Jer. 26, 27

Through Jeremiah God spoke some hard words to hear. Nobody wants to hear, “You will be conquered and led off in captivity.” Nevertheless, God did AS HE TOLD JEREMIAH. His words turned out to be true, and we have them recorded in the canon of scripture. He displayed courage and integrity that were exemplary.

We should be able to both give and receive hard words sometimes. The critical element is speaking in love.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. [Pr. 27:6 KJV]

Jeremiah 24, 25

Many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem were dragged off in exile to Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of the city. God told them if they submitted to the exile, He would preserve their lives. However, if they remained and resisted they would lose their lives.

The point is this: God can preserve His people when they are subdued by ungodly regimes. These regimes think they can diminish God’s power or influence. They are sadly mistaken.

His people are wise to faithfully continue to serve Him and retain a Christian culture in the home.

“In the world you shall have tribulation. Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. [Jn 16:33]

Jeremiah 23

God used Jeremiah to call out shepherds and prophets who were less than honest, less than authentic. They called themselves ministers but their motives were not pure. God dealt harshly with them.

Today we likewise have ministers(?) who employ questionable tactics in their service to God. They say God told them, but their message does not line up with God’s Word. Or, they merely use “God told me” as a means of promoting their own importance. In the New Testament era, hopefully God deals with them less severely than He did in Jeremiah’s day.

Ministers should seek to be authentic representatives of God’s Kingdom and seek purity of heart and motive. This comes through a daily, sold-out commitment to Christ Jesus through prayer and study of God’s Word.

Jeremiah 21, 22

It’s easy to think we get lost in the shuffle, that we are merely one insignificant person whose sins and offenses don’t matter. This is dangerous thinking. God watches each person and tallies the events of their life, whether they do right and are honorable ,,, or otherwise.

God says, “My anger will not (be quenched) … because of the sinful things YOU have done.  I will punish you for what has come of what YOU have done,” [Jer. 21:12c, 14 NIV] In the context of Jeremiah’s word to the inhabitants of Jerusalem just before Babylon conquered them, they were told to submit to exhile or die in the city. Each had an individual choice.

We have a choice … accept the cleansing blood of Jesus and be forgiven of our offenses, or individually suffer the consequences of sin – ETERNAL DEATH.

CHOOSE LIFE through the life and blood of Christ!

Jeremiah 20

Can you imagine saying, “‘I will not mention (God’s) word or speak anymore in his name,’ His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

For Jeremiah, holding the office and ministry of Prophet to the nation was a painful and difficult thing. He received severe negative pressure from those who were the targets of his warnings from God. He even cursed the day he was born and felt his life was lived in shame. Yet, the impact and power of his prophecies resound even until the present time.

Sometimes it’s not a picnic to be obedient to God’s call upon our lives. In eternity, however, there will be rewards and consequences of GREAT VALUE.

Jeremiah 19

Obstinate, stubborn, difficult to lead, haughty, antagonistic, argumentative … these are words to describe being stiff necked.

It’s not a complimentary description. In fact, you would have to be opposite in every category to be a desirable person.

God used Jeremiah to call out His people who were like this.

When a person is full of God’s Spirit, they are the opposite of being stiff necked. Our goal; to become filled with His Spirit and to see our children filled with It also.

Jeremiah 18

As an educator, I always believed strongly in giving warnings to students whose behavior was not acceptable. The warning clarifies the desired behavior and gives the individual a chance to correct themselves. This is a valuable learning process. Consequences of unheeded warnings must be consistent and proportionate to the offense.

God gives warnings. “If you … then I will …” He is long-suffering and wants us to change. He gives us time and space to repent and correct our ways. We should be the same with people.

Jer. 16, 17

This past weekend I flew to Minnesota to go walleye fishing with my son. We only caught ONE WALLEYE and it was my granddaughter that caught it. It was as if God gave us a gift. That 20+ inch fish seemed to be just waiting for Sydney to cast her bait in its direction.

Jesus sent His disciples into the world to become “Fishers of Men.” God may have a big fish out there just waiting for you to bait your hook with the Good News of the Gospel.

Let’s go fishing!

Jer.15

The Lord challenged Jeremiah to be his spokesperson to israel. One critical condition was that Jeremiah would only flavor his message with what God gave him rather than bending to the will and listening fancies of the people.

To speak for God, you can’t tell people what they want to hear. You must always be faithful to the message God gives us in his word.

Jeremiah 13, 14

Jeremiah pointed it out, Jesus detested it, we are wise to avoid it. HYPOCRISY.

It is often a game people play, holding up an outward appearance of goodness with an inner heart that selfishly serves itself. They decieve only themselves.

Jesus said the pure in heart will see God.