v4 reminds us about being luke-warm. Ch59v1 reminds us God is with us. Ch 64v5-8 reminds us how and who we are, mere clay! Ch65v20-25 comforts us with a renewed life, heavens and earth. And ch66,v2-3 remind us not to take this lightly! In all, Isaiah was a long book, filled with prophecy and warnings. Ch53 really stuck out to me as one to re-read. How similar is Jerusalem of Isaiah's time with America today? God has warned us, pay heed! Now, get ready to weep with Jeremiah!