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Scripture for the day: Jeremiah 26:2, 8b-9 "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word' ... the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, "You will surely die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord?" ... and all the people were against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord."
Thought for the day: (Ten years ago, I wrote the following) The story of Jeremiah is a difficult one for us to read sometimes, unless we've developed the ability to so remove ourselves from the truth contained in it that we don't recognize ourselves. He spoke to a people teetering on the edge of destruction, very near being taken away into captivity in Babylon, and so hard hearted they couldn't see the truth of their own predicament. The harder he preached and the more completely he bared his soul to these people, the greater was their scorn and hatred for him. Is it any wonder Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet? I'm sure their stiff-necked reactions to the word of the Lord was enough to make even a grown man cry.
To make matters worse, they'd already killed one prophet for saying the same things Jeremiah was preaching! I feel pretty certain the young prophet was at least a little concerned for his own future. But preach he must and only the words God had given him, however difficult and heartbreaking they were. Remember, when he told the people they would be taken away into captivity for 70 years, he was speaking of himself as well. Fortunately, times have changed, haven't they? People are much more willing to listen today than in his time, aren't they? Or are they?
When Jesus came on the scene hundreds of years later, what did He find? He saw the leaders of His day doing the same thing as their ancestors had done and said to them, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, `If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar." (Matt. 23:29-33)
And what did Paul say just a few years later? "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3,4)
Sound doctrine and stern warnings seem to be a thing of the past but we know from experience they are often the only thing that will turn mankind's heart away from evil and toward the Lord. The heart wrenching shame of it all is when otherwise good people won't hear of impending destruction, even when there is still time to reverse the effects of disobedience. We want only to hear the good, the positive, the reassuring parts of God's Word and disregard the dire warnings He gives concerning the heart that turns from Him.
Well, I have some good news for you. Though difficult times will always come, and there are always consequences for failing to listen to the warnings of God's prophets, He has not forsaken us. If only the people had listened as intently to Jeremiah when he said, "For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." (29:11-13)
Oh, the warnings are there and should be taken very seriously. But they're only there to incite God's people to seek His face and pray and humble themselves before Him. We must heed God's warnings even as we rejoice in His grace. (nothing has changed since the last time I shared this with you).
Now go take on your world. - Bill