(click on the link above for today's readings)
Jeremiah 44:24-47:7 ~ 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17
Psalm 94:1-23 ~ Proverbs 26:6-8
Jeremiah 44:28 jumps out at me in today's readings - ""Only a small number will escape death and return to Judah from Egypt." This verse reminds me that God is continuing to preserve the line - the house of David. God will destroy most of the Israelites in Egypt for their unfaithfulness & idol worship, but he will preserve a remnant. Seems we see this over and over in the Bible - even Noah & the flood comes to mind, pre-David of course.
Jeremiah 45 is a short chapter. Baruch I believe is the person who has basically written this book of Jeremiah. He was Jeremiah's secretary and wrote down everything. However, apparently being secretary for a prophet is a high stress job too. Baruch is sounding a bit burdened in this chapter... To which God gives him words of comfort, along with a brief warning in verse 5 - "Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don't do it! "
Are we seeking great things for ourselves? Should we do it.... ? Whom should we be seeking great things for?
Jeremiah chapter 46 starts about 6 chapters of prophecies against various nations. Starting with Egypt in 46 and Philistine in 47 today. Reading some of the verses in these 2 chapters today remind me of the Lord of the Rings movies.... a nice reminder of how our modern culture influences our imaginations, eh... :)
2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 22 hits hard today - "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. " Notice that first word - Run. Flee. Go the other way. U-turn. Don't hang around. Run.
Do we run from things that stimulate lust in our lives? Do we really Run? Fast?
That same verse continues on with some encouraging words - "Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." I like that - pursue faith. Pursue love. Pursue peace. And - enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." I do pray you have some relationships like this in your life? They can provide you such great rest & rejuvenation. A small group in your church may be a great way to find these types of relationships if you don't have them currently. Community can be messy & tough & scary - but it's so worth it. Please pursue community with other believers. And please do continue to have relationships with others in your life too. Just sometimes those old relationships can tend to bring us down / pull us back to old habits. Pursue faith. Pursue love. Pursue peace.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 are just 5 powerful verses that deserve being re-read here in whole -
"You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that."
How are we doing personally on these areas above?
Okay, and then verses 16 and 17 just make One Year Bible bloggers like myself smile.... :) -
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do."
Do you believe these verses to be true? Do you believe that Scripture is inspired by God? And useful to teach us what is true? And make us realize what is wrong in our lives?
Psalm 94 verse 14 jumps out - "The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his own special possession." I love this thought - that God will not reject us. He will not abandon us. We are his own special possession.
Proverbs 26 verse 8 today - "Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot." I think it's just fun to visualize tying a stone to a slingshot and how that might be a bad idea... :)
What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings? Please post up in the Comments section below!
Grace,
Mike
Thank you so much for having this site available. I am doing these readings together with my children and we are having a great time. It is also helping us to stay focused by having something specific to read and think about each day. What stood out to me today was the way the people Jerimiah was talking to were acting--just like 2 Timothy 3:1-5 decribes. Prideful, lovers of themselves, scoffing at God, ungrateful. It is amazing how God would give them such clear warnings, and still they refused to change their ways and obey Him. But maybe we are not as different from them as we would like to think.... That is a good wake up call for me to keep in the word, and to use it for doctrine, instruction, reproof. Thanks again, Mike, for putting this site out there. It really is helpful for staying on track with daily reading and for getting some food for thought about each day's readings.
Posted by: Laura | October 24, 2005 at 11:18 AM