September 6, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“An Inside Look at How God’s Word Came to Us”

Jeremiah 36:1-8

In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord that he had spoken to him. 5 And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, “I am banned from going to the house of the Lord, 6 so you are to go, and on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people in the Lord’s house you shall read the words of the Lord from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the men of Judah who come out of their cities. 7 It may be that their plea for mercy will come before the Lord, and that every one will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and wrath that the Lord has pronounced against this people.” 8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house.

Many people wonder how the Bible came to be, and how we received what we now consider to be the Holy Scriptures. This chapter of Jeremiah gives us an inside view of how the revelations of God spoken to man became the written word of God that was later canonized and passed down from one generation to another. In fact, this is the only chapter in the entire Old Testament that reveals how the oral message of the prophets took on its written form. As such, this passage represents one of the keys to understanding why it was so important that God’s word be written down.

The context for God’s command for Jeremiah to write down His message was the on-going conflict between the prophet and the kings of Israel. It has been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and it was no different with the royal line of David. In response to the wickedness of these kings, God raised up prophets who would confront these abuses of power with the truth. Often, these corrections were not well received, and the messengers bore the brunt of the kings’ displeasure.   In this case, Jeremiah was banned from entering the temple and censored from speaking.   Given these restrictions, the only way to deliver the message of God was to write it down on a scroll and sneak it into the king’s presence.

More than being just a personal memo from a disgruntled citizen, these written messages took on an authority of their own, or more specifically, they took on the authority of God Himself. In a sense, by being separated away from the personality of the messenger, these words became far weightier than an oral presentation by the prophet. After all, it’s possible to persecute, imprison, and kill a human messenger, but you cannot intimidate words on a scroll. Humans can be forced to recant what they have said, but truth written down will never lie.   Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword, and Scriptures are living proof of that. Though you can silence the voice of man, the word of the Lord will endure forever!

Prayer: Lord, make us a people of one Book. Help us to rediscover the truth of Your Word in a world that has forsaken all these truths for lies. Help us to be committed to reading, studying, and living out Your Word. Though every man be a liar, we know that You will always remain true. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 18

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Questions to Consider

  1. Describe Timothy’s relationship to the Holy Scriptures.
  2. What is the purpose of Scripture?
  3. Why is faithfulness to the Scriptures important, especially today?

Notes

  1. It’s clear that Timothy has a rich history with the word of God. He was acquainted with it from an early age, familiar with its teaching from childhood, and it was taught to him accurately.   Paul now exhorts Timothy to continue in what he has learned and come to firmly believe.
  2. Verse 16 and 17 are great reminders of the purpose of the Scriptures. Too many times, we reduce the word of God to bite-sized slogans of inspiration, but they are so much more than that. It is the basis for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. As we diligently study and apply the word to our lives, it creates spiritual growth, and provides the tools that are necessary to live out the Christian faith. Without them, we have no hope of growing into spiritual maturity and being equipped to face the challenges of life.
  3. In our post-modern and post-Christian world, truth has become more and more arbitrary. We want to hear what we want to hear and driven by our emotions. This is the type of spiritual climate that leads to people listening to only what they want to hear as opposed to what they need to hear. Paul warns against surrounding ourselves with pastors and teachers who cater only to people’s desires, knowing that our emotions can be a poor measure of what is true.

Evening Reflection

Have you spent time in God’s word lately? Although it is helpful to read books about the Scriptures, it is far more important for your spiritual health to go right to the primary source yourself. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to a particular book of the Bible to read, study, and even memorize. Commit yourself to continue in what you have learned and come to believe.

September 5, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“To Listen or Not to Listen”

Jeremiah 35:17-19 (ESV)
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.” 18 But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, 19 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.”

One of the most important Hebrew words for understanding our relationship with God is the word shema, which is the command to listen or to hear.  The first few statements of the Bible remind us that all of creation came into existence as it listened to the voice of God.  By the mere breath of His word, countless millions of galaxies were formed, an endless variety of life was created, and the vastness of the universe came into existence.  All of creation heard His voice and obeyed.  Therefore, it makes sense that a people set apart for Him would be identified by those same characteristics: created by His word, always attentive and ready to listen to that same voice.  It also makes sense that the greatest failure of God’s people would be to ignore His voice and refuse to answer when He calls.

