Jeremiah 33:1-34:22 ~ 1 Timothy 4:1-16 ~ Psalm 89:1-13 ~ Proverbs 25:23-24
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Old Testament - Today in our readings we get the famous Jeremiah 33:3 verse: "'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'" (NIV) Verses 15 & 16 are powerful Messianic verses, harkening back to Jeremiah 23:6 (The Lord Our Righteousness): "In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness."
Verse 22 is a great verse echoing the covenant promises to Abraham: "I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore."
Verse 18 threw me for a loop initially, trying to figure out how this could still be - "nor will the priests, who are Levites, ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.'" I wondered - where are the Levites today? Fortunately, I read a commentary that set me straight - Jesus is fulfilling this ministry for us today! Jesus is our Levitical priest standing before God continually. Beautiful, eh? Do you consider Jesus to be your High Priest?
Jeremiah chapter 34 is interesting with the freedom for the slaves - and then the reversal of that decision. Could this story remind us of our lives at times? Do we sometimes promise God that we'll do something he wants us to do? Maybe even start to do it? And then change our minds? Why are we not consistent with what we tell God we will do? Let us pray for consistency in our spiritual walk!
New Testament - Today in 1 Timothy 4:7-8 we will read: “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” How are you doing on training yourself to be godly? Do you believe this is something you can be trained in? Are you practicing spiritual disciplines on a regular basis? Spiritual disciplines might include: prayer, journaling, quiet time, fasting, retreats, Sabbaths, reading the Bible :), to name a few.
Psalms - Psalm 89 verse 11 is so powerful for us to remember - "The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours--you created it all." Everything in this world is God's. Everything. This means every single person we meet is God's. However... they might not realize it. But, I think it is important for us to remember that every single person we meet - no matter how "bad" they may seem or whatever - is still made in the image of God. And there is the possibility of that person getting to know they are God's. There is the possibility of redemption - not by our human power, but by the power of God. I think sometimes we go through our day thinking the world is bad. People are bad. It all is bad. And certainly, it is a fallen world. But it is still God's world - and yes, the devil is thrashing around his temptations as rapidly as he can in the hearts of men and women. This is the great spiritual battle. But, God is so much stronger than the devil. The name of Jesus expels the devil quicker than anything. So, know that while we are in a fallen world, it is God's world. Everything in this world is God's. What are you and I doing to let others know that they are God's - particularly if they don't know it? What are we doing to bless others with the knowledge that there is another Way than the devil's temptations in this world? What are we doing? Really. What are we doing with our lives to let others know about Jesus? Whew... this one gets to me for some reason. There are people suffering so much in our world. If only they knew there was another way.... Will you help to show them to the Way?
Continuing on the thoughts in the paragraph above - take a moment to reflect on this image below. Wow... Can you make out the angel on the right coming from the prayers of the woman to defend her from the evil one? Who are we praying for today to defend them from the evil one?
Proverbs - Today's Proverbs chapter 25 verses 23 & 24 teach us: "As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home." These verses are great teachings of - 1. don't gossip. 2. don't be contentious. Or if you are a gossip or if you are contentious, then you just might find your spouse hiding from you in the attic... :)
YouTube: I've had a lot of great conversations lately with people about the power of not only reading Scripture, but actually listening to it! I know many of you are following along in our One Year Bible readings using the Bible on Radio link on the left or are listening on Bible Gateway. Last year I listened to the Bible using "The Bible Experience." It is fantastic - see the video below for an overview. Does anyone have any other audio Bible versions you could recommend in the Comments section below? Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpAQoIuF264
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." First Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you are training yourself to be godly each and every day. Pray that you are pursuing godliness for both the present life and the life to come!
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike
Ahhh, apart from God everything is dead---but we serve a God that majors in resurrected lives; resurrected relationships; resurrected communities. The things that have been burnt up, crushed down and flatten because they became marred in the Potter’s Hands, God reworks—brings back to life, Hallelujah. Not only is our Lord and Savior resurrected and no longer on the cross; but the mercies of God give us assurance that the dead things will be brought back to life.
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword; They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city. Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. (Jer 33:1-7)
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | October 18, 2013 at 07:55 PM
I have the New Testament version of the Bible Experience. It is wonderful!
Posted by: art | October 19, 2013 at 06:09 AM
WOW, thanks for posting, Mike. Glad I backtracked on the days I missed reading. TYG! Perfect gift for a family of 8 that are being baptized this Sunday...Sharing on fb. Too good not to share! "Even the stones would cry out..."
Posted by: anonymous | October 21, 2013 at 11:49 AM