Judgment and mercy

Today's Readings:  Ezekiel 5:1-17, 6:1-14, 7:1-27, 8:1-18, 9:1-11

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world.  Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me." Ezekiel 6:8-9a

This was the message from the Lord after he had told Ezekiel to proclaim how the Lord would destroy the mountains and peoples of Israel.  The Lord told, in graphic detail, how the people would be destroyed alongside their idols.  Even in all the destruction, though, the Lord shows mercy.  There would be those spared who escaped and scattered.  But, even with the mercy comes discipline.  Those exiled would always remember the wrath of the Lord because of their unfaithfulness.

My response to God: You are a mighty God.  Help me Lord to always respect your power and might.  Thank you for your faithfulness to me and give me the strength to be ever faithful to you.  Help me to learn from those who came before me.  Lead me away from their wicked ways and closer to you.

Let it shine

Today's Readings: Ezekiel 3:16-27, 4:1-17; Jeremiah 27:1-22, 28:1-17, 51:59-64

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"If I warn the wicked, saying, You are under the penalty of death, but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins.  But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.  If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die.  And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins.  None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.  But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too." Ezekiel 3:18-21

Ouch.  This was the message given from the Lord to Ezekiel upon appointing him as a watchman for Israel.  The Lord told him to pass along to the people all warnings given to him.  When I first read this, I realized that I need to be more like Ezekiel.  If I do not share with other of Christ's love, then they may die in their sins because of my failure.  It is not all about me and my relationship with Christ, but also how I share that with my family, my friends, my acquaintances and anyone else I have the opportunity to share it with.  I am not supposed to hide it under a bushel, but let it shine.

My response to God: Oh, God in Heaven, give me the energy and desire to let your love shine out through my living.  Remind me that it is all about you, Lord.

Are you overwhelmed?

Today's Readings: Jeremiah 37:11-21, 38:1-28; Ezekiel 1:1-28, 2:1-10, 3:1-15

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"'But, I am afraid to surrender,' the king said, 'for the Babylonians may hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me!' Jeremiah replied, 'You won't be handed over to them if you choose to obey the Lord. Your life will be spared, and all will go well for you.'" Jeremiah 38:19-20

If you choose to obey the Lord.  Yes, I know that is not a complete sentence, but it is a completely perfect thought.  It is a bold and direct.  In King Zedekiah's case, his life would be spared 'if he chose to obey the Lord'.  I think this is a phrase each and every one of us can use to help us make everyday decisions in our lives.  If you choose to obey the Lord, what will happen in your life?

"The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord's hold on me was strong.  Then I came to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River.  I was overwhelmed and sat among them for seven days." Ezekiel 3:14-15
Do you ever have those days where you are just so overwhelmed that you feel like you could just sit for seven days?  I know I have those days.  In fact, I am having one today, although I am sure it is not anything like the overwhelming feeling had by Ezekiel.  But, we all can learn from this passage that the Spirit can be with us, too, to help us through the turmoils and bitterness that comes our way.

My response to God:  Lord, show me the wonderful things that can happen in my life if I just choose to obey you.  Make it irresistible to me.  Help me to see those things that will draw me to you even in bitterness and turmoil of the day.  Let your Spirit lift me up and keep your hold strong on me to get me through what seems to me to be overwhelming.

A call for prayer

Today's Readings: Jeremiah 37:1-10, 51:15-58, 52:1-3a; 2 Kings 24:10-20a; 1 Chronicles 3:10-16; 2 Chronicles 36:10-14

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"But neither King Zedekiah not his attendants nor the people who were left in the land listened to what the Lord said through Jeremiah.  Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to ask Jeremiah, 'Please pray to the Lord our God for us.'"  Jeremiah 37:2-3

"For the Lord is a God who gives just punishment; he always repays in full." Jeremiah 51:56b

It is amazing to me how bold people can be.  Jeremiah has spent all of this time telling the people how they are brazenly disobeying the Lord, yet when they feel the need they come right out and ask him to pray to the same Lord on their behalf.  In this particular instance, the Lord responded by telling Jeremiah to tell the King of Judah (Zedekiah) that the Babylonians will be coming back to destroy the city.

My response to God: Lord, help me to not be like the people of Judah who only go to you when they need your protection.  Draw me to you through your Word and through your Holy Spirit.  Let me never stray away from your presence.  Remind me daily to show my love for you by loving those around me.

A new covenant

Today's Readings: Jeremiah 31:15-40, 49:34-39, 50:1-46, 51:1-14

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?" says the Lord. "I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That's why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him." Jeremiah 31:20

"'The day is coming,' says the Lord,'when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,' says the Lord. 'But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,' says the Lord. 'I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, 'You should know the Lord.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will now me already.' says the Lord. 'And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.'" Jeremiah 31:31-34

What a glorious day it will be when everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know the Lord already.  The day of the new covenant is coming.  May we all be ready to be a part of it.

My response to God: Glorious God, I ask you to forgive my wickedness and never again remember my sins.  Prepare me for your return.  Make my heart yearn for you.

Work for peace

Today's Readings: Jeremiah 23:33-40, 24:1-10, 29:1-32, 30:1-24, 31:1-14

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: 'Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile.  Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.'" Jeremiah 29:4-7

"But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:10b-11

"You will be my people, and I will be your God." Jeremiah 30:22

This was from the letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, and prophets, and all the people how had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.  This was done following Jeremiah's vision from the Lord about the good and the bad figs.   The good figs represented those who had been exiled to Babylon.  This letter to the exiles was to encourage them and let them know that the Lord would be caring for them and how the Lord wanted them to live their lives while in exile.  I think this encouragement is applicable to us today: make the most of our lives where we are, work for peace and prosperity, and listen to the Lord and his guidance until he comes back for us.

My response to God:  I thank you, Heavenly Father, for your faithfulness to me -- just like you were faithful to those exiled to Babylon.  Please keep me in constant remembrance of my purpose here on earth and how you want me to live my life until your return.  Guide me to 'work for peace' where you have put me. 

False prophets

Today's Readings: Jeremiah 22:24-30, 23:1-32, 49:1-33; 2 Kings 24:5-9

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"But I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the countries where I have driven them.  I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number.  Then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again.  Not a single on will be lost or missing. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Jeremiah 23:3-4

"Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes.  They are making up everything they say.  They do not speak of the Lord! They keep saying to those who despise my word, 'Don't worry! The Lord says you will have peace!' And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires, they say, 'No harm will come your way!'"  Jeremiah 23:16-17

"I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, 'This prophecy is from the Lord!' I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin.  I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people.  I, the Lord have spoken!"  Jeremiah 23:31-32

This could be today, with all the churches that are teaching that the Lord just wants us to be happy.  Yes, he wants us to be a joyful people, but he wants that joy to come from him.  In order to receive that joy and peace, we must walk on the path with the Lord.  

My response to God:  Guide me down the path toward you, Lord.  Help me to recognize the 'smooth-tongued' false prophets of today so that I can steer clear of their path.