August 6 - Jeremiah 1,2
Jeremiah begins his book by recounting his call to the ministry. He tells us that the Word of the Lord came to him. This is an undeniable representation that God speaks directly to His people and especially to His prophets. I can't over emphasize the need for all of us to hear God when he speaks to us. The first thing God told Jeremiah was that He knew him and He ordained him to be a prophet before he was born. (v.5) This is a wonderful truth about the plans and purposes of God in the lives of individuals. I believe that Jeremiah still had to accept his calling, and he could have rebelled against God and said no to His call. I believe there are many people chosen by God to do His will who have said no to him. That is the major reason why millions of people in the world still don't know the name of Jesus. We have not been faithful to follow the calling of the Lord. Then, God promises to protect Jeremiah. This is a precious assurance of the love of God for His servants. God will never leave you or forsake you as you follow Him and do His will. (v.18,19)
Jeremiah 2 contains the basic message that God told Jeremiah to deliver to the people of Israel and Jerusalem. They had left their first love. (v.2) They had gone after many idols. They had changed from the True and Living God to dead gods. That had never happened in the history of the world. They had left the Living Water for broken cisterns that could hold no water. (v.13) They did not just pursue other gods, they were like a camel in heat. (v.23-25) His people had forgotten Him, and yet they claimed that they had not sinned. (v.35) Does all of this sound familiar? It sounds like the Christians of today in many ways. They go to church, but their lives are consumed by things other than God. They go their own way, even though they know Jesus died for them in His perfect love. I am convinced that God is just as angry against us today as He was with Israel back then, when we are guilty of doing the same thing. Therefore, the book of Jeremiah is very relevant.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 3,4.
Jeremiah 2 contains the basic message that God told Jeremiah to deliver to the people of Israel and Jerusalem. They had left their first love. (v.2) They had gone after many idols. They had changed from the True and Living God to dead gods. That had never happened in the history of the world. They had left the Living Water for broken cisterns that could hold no water. (v.13) They did not just pursue other gods, they were like a camel in heat. (v.23-25) His people had forgotten Him, and yet they claimed that they had not sinned. (v.35) Does all of this sound familiar? It sounds like the Christians of today in many ways. They go to church, but their lives are consumed by things other than God. They go their own way, even though they know Jesus died for them in His perfect love. I am convinced that God is just as angry against us today as He was with Israel back then, when we are guilty of doing the same thing. Therefore, the book of Jeremiah is very relevant.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 3,4.