In the book of Jeremiah, we can see that the ultimate destiny of our lives is directly connected to either our fidelity to His word or our refusal to listen. There are only two paths in life: one that is lived in accordance to God’s word, or one that is lived fighting against it.   Unfortunately, the Jewish people at this time in history chose the wrong path, and they brought upon themselves the impending disasters of war and captivity.  The Rechabites, on the other hand, offer a glimmer of hope.  Though they were not racially tied to the Jewish people, they remained as a symbol of faithfulness and adherence to the things of God.  The lineage of the Rechabites can be traced back to the Kenites, the same racial identity of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses.  They are a testament to the fact that God always leaves us with living examples of those who are faithful to Him.

Jesus came to earth into a very familiar situation.  The voice of God had become nothing more than tradition and the following of man-made rules.  And so He came to us as the living Word—the very logos of God as the apostle John describes Him.  Jesus is the perfect Kenite, the perpetual example of One who hears His Father and then lives in accordance to that word.  May we learn to hear as He heard and to obey just as He obeyed.

Prayer: Father, we need to hear Your voice.  The very course of our lives is dependent on this ability to listen and to obey.  Would You give us sensitive hearts that can pick up on the still small voice of Your Spirit?  Would You provide illumination to our minds so that we can see what is in Your Word?  And would You supply the strength of will so that we might live by what we hear?  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Job 17 

Lunch Break Study

Read John 10:1-16: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.  7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the defining characteristic of sheep that belong to Jesus?
  2. How can we distinguish Jesus’ voice from the noise of this world?
  3. Where is Jesus’ voice leading us?

Notes

  1. The primary characteristic is that they hear His voice. One of the ways that ancient shepherds kept their flocks safe was to carry newborn lamb (which are very cute) and nurse them in order to build trust and love.  They would also name them like a family pet and talk or sing to them so that they would recognize the shepherd’s voice.  I have no idea how you would eat this animal after raising it like your baby, but this is something that is practiced today by Bedouin shepherds in the Middle East.  In the evenings, several flocks of sheep will come together to rest and in the morning, the sheep will follow the voice of their own specific shepherd as they hear their name.
  2. The problem in many churches is that we don’t teach the basic foundations of hearing and discerning the voice of God. The starting point of growing this part of your relationship with God is asking yourself the following questions:
    • Are the words that I am hearing scriptural? Are they consistent with biblical principles?
    • Do these words display the character of Christ?
    • Is there anything tainting my hearing, such as hidden motivations?
    • What is the visible fruit of obeying these words?
  3. Jesus desires to lead us to a life of abundance. The promise of Christ isn’t to leave you in the sheep pen but to lead you out into green pastures and by still waters.  In verse 10, He contrasts Himself from the thieves and hired hands who only look to steal and destroy the sheep, but He comes so that you may have life and have it abundantly.  The Greek word translated abundantly literally means “that which goes way beyond necessity.”  The gift of Jesus is life beyond what we could possibly imagine, and following His voice is the only way to get there.

Evening Reflection

Have you taken time today to listen for God’s voice?  Sometimes we can be like children who are too busy with their own activities even to hear their parents yelling at them.  Take time to quiet everything around you, including your phone and media, and focus on hearing with your heart.  Pray that His voice would drown out all the lies of the world and fill you with hope and peace.

September 4, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“To Obey or not to Obey”

Jeremiah 35:8-16 (ESV)

We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, 9 and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed, 10 but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, ‘Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of the Syrians.’ So we are living in Jerusalem.” 12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. 16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me.

In contemporary western Christianity, obedience to God or our lack thereof is seldom addressed.  Pastors and preachers make it seem like obedience is not required in a relationship with God, and they present God’s commands as a suggestion or something that only needs our consideration.  The notion that we have to do something simply because God has commanded us to do those things seems archaic and legalistic.  Everyone wants a reason to obey, but at the same time they reject the best reason for obedience—which is that God has commanded it.

