October 25, 2006 - Jeremiah 6-8 and I Timothy 5
There are many lessons we can learn from these three chapters in Jeremiah that are very relevant for us today. God has not changed, and people still have the same bent to sin. I pray that God will speak to each of us in these chapters and from Timothy.
The people sinned, because they did not delight in God's Word. (6:10b) It was not just that they did not read it. Their heart was not in it, when they did read it. Their thoughts were not on the Lord, so He punished them for the fruit of their thoughts. (6:19) What is the fruit of your thoughts? Israel had the same fruit that people today will have, if their thoughts are not on the Lord. (7:9) There is a long list of sins that come from the heart, if we allow our minds to concentrate on the wrong things. God always expects obedience for this reason. (7:23) Our rituals are meaningless to Him, if they are not backed up by a heart that is true to Him and a mind that is stayed on Him.
I Timothy 5 explains how Timothy was to treat the church members, and how the church was to take care of widows in certain circumstances. That is an example of being obedient to the Lord and having the right fruit of the mind. We are not to be focused on our services of worship, but on people. It is more important to live right, than to have great music or wonderful sermons. God is looking for true hearts set on His will.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 9-11 and I Timothy 6.
The people sinned, because they did not delight in God's Word. (6:10b) It was not just that they did not read it. Their heart was not in it, when they did read it. Their thoughts were not on the Lord, so He punished them for the fruit of their thoughts. (6:19) What is the fruit of your thoughts? Israel had the same fruit that people today will have, if their thoughts are not on the Lord. (7:9) There is a long list of sins that come from the heart, if we allow our minds to concentrate on the wrong things. God always expects obedience for this reason. (7:23) Our rituals are meaningless to Him, if they are not backed up by a heart that is true to Him and a mind that is stayed on Him.
I Timothy 5 explains how Timothy was to treat the church members, and how the church was to take care of widows in certain circumstances. That is an example of being obedient to the Lord and having the right fruit of the mind. We are not to be focused on our services of worship, but on people. It is more important to live right, than to have great music or wonderful sermons. God is looking for true hearts set on His will.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 9-11 and I Timothy 6.