November 1, 2006 - Jeremiah 24-26 and Titus 2
How many times have we seen the importance of the "heart" as we have read through the Bible this year? The heart is the key. God looks at the heart. If your heart is right, then God will bless, but if your heart is bad, then, He will punish. You have control over your heart. How is your heart right now?
Jeremiah 24 makes a powerful statement in verse 7. God said that He would give the ones taken into exile a heart to know Him, because they would turn to Him with their whole heart. He was showing everyone the purpose of His punishment. The people had to come to the place where they would listen to God and turn back to Him. Then, He would give them a heart to know Him. Are you the good figs or the bad figs? The good figs were the ones God knew would turn to Him in the exile. The bad figs were the ones He knew would not turn to Him, so He had to destroy them. He was looking into the hearts, and the exile was designed to work on their hearts. In chapter 25 Jeremiah tells them that the exile would last 70 years, but he is quick to add that God would punish the other evil nations, too. God's fairness did not help the people receive the message any better. They wanted to kill Jeremiah for speaking God's Word. In chapter 26 God warns Jeremiah not to pull any punches. (v.2) Finally, they decided not to kill him. There are many people who don't want to hear God's absolute truth. They want to have things their own way. Those people always have trouble with the ones who speak the truth.
Titus 2 gives us more instruction in line with this theme. Paul told Titus to teach all of the people in the church to do God's will. He told Titus to be a good example to them, too. Then, he came to the basic principle in verse 12. God call us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. What is he saying? He is telling Titus to warn them about following the lusts of the flesh. That means doing what they wanted to do, just like the Israelites had done in Jeremiah's time. Then, Paul reminds Titus that he had the authority from God to exhort and rebuke the believers in this process. Why did he have to say that? He knew that many people do not want to hear the truth about following God's Word, even Christians. I pray that we will not be the bad figs, but the good figs. I pray that God can see in our hearts that we want to do His will.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 27-29 and Titus 3.
Jeremiah 24 makes a powerful statement in verse 7. God said that He would give the ones taken into exile a heart to know Him, because they would turn to Him with their whole heart. He was showing everyone the purpose of His punishment. The people had to come to the place where they would listen to God and turn back to Him. Then, He would give them a heart to know Him. Are you the good figs or the bad figs? The good figs were the ones God knew would turn to Him in the exile. The bad figs were the ones He knew would not turn to Him, so He had to destroy them. He was looking into the hearts, and the exile was designed to work on their hearts. In chapter 25 Jeremiah tells them that the exile would last 70 years, but he is quick to add that God would punish the other evil nations, too. God's fairness did not help the people receive the message any better. They wanted to kill Jeremiah for speaking God's Word. In chapter 26 God warns Jeremiah not to pull any punches. (v.2) Finally, they decided not to kill him. There are many people who don't want to hear God's absolute truth. They want to have things their own way. Those people always have trouble with the ones who speak the truth.
Titus 2 gives us more instruction in line with this theme. Paul told Titus to teach all of the people in the church to do God's will. He told Titus to be a good example to them, too. Then, he came to the basic principle in verse 12. God call us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. What is he saying? He is telling Titus to warn them about following the lusts of the flesh. That means doing what they wanted to do, just like the Israelites had done in Jeremiah's time. Then, Paul reminds Titus that he had the authority from God to exhort and rebuke the believers in this process. Why did he have to say that? He knew that many people do not want to hear the truth about following God's Word, even Christians. I pray that we will not be the bad figs, but the good figs. I pray that God can see in our hearts that we want to do His will.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 27-29 and Titus 3.