The story of the Rechabites is given to us as an example of obedience to a father’s commands.  As we read yesterday, the prophet Jeremiah purposely tested the faithfulness of these men by putting out wine in front of them, but in observance of their father’s wishes, the Rechabites politely refused the offer. Their loyalty and obedience to an ancestor who has been dead for over 200 years stands in stark contrast to the lack of loyalty of the Jewish people towards the living God.  Even though the commands of Jonadab, their father, seem obscure, irrelevant, and a bit extreme, his sons and their sons after them kept these commands for generations without question.  Sadly, the commands that are given to us by our heavenly Father, laws that we know are written for our benefit, are seldom obeyed with the same level of zeal, commitment, and ardor.

We have become a nation of people who love to give our ceremonial sacrifices to the Lord but have neglected the higher call to obey His Word.  Our churches are still filled to overflowing on Sunday but obedience to the word of God is sorely lacking Monday through Saturday.  One of the main themes of Jeremiah is the importance of obedience above and beyond any religious sacrifice, because in the end, obedience to God is the most accurate measure of our love for God.  A willingness and desire to obey God is the first step in learning how to love God with all of our heart, strength, and mind.

Prayer: Father, as we begin this day, set our hearts on obeying Your voice.   Help us to see that the path of peace, joy, and wellness are found as we faithfully obey Your word.  Give us the resolve to fight our own desires to sin, and teach us to walk in the Spirit so that we might live for You more fully.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Job 16

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 15:17-24 (ESV): And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” 24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

Questions to Consider

  1. What sin was Saul guilty of?
  2. Why did he fall into that sin?
  3. What was the consequence of that sin?

Notes

  1. Saul was guilty of partial obedience. Instead of destroying everything of the Amalekites, Saul and his armies spared the best of the plunder for themselves and only destroyed the things that were worthless.  In fact, the greater sin was not just the act of disobedience but assuming that they could appease God by sacrificing some of their treasures in His name.  It is easy to justify our disobedience with all of our religious activity.
  2. In the end, we see that Saul fell into this sin because of his own insecurities and the pressures of the people around him. Saul clearly understood what God had commanded him, but he could not bring himself to stand up against the desires of the people.  They would have listened to their king, but Saul failed as their leader.
  3. The consequence of sin was the rejection of Saul from being king over Israel. It seems rather harsh, especially in light of what seems like genuine repentance after the fact.  However, it’s evident from this example, and many others to come, that Saul is not a man after God’s own heart.  He is not fit to be the first king of God’s people, and so the throne was rightly taken from him.

Evening Reflection

Every day presents opportunities to either obey God or to disobey.  Therefore, it is important to be sensitive to His voice so that we can grow in our obedience.  Pray that God would give you ears to hear and a heart to understand all that His Spirit is saying.  Take some time to reflect on your day, and to pray over areas of sin so that you might be washed in His forgiveness.

September 3, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from September 3-9 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F. Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“To Drink or Not to Drink”

Jeremiah 35:1-7 (ESV)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.” 3 So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah and his brothers and all his sons and the whole house of the Rechabites. 4 I brought them to the house of the Lord into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold. 5 Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.” 6 But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. 7 You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’

To drink or not to drink, that is the question! I recently read an article on the latest research on alcohol consumption, and the conclusion of the study was that any amount of alcohol is bad for your health. (If you are interested, the study can be found here: http://time.com/5376552/how-much-alcohol-to-drink-study/). We have been told for years that red wine is good for cardiovascular health, but it turns out that any moderate health benefits that you get is outweighed by the other risk factors that come with drinking. Coincidentally, I also talked with a friend who gave up drinking her daily glass of wine, which immediately resulted in a drop in blood pressure and helped decrease her feelings of anxiety.

Although we understand that the consumption of alcohol is a Christian liberty (after all, we have been told at nauseum that Jesus turned water into wine by those who staunchly defend their right to drink), we should note that abstinence from alcohol has always been a mark of special devotion. Going back to the Nazerite vow in Numbers 6, we see that any period of special thanksgiving and focus on God was to be done without any wine for a set period of time. I believe that it would be beneficial for some of us in the church to make a similar vow, because, in honesty, some of us drink too liberally and without any thought to how easily our liberties can turn into license.

Sometimes in life, God places tests in our path to refine our resolve and our obedience. We don’t know much about the Rechabites, but what we do know is that God recognized their noble character and their willingness to be different from the rest of society. As Christians, we too are called to be in the world but not of the world. If our views on alcohol are seen as prudish by the standards of society, then so be it. In the end God will see the motivations of our hearts and whether we decide to drink or not to drink, He alone can measure the things that have been done for His glory.

