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Jeremiah 12:1-15:21<\/strong><\/span> The Jeremiah readings today may seem to you a bit tough to read. It is certainly sad to read about the coming destruction. As I read through these chapters I think about Jeremiah and how tough it must have been on him to know what was coming. In fact, Jeremiah gives a passionate prayer for the people of Jerusalem in today\u2019s readings in chapter 14 verses 7 through 9.\u00a0 The question that I think sometimes can come up for some as they read chapters like this in the Old Testament is:\u00a0 \u201cIs this the same God we read about in the New Testament?\u201d And I of course believe that absolutely yes this is the same God! The life of Jesus on Earth was obviously in between the time of Jeremiah and the time of you and me today. Jesus\u2019 life, ministry, suffering, death on the cross, and His resurrection saved us from our sins \u2013 and this graceful life of Jesus\u2019 had obviously not taken place in Jeremiah\u2019s time.\u00a0 However, I do also believe that God is very graceful throughout history including all of the Old Testament. Keep in mind that God is often saying in these chapters in Jeremiah: \u201ccome back to me\u201d, \u201crepent\u201d, \u201cabandon your idols\u201d \u2013 and no one listens. God was giving chance after chance after chance of repentance\u2026\u00a0 What about you in your life today?\u00a0 Is God saying to you in any way to \u201ccome back to me\u201d, \u201crepent\u201d, \u201cabandon your idols\u201d?\u00a0 And are you listening?\u00a0 Will you repent?\u00a0 Will you return to the Lord?<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah 12:16 is fascinating for me today: \u201cAnd if these nations quickly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, `As surely as the Lord lives\u2019 (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think that\u2019s powerful that God is saying if these foreign nations (i.e. not Israel \/ Judah) learn to swear by His name that they will be giving a place among His people. It reminds me of Peter\u2019s dream & realization in <\/span>Acts chapter 10<\/span> that the Gospel was not just for the Jews but for the Gentiles too!<\/span><\/p>\n I love the exchanges between God and Jeremiah in chapter 15.\u00a0 Today in Jeremiah 15:16, we read these words of Jeremiah\u2019s to God: \u201cWhen your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart\u2019s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.\u201d<\/em> What does this verse mean to you? Can you eat God\u2019s words? Can they feed you? Spiritually? Are you being fed by God\u2019s Word through the One Year Bible daily readings? Are God\u2019s words your joy and your heart\u2019s delight? Are you making it a practice to memorize scripture? Would this practice help you in making God\u2019s words your joy and heart\u2019s delight?\u00a0 What does it mean to bear God\u2019s name?\u00a0 Is God\u2019s name written on your heart? How else are you being fed by God, in addition to his Word?\u00a0 Are you being fed by attending and investing in a church each week?\u00a0 Do you think that church, the bride of Christ, can spiritually feed you?\u00a0 Is there any reason to refuse this spiritual food?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:\u00a0 <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Phil Wickham\u2019s song \u201cHymn of Heaven:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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