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"Worse than Their Fathers..."

5/20/2015

Jeremiah 16:10-12 And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

"The Lord our God?" This was surely in name only. Each Israelite was raised with the knowledge that he was part of a nation that was different than all other nations. They were chosen by God as His special people. They knew the history of being rescued from slavery in Egypt, following Moses for forty years of wilderness wanderings, and bravely fighting with Joshua as Israel defeated nation after nation to take control of the land God had promised to Abraham. The history was a given. Everyone knew the stories.
But their fathers had chosen to forsake God. They knew the history to be true, but little by little, their hearts had turned from following God and had absorbed the ways of the pagan cultures around them.

Then these people who had forsaken God began to have children. Whereas the parents had a reference point of following God at some point in their lives, their children were now being raised without that knowledge. The children knew the history, but "did worse than their fathers" since they started out with no godly foundation. The only way of life they knew was "walking after the imagination of their evil hearts." God sent prophets to proclaim His Word, to remind His people who they were and what His laws were, and to plead with them to return to Him and avoid coming judgment. But the children had no concept of who God was. They knew only the gods they had been introduced to by their idol-worshiping parents. What a sad state of affairs they were in!

And what a sad state of affairs we are in today. We are reaping the same harvest of generations of people who have no concept of the reality of God and His laws and His love. Each generation becomes "worse than their fathers" as we get further and further away from the source of truth.
Let us continue to cry out as Jeremiah and the other prophets! Let us allow God to use our lives as He used theirs as pictures of His redeeming grace. God's power and forgiveness can stop the downward spiral as He reclaims one wandering soul at a time, just as He promised to do with Israel.

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Turn Around!

5/14/2015

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Jeremiah 10 and 11. Jeremiah's conversation with God in these chapters is interesting. With this weeping prophet's characteristic empathy, Jeremiah pleads with God to have mercy on the people of Israel. In 10:23-25, he appeals to the age old issue of God's sovereignty. God is the ultimate controller of man's steps, Jeremiah says. What can they do but follow the course of history that has been put in motion? He realizes the people deserve judgment and correction, but asks that God not destroy them as He will the heathen people who don't even know God.
I love God's response in chapter 11! God does not disagree with Jeremiah's premise, but he reminds him (and tells him to remind the people), that they had an agreement. God agreed to bless His chosen nation on one simple condition....that they obey His Word!
The Israelites had blatantly and intentionally broken their end of the deal. "Therefore," in 11:11-13, we read that since they had chosen to behave like the idol worshiping nations around them, they would be judged and punished as such. In verse 14, God tells Jeremiah that he should not even be praying for their deliverance!
It is certainly not a stretch to apply God's response to my own life today. It is foolish and hypocritical for me to make choices that are clearly in opposition to God's Word, and then pray that God will deliver me from the consequences. I do have a responsibility in God's sovereign plan. That responsibility is obedience. Though I may have to suffer the consequences of my sin, I can stop at any point and choose to obey. If I am a redeemed child of God, I have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me, enabling me to obey.
If you are struggling to break free from the path you have chosen, heed the cries of the Jeremiahs in your life who can help you turn around and walk in the right way. You don't have to continue on the path toward destruction. They want to help you.
Perhaps your struggle is not quite that intense. You and I make many choices every day. However, I must remind myself that any disobedience is rebellion against God and leads to more disobedience. As I humbly endure the consequences of my wrong choices, help me now, O Lord, to turn around and begin to obey You, trusting You with the final destination of my steps.

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My Friend, Isaiah!

5/8/2015

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A quick thought (or so I thought...) today from Isaiah 6. I can so relate to Isaiah's experience here!
Verse 1 - In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
In verses 1-4, Isaiah describes the unbelievable glimpse God gives him of God's glory as the chorus of heaven worships and praises the "Lord of hosts." As I look into God's Word, or as I look out an airplane window into the massive white clouds, or as I stand on the beach beholding the waves that never cease, I get glimpses of God's majesty, glory, and omnipotence.
My response is often like Isaiah's in verse 5: Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. His holiness reminds me of how sinful I am.
But praise God, I don't have to stay on my face, wallowing in my own worthlessness!
See what happens to Isaiah in verses 6 and 7! Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
I, too, have been forgiven! In 1970, I came to Jesus with the faith of a little child, seeking forgiveness and restoration. As a coal from the altar cleansed Isaiah, God reached down and touched my heart with the sacrifice of Jesus, taking away my iniquities! And He continues to go with me, forgiving me and loving me.
Having been cleansed from my sin, my ears were opened to hear the same voice that Isiah heard! Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? (Isa. 6:8a) The Lord of the hosts of heaven wants me to represent Him and his army! How can I refuse? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isa. 6:8b)
And what is His first command to Isaiah? GO, and tell this people... (Isa. 6:9) Isaiah was commanded to go and tell a rebellious nation of impending judgment. I am compelled, as a disciple of Christ, to take up Jesus's command to go and tell my world a similar message. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Whether they listen or not, I must do as Isaiah, and tell them of impending judgment as well as of the infinite blessings of obedience.

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Glory!

5/5/2015

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Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

In one verse, God covers three main quests of man: wisdom, strength, and riches. After more than 2500 years, man is still striving to reach for these three commodities. These are the big three that bring fame and honor.

However, in the context of this chapter, we see that these three accomplishments do not keep a man from divine judgment unless they are founded in a knowledge of God as the Lord of all. God is not denouncing wisdom, strength and riches. These are admirable attributes and worthwhile accomplishments. A man may be recognized and highly regarded by his achievements in these three areas, but what makes a man truly shine with eternal glory is his knowledge and understanding of God.

God may give a man great wisdom, strength, or riches, but what God delights in is lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness. Wisdom without kindness in its application can become harsh dictatorship. Strength without laws can become domineering abuse. Riches without virtue easily becomes an avenue to indulge in fleshly lusts. While these may seem to be extreme outcomes, they are actually extremely realistic. Admittedly, there are those who do not claim to know God and manage to handle their wisdom, strength and riches with honor and altruism. Even so, these three attainments can quickly fade with age or misuse.

Let us not glory in our own accomplishments. If we shine, let it be the shine of God's glory as we get so close to His face that we, as Moses in Exodus 34, literally shoot out with the rays of His brightness.

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Christian Dialysis

5/4/2015

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Jeremiah 12:2 ....thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
Throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament God stresses the essential importance of transparency. Our outward words may sound eloquent and sincere, and may even bring about desired results. But God looks on the heart.
The word used in this verse is "reins." This is literally the kidneys, but of course, represents the inward self. It is interesting that the kidneys are used in many places in the Old Testament to refer to the inner man. The kidneys are an essential organ, purifying the blood. We cannot live without this purifying process. If the kidneys cease their normal functioning, dialysis must be prescribed.
How many Christians are living on "dialysis?" Though they continue to speak the words of faith, their inner man is dying, ceasing to filter the toxins of the world. They no longer allow God's Word to enter into their deepest selves, cleansing and purifying their lives from within. Sophisticated programs and plans may prolong their lives and maintain healthy appearances, allowing normal living for long periods of time. However, while the development of dialysis has been a tremendous blessing to millions of people, medical professionals confirm that it is not a permanent substitute for the functioning of healthy kidneys. Similarly, there is