Prayer: Father, I pray that we would honor You with every area of our lives, even what touches our lips and goes into our bodies. Our bodies are a temple for Your Holy Spirit, and as such, it is not our own but something that has been bought with a price. Help us to understand that no warning or commandment was given to burden us unnecessarily. Give us the grace to be credible witnesses to the world by setting us apart from the world. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 15

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 10:23-33: “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the abiding “rule” that governs the exercise of our Christian liberties?
  2. Why does it matter what others think as long as my conscience is clear?
  3. For what higher purpose should we limit our liberties?

Notes

  1. As we think about the liberties that we have as believers, it is important for us to recognize that just because something is lawful does not mean that it is helpful or even good. Some of the factors that we need to account for is whether something is bad for our health or stumbling to other believers.
  2. In our highly individualized society, we tend to forget that Christianity was meant to be other-centered. How we affect someone else’s conscience is very important in the way we determine the limits of our freedoms. Even if your own personal conscience is clear on a certain issue, you still have to take into consideration the conscience of someone whose faith might be weakened by your action. As Paul writes elsewhere, this is the law of love.
  3. Christians are called to endure limitations to their liberties for the purpose of saving some. Paul makes it clear that he tries to please everyone, not because he is a people pleaser, but because of his overriding mission in life, which is to bring as many people into a saving relationship with Christ as he can. If that means not exercising some of his liberties, that is a small price to pay for the chance to win another priceless soul for Jesus.

Evening Reflection

What does it mean to do all things for the glory of God? We often fall into the temptation of making the glory of God a cliché instead of a driving motivation for life. Today, did you make decisions based on God’s glory?   Consider how your life can best reflect the glory of God, just as Christ was the perfect reflection of His Father’s glory.

September 2, Sunday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

 “Are you free today?”

Jeremiah 34:17

“Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine.”

I don’t know about you, but I do enjoy a bit of humorous sarcasm with friends. So whenever I discover sarcasm in the Bible, it tends to grab my attention. As you know, sarcasm is a literary device in which the speaker actually means the opposite of what is being said.

In this verse, we see God using sarcasm to convey a solemn judgment upon the Israelites. During the time of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, those Israelites who owned slaves had proclaimed freedom for them. They had even made a covenant with God in verse 15 in setting the slaves free. (Note: Friday’s QT revealed that it was not economically advantageous for owners to care for the slaves during the siege.) However, when the siege was lifted (temporarily), these owners quickly cancelled their freedom and forced them to be slaves once again. This breach of the covenant only infuriated the Lord.

So the Lord sends Jeremiah to let the owners know that He too will proclaim “freedom” for them. And just in case the owners did not understand the Lord’s sarcasm, He explained that this “freedom” would bring about their fall by the sword, plague, and famine. The slave owners who were “free” from the covenant would also pay a steep price and longer be protected by the other Party of the covenant, the Lord Almighty.

Today, we believe that we have been given our freedom. We correctly believe that Jesus has set us free from our sins. But some of us erroneously assume that true spiritual freedom means freedom from having to obey God’s commands. Obeying God’s commands is wrongly seen as a path of legalism. However, if we continue to live a life apart from obeying God’s word, that “freedom” would only lead to death (e.g., addictions). Paul says in Gal 5:13 – You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

For the Israelite slave owners, their freedom led them down the path of total destruction. We, too, must not allow our freedom to lead down the path of destruction by disobeying the Lord. Instead, we are to use our freedom to serve others with humility and love.

Prayer: Lord, may the freedom that You have proclaimed in our lives through Your Son, Jesus Christ, lead us to serve others with love and humility. Thank You for the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus. In His Name, Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Job 14

September 1, Saturday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Power of God’s Word” 

Jeremiah 33:2, 4, 10, 12, 17, 20, 25

“This is what the Lord says…”

Some of us are old enough to remember the brokerage firm E.F. Hutton, who was responsible for one of the most indelible advertising campaigns in the 80s. The TV ads closed with the bold statement: “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tG-g-TfBww)

I don’t know whatever happened to E.F. Hutton’s career or brokerage firm, but it’s no longer the household name it used to be. Even though I was in grade school at that time, I was familiar with the name, although I had no clue what the commercial was actually selling. Today, even if E.F. Hutton is still talking, people are no longer listening.

