October 23, 2006 - Jeremiah 1-2 and I Timothy 3
Jeremiah was a man called by God to deliver His message to God's people. It is hard for us to imagine that God appointed him even before he was born, but I remind you that Jeremiah still could have said no to his appointment like Jonah did. (1:5) God promised to protect Jeremiah, because He knew that His word would not be popular for the disobedient people to hear. (1:8,18) However, we know that God works that way. He always sends His word to warn people before He sends the punishment. I know that all of us will be challenged as we read about Jeremiah and about the Israelites in this great book.
Chapter 2 is so powerful in describing the sins of the people. They had divorced God, so they could follow dead idols. (v.4) Did God do anything wrong to cause this divorce? No, it was all their crazy choice. They traded flowing rivers of fresh water from the Lord for broken cisterns that could not even hold their stagnant water. (v.13) They forsook the Lord after all of His blessings to them in the wilderness. They were like a camel in heat chasing after sensual desires. (v.24) They had a different idol for every city, and yet they did not think they had sinned at all. (v.28, 35) What an indictment of God's people, but I am afraid it is not that different from today. The idols today just take on different forms, but whatever takes the place of God is an idol. God is calling us back to Himself now, as Jeremiah was calling the people back to God then.
I Timothy 3 is a New Testament version of the same story. God calls out bishops or overseers and deacons to lead out in ministry and deliver His word. Why does He call these men to ministry? It is so that all of the people of God can know how to conduct themselves as members of the church. (v.14) It is so that we can all fulfill the mystery of godliness. (v.16) Since we belong to God, we must act like His children by the power of His Spirit in us. We must live in godliness and not in idolatry. The more things change; the more they stay the same.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 3-5 and I Timothy 4.
Chapter 2 is so powerful in describing the sins of the people. They had divorced God, so they could follow dead idols. (v.4) Did God do anything wrong to cause this divorce? No, it was all their crazy choice. They traded flowing rivers of fresh water from the Lord for broken cisterns that could not even hold their stagnant water. (v.13) They forsook the Lord after all of His blessings to them in the wilderness. They were like a camel in heat chasing after sensual desires. (v.24) They had a different idol for every city, and yet they did not think they had sinned at all. (v.28, 35) What an indictment of God's people, but I am afraid it is not that different from today. The idols today just take on different forms, but whatever takes the place of God is an idol. God is calling us back to Himself now, as Jeremiah was calling the people back to God then.
I Timothy 3 is a New Testament version of the same story. God calls out bishops or overseers and deacons to lead out in ministry and deliver His word. Why does He call these men to ministry? It is so that all of the people of God can know how to conduct themselves as members of the church. (v.14) It is so that we can all fulfill the mystery of godliness. (v.16) Since we belong to God, we must act like His children by the power of His Spirit in us. We must live in godliness and not in idolatry. The more things change; the more they stay the same.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 3-5 and I Timothy 4.