Jeremiah 35:1-36:32 ~ 1 Timothy 5:1-25 ~ Psalm 89:14-37 ~ Proverbs 25:25-27
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Old Testament - Jeremiah chapter 35 today is a fantastic example of obedience from the Recabites! Interestingly, the Recabites are being obedient to a human's word... This stands in stark contrast to the Israelites disobedience to God's Word... Do we do this sometimes in our lives? Obey human words and disobey God's Word?
Jeremiah 36 is a great chapter. It is awesome to read about the writing down of God's words to Jeremiah on a scroll by Baruch! Unfortunately, that first scroll gets burned. Pretty crazy to think about King Jehoiakim listening to God's words in the scroll and then burning it as he listens... I love how today's readings end in verse 32: "Then Jeremiah took another scroll and dictated again to his secretary Baruch. He wrote everything that had been on the scroll King Jehoiakim had burned in the fire. Only this time, he added much more!" You better believe God had Jeremiah add much more to the 2nd scroll after King Jehoiakim cut up and burned the first scroll!
New Testament - First Timothy 5:8 is a powerful teaching from Paul today: "But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers." This is such a great reminder to care for our parents as they get older! I have seen some family members and friends do this for their parents - and uncles and other relatives - and it is such a blessing to see in action. This reminds me of the commandment of "Honor your father & mother." What a blessed way to honor your father and mother by caring for them when they are older!
First Timothy 5:24 is so important: "Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later." There is so much I could say about this verse. First and foremost, I think each of us needs to consider this verse in our own lives. Are there sins in our life that no one else knows about? Do you think that God knows about these secret sins? Do you think those secret sins will indeed eventually be revealed? I recently heard Dennis Prager (radio talk show host) talking about secrets. And basically he made the point that none of us should have secrets in our life because if we do those secrets will not "keep" - they'll spoil us inside and, worst case, someday they could explode in horrendous ways. Prager made the comment that someone in our life needs to know absolutely everything in our life. (not that everyone in our life needs to know everything - but at least one person does) He ranked this in order of who he thought should know everything about us: 1. your spouse 2. a good trusted friend. 3. a clergy or professional counselor. It was interesting that Prager did make the point that he didn't think that your child(ren) need to know absolutely everything - but someone does... Obviously, we all know that God knows everything about us. But, I think there is so much truth in that one of the key ways to rid ourselves of a secret sin is to bring it out of the dark and into the Light by sharing that secret with someone else. And if it's a continuing sin, ask that person for help and accountability. Let us not wait until we meet the Lord face to face for us to rid ourselves of the rotten burden of secrets! Let us shine a Light on the secrets now for healing & peace!
Psalms - I love Psalm 89:15 today! "Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord." Do you hear the joyful call to worship in your life? Do you worship God with a community of believers each week? (i.e. at a church... be it a house church or regular church or some church...) Will you choose to walk in the light of God's presence each week?
Proverbs - Proverbs 25:6 today is strong: "If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring." Is there an area in your life where you might be compromising? Will you return to the pure spring water of life? Where can you find the pure spring water of life? Will you stop polluting in your own life?
Proverbs 25:7 is strong too - "Just as it is not good to eat too much honey, it is not good for people to think about all the honors they deserve." Do you think we sometimes focus too much on honors and recognition? Can this cloud our sight of God? Why are we sometimes so attracted to all the honors "we deserve..."? What do these honors gain us in the end? Can these honors even become idols in our lives?
Worship God - Today's readings reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Love take me over:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn5mi5G9RQY
Has love taken you over? Click here for true Love!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you watch your life and your doctrine closely each and every day. Pray that you persevere in your faith daily through a saving faith and relationship in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.
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
Jeremiah 35
15
I have sent you prophet after prophet to tell you to turn from your wicked ways and to stop worshiping other gods, so that you might live in peace here in the land I gave to you and your ancestors. But you would not listen to me or obey.
16
The families of Recab have obeyed their ancestor completely, but you have refused to listen to me.'
NOTE:
PRAY FOR ME! I am doing a lesson in our cell group on Friday evening about “the shoes of Peace”, part of the armor of God.
Ephesians 6
15
And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
PEACE. We will ONLY experience it if we yield to the Lord, listen to His Word, repent, and invite the Spirit to indwell and govern our lives.
Jeremiah 36
3
Perhaps the people of Judah will repent if they see in writing all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings."
NOTE:
God paid for salvation in the Lord Jesus. In fact, that the Father no longer counts sins against them! However, without repentance, they cannot receive forgiveness!
2 Corinthians 5 (Amplified)
19
It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).
I Timothy 5
8
But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers.
QUESTION / NOTE:
I admit that I am still seeking the Lord about how to understand loyalty to family and loyalty to Jesus. TRUE PEACE is rooted in ALWAYS putting the Lord Jesus FIRST, serving Him out of love and worship.
COMPARE what the Holy Spirit said in I Timothy 5:8 with the reality of what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 10 (Amplified):
34
Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35
For I have come to part asunder a man from his father, and a daughter from her mother, and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law—
36
And a man's foes will be they of his own household.
37
He who loves [and takes more pleasure in] father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me;
~~~
As I try to understand how to put these two passages together, I come up with this:
a. God always calls us to truly love our relatives, but ALWAYS to love the Lord Jesus MORE.
b. Even if our family is against us, or disowns us, as we follow the Lord Jesus, we are ALWAYS called to find ways to provide for them.
“As far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
Proverbs 25
6
"If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring."
NOTE:
This verse makes me realize that we need to take great care about the deep friendships we have and the people we marry. If we make a covenant with these friends or with a spouse, we will pollute our lives!
1 Corinthians 15 (Amplified)
33
Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.
2 Corinthians 6 (Amplified)
14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?
15
What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16
What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Vance
Posted by: Ramona | October 19, 2013 at 09:55 PM