In chapter 33, Jeremiah repeats the phrase, “This is what the Lord says…” at least seven times. The prophet conveys the thought, “When the LORD speaks, people listen.” Not only does Jeremiah want to report accurately, but he is letting the Israelites know just WHO is speaking. When the Lord speaks, He is not merely releasing information. Through His words, not only does He reveal His plans and thoughts, but God also releases His power. A Bible scholar, Mounce, reminds us that “in Hebrew thought a word is not a lifeless sound but an active agent that achieves the intention of the one who speaks.”

Isaiah reminds us this: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

And the Hebrews writer says: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

To better appreciate this immense power of God’s word, one must consider the very first time that the Bible introduces its readers to the word of God; it is at the very beginning in Genesis where God speaks. He speaks into a formless and empty earth, bringing about all that is magnificent, marvelous, and, still today, awe-inspiring. And that powerful Word still speaks to us. At times, His word soothes our pains and our troubles; at times, His word guides us in our confusion and doubts; and at times, His word hammers our hardened hearts (Jer. 23:29), thereby breaking our pride into pieces. Yes, the Lord knows just what to say to us.

E.F. Hutton may be long gone, but the Word of the Lord endures forever!

Bible Reading for Today: Job 12-13

Prayer: Lord, may Your word dwell in my heart. Allow the power of Your word to transform my life into the image of Jesus Christ. In His Name, Amen!

August 31, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Not Placing Trust in Fickle People” 

Jeremiah 34:8-11 (NIV)  

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. 9 Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage. 10 So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. 11 But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.

One experienced pastor once told me, “I love my church members. I just don’t trust them.” That idea stayed with me. Now, I need to be careful so that today’s QT does not inadvertently lead you to more cynicism towards others. I believe the pastor was encouraging me to always love the people around me, while guarding myself from mistakenly placing my trust in them.

Today’s passage takes place during a momentary lifting of the Babylonian siege (cf. 34:21; 37:5, 11); but during the siege, slave owners had actually freed their slaves.  Assuming that the danger was past, however, they decided to take back the slaves, which was contrary to the promise they had made to the Lord. If an Israelite could not pay his debts, he sometimes sold himself, his family, or his children to serve the creditor for a period of years. However, the Mosaic law provided for the freeing of Israelite slaves after six years of servitude (see Exod 21:2–11). Further reading of chapter 34 will reveal how much this infuriated the Lord.

Yesterday, in chapter 33, we looked at the faithfulness of God. Today, we see the fickleness of the human heart. In fact, the reason for the release of the slaves during the time of the siege may have been driven by selfish motives (though the reason is not explicitly stated).  It was not economically practical for the owners to feed and care for the slaves, so they released them to fend for themselves (New American Commentary).

Unfortunately, this picture of people’s sinfulness reminds us all that we cannot and should not place trust in man or even ourselves. Ultimately, all of us have sinned and have fallen deeply short of God’s glory. Not only are we fickle and greedy, but Jeremiah had earlier reminded us: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jer 17:9, NTL). Certainly, we must love one another, but as for placing our trust, let’s place that in our faithful God.

Prayer: Lord, perhaps my disappointments come because I had placed unrealistic expectation on others. Help me to place my trust only in You. And help me to love and serve others, and when necessary forgive others when I’m wronged. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 13:21-35 (NIV): Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Peter’s question to Jesus reveal about our human condition?
  2. What is the master’s expectation from the servant whose debt was cancelled?
  3. According to this parable, what is it like to live in God’s Kingdom?

Notes

  1. The question reveals that in our sinfulness, we have a very limited capacity to show mercy and extend forgiveness.
  2. To practice mercy towards others.
  3. Living in God’s Kingdom allows us to show mercy and forgiveness, even if we have been hurt by others.

Evening Reflection

Are there people in your own life in whom you might be placing too much trust (parents, spouse, friend, co-worker) for your personal well-being? If so, shift your focus on trusting in God as your father, bridegroom, friend, and co-laborer.

