October 27, 2006 - Jeremiah 12-14 and II Timothy 1
In Jeremiah 12-14 we read about God's determination to punish His people, because of the way that they had completely turned away from Him to idols. I believe that what He is saying applies to us as Christians today, if we are not careful to love the Lord with all of our hearts and to serve Him out of that love. Spend some time today considering what God told Jeremiah in this passage and asking yourself if it applies to you and to other believers right now.
God told Jeremiah that the whole land was made desolate because no one took the things of the Lord to heart. (12:11) The people were not taking spiritual things seriously. They came second or third in their lives behind the idols of money, comfort, and recreation. The people had such pride in themselves that God had to destroy their pride as He destroyed the linen sash. (13:11) They were looking for praise, renown, and false glory. He saw that the sin had become a part of their nature. (13:23) God was like a stranger in His own land. (14:8) He came to the point where He was not going to listen to their superficial prayers any more, so He told Jeremiah not to pray for them. (14:11) Then, when it was far too late, they did pray, and they had the audacity to ask God why He was not answering. (14:19) This is so sad. God's people had become so disoriented to God that they made Him a stranger in the land. Today, we could ask the same question in a different way. Is God a stranger in His church? Are the people of God thinking about everything else except for Him and His Word? I pray that we have not come to that point yet, and that we will get back to putting Him first all of the time.
That is what II Timothy 1 is about, too. Timothy had a great heritage in the Lord from his mother and his grandmother. He had been ordained to the ministry. That is what it means by the laying on of hands. However, he may have become timid and fearful. He may have turned his eyes from the Lord to the problems. Therefore, Paul was reminding him that God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind when we were saved. He wants us to remember that truth, too. God is able! Because He is able, we are able, if we will trust Him. (v.12) Some people turn away from the Lord, but they never belonged to Him. Those who truly know Jesus in a personal relationship can trust Him to empower them and guide them all the way to heaven.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 15-17 and II Timothy 2.
God told Jeremiah that the whole land was made desolate because no one took the things of the Lord to heart. (12:11) The people were not taking spiritual things seriously. They came second or third in their lives behind the idols of money, comfort, and recreation. The people had such pride in themselves that God had to destroy their pride as He destroyed the linen sash. (13:11) They were looking for praise, renown, and false glory. He saw that the sin had become a part of their nature. (13:23) God was like a stranger in His own land. (14:8) He came to the point where He was not going to listen to their superficial prayers any more, so He told Jeremiah not to pray for them. (14:11) Then, when it was far too late, they did pray, and they had the audacity to ask God why He was not answering. (14:19) This is so sad. God's people had become so disoriented to God that they made Him a stranger in the land. Today, we could ask the same question in a different way. Is God a stranger in His church? Are the people of God thinking about everything else except for Him and His Word? I pray that we have not come to that point yet, and that we will get back to putting Him first all of the time.
That is what II Timothy 1 is about, too. Timothy had a great heritage in the Lord from his mother and his grandmother. He had been ordained to the ministry. That is what it means by the laying on of hands. However, he may have become timid and fearful. He may have turned his eyes from the Lord to the problems. Therefore, Paul was reminding him that God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind when we were saved. He wants us to remember that truth, too. God is able! Because He is able, we are able, if we will trust Him. (v.12) Some people turn away from the Lord, but they never belonged to Him. Those who truly know Jesus in a personal relationship can trust Him to empower them and guide them all the way to heaven.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 15-17 and II Timothy 2.