August 30, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Placing Trust in our Faithful God”

Jeremiah 33:14-15 (The Message – Selected for easier translation)

19-22 God’s Message to Jeremiah: “God says, ‘If my covenant with day and my covenant with night ever fell apart so that day and night became haphazard and you never knew which was coming and when, then and only then would my covenant with my servant David fall apart and his descendants no longer rule. The same goes for the Levitical priests who serve me. Just as you can’t number the stars in the sky nor measure the sand on the seashore, neither will you be able to account for the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who serve me.’”

I recently engaged in an interesting conversation with a seasoned missionary who had served in several Asian nations. He noted that one of the most difficult challenges he faced was creating and nurturing a united community among the local pastors and leaders. I asked for his explanation of why a united cohort was so difficult to achieve, and his answer was not only informative but quite insightful.

I would have assumed that personality differences, feelings of jealousy, miscommunication, divergent philosophy of ministry, doctrinal variances, etc. would have been the myriad of obstacles. However, he explained that when people grow up in nations, societies, and cultures where their gods cannot be trusted due to fickleness and unpredictability, the citizens end up assuming that NOBODY can be trusted. In other words, if their best “gods” couldn’t be trusted, why would anyone trust another imperfect human being?

Britannica article writes: “Cruel and fickle, passionate and vindictive, jealous and insecure, petty and insane: the inhabitants of Mount Olympus represent an attempt by the ancient Greeks to explain the chaos of the universe through human nature.” (https://www.britannica.com/list/12-greek-gods-and-goddesses)

A monumental difference in the God of Israel and the gods of the world is: faithfulness. His word and His promises are as certain as “day and night.” His faithfulness gave the Israelites hope, even in the middle of despair and defeat at the hands of the Babylonians. The theme of God’s faithfulness runs all throughout Scripture. He certainly wanted us to know that He can fully be trusted, as certain as day and night.

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I’m the one who is fickle while You remain faithful. Thank You for being so patient with me. Help me to more deeply understand and appreciate Your faithfulness. My hope is in You and Your promises. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 91:1-6 (NIV): Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Questions to Consider 

  1. According to verse 1-2, how can you grow in your confidence of the Lord’s faithfulness?
  2. What is the certainty of this psalmist in relationship to God?
  3. What do you observe about the nature of God’s faithful protection in verses 5-6?

Notes 

  1. Verse 1 invites us to dwell in the shelter of God. Verse 2 encourages us to declare that God is our refuge and fortress.
  2. The psalmist is certain of his protection by God from enemies, harm, and attacks.
  3. The protection is given day and night.

Evening Reflection 

How has God revealed His faithfulness in your own life? Give God praise and thanksgiving declaring that you trust His faithfulness.

August 29, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Better Days Coming” 

Jeremiah 33:14-15 (NIV)

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.

Survey: If an expectant mother listens to Mozart, will her child actually be smarter when he/she is born? (If you are curious, feel free to search for “Mozart Effect” later for all kinds of responses.)

All parents long for a better and brighter future for their children. Parents hope that their children will not make the same mistakes they’ve made along the way. Parents hope that their children will have richer relationships than they’ve built. Parents hope that their children will discover a deeper satisfaction in their vocation. And so forth. With those aspirations in mind, parents today will go over and beyond (convinced by every book on raising kids) attempting to provide their children with a perfect combination of educational classes, physical activities, music lessons, healthy foods, virtuous friendships, etc. to ensure the success of their children. But what if a better future of our children can only be guaranteed by the Lord?

The people of Judah were heading into impending doom and punishment. For 70 years, they would be captives under Babylonian Empire (Jer 29:10). This was the discipline for the people of God as a result of their disobedience and idolatry. However, at the end of 70 years, Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem once again will be inhabited and restored. The Lord would not abandon His people; rather, he will “fulfill the good promise.”

For all of the Jewish parents, this was good news. Not only will their children (and grandchildren) have a better future, but they would have a reestablished spiritual future. God would raise a “righteous Branch” from the line of King David who would restore God’s justice and righteousness. (We now understand that that was a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ.) This was a guarantee from the Lord. Parent who were held in Babylonian captivity were given the good news to remind their children that a better future was soon coming, that a better spiritual future is just around the corner. The parents pointed the children towards a line of David because only He would guarantee a better future.

Perhaps a child may be smarter for having listened to Mozart while in the mother’s womb. But I guarantee that any child will stand in justice and righteousness if he/she encounters Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, You promised that You would one day return and bring back the fulness of God’s Kingdom. Thank you for this promise and the good news. I pray that Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as is in Heaven. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Job 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 3:1-2 (CEB): My son, don’t forget my instruction. Let your heart guard my commands, 2 because they will help you live a long time and provide you with well-being.

Prov 26:10 (NIV): Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Questions to Consider

  1. What helps young children to eventually live a long and well-being life (another translation suggest “successful” life)?
  2. What are the potential outcomes for a young child’s life when raised in the Lord’s instructions?
  3. Are there exceptions to the rule (good parentingàgood kids; bad parentingàbad kids)? Think of King Saul, an unrighteous king, and his son Jonathan who stood for God’s righteousness throughout his short life (1 Sam. 23:16-18). What does that mean?

Notes

  1. To not forget God’s instructions. To guard God’s commands in their hearts. Starting with God’s commands as children.
  2. Although wisdom literature does not make absolute guarantees, one can expect to live a long life of well-being and remain on the path of wisdom.
  3. Having good kids is also God’s grace, a merited favor.

Evening Reflection

In what ways have you invested into the next generation with God’s word? (Parents, spend a few moments reading God’s word.)

August 28, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Where to Find God’s Best Work”

Jeremiah 33:10-13 (NIV)

“This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord. 12 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate and without people or animals—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. 13 In the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.

In the widely used Experiencing God booklet, the author reminds us of the first spiritual principle in order to live a God-centered life as opposed to a self-centered one: God is always at work around you. And as God works around us, He then invites us to join Him in His work. Naturally, the question rises, “If God is always at work, just where around us is He working right now?” This section of Jeremiah provides us with a clue in how to discover God’s work—one of His best work.

Jeremiah had been placed in confinement in the courtyard of King Zedekiah, because he had been delivering unbearable news that Israel would fall at the hands of the Babylonians. (It was bad enough that Jerusalem was under a siege; the last thing the people needed to hear was the bad news confirming what was inevitable.) But during Jeremiah’s confinement, God comes to bring some hopeful news. He foretells Jeremiah that one day (about 70 years from the fall of Jerusalem), these streets that are “deserted, inhabited, and desolate” will once again hear “sounds of joy and gladness.” Eventually, shepherds will lead their flock in pastures to rest their flocks. These are words filled with renewal and hope, as a city that is dead will one day come to enjoy life.

Life has a way of inviting enough challenges and difficulties that can eventually lead to despair and sometimes even depression. At this stage, we can feel totally alone; not only that, but we can be so tired, that we are tired of being tired. There seems to be absolutely no way that anything will turn our lives around. It is safe to assume that the people of Israel probably felt that they had seen the last days of their once glorious city.

Yet, this is precisely the place where God does His best work—that is, taking what is dead and giving it life. God does His best work when there seems to be no humanly possible solution.

Are you trying to figure out where God is at work around you? Perhaps you can start by looking for people who may have hit rock-bottom, ministries that seem to have hit a dead-end, or circumstances that are beyond human effort and wisdom. Ask God what He’s doing in those situations, and you might hear God share His plans to rebuild and renew. He just might invite you to join Him as well.

Prayer: Lord, show me where You are working around me. Instead of judging others who are struggling or looking at situations with pessimism, help me to see what You might be doing? In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 8

Lunch Break Study

Read John 11: 38 – 44 (NIV): Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Martha’s response to Jesus’ request to take away the stone reveal about her belief?
  2. Think about the “they” who took away the stone. What does this action reveal about these unnamed people?
  3. As Jesus prays to the Father, what “benefit” is Jesus hoping that others might receive?

Notes

  1. Martha notes that Lazarus had been dead for “four” days. In popular Jewish belief the human spirit hovered near the body for three days, then departed as the color of the corpse began to change. Normally death would be irrevocable and all hope abandoned for one buried four days (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 12:6; Leviticus Rabbah 18:1).
  2. Whether or not they had faith, “they” did as Jesus instructed.
  3. The benefit is for those who hear Jesus’ prayer to believe in Jesus.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time praying for someone who might be going through an impossible situation. Ask God to do His best work in that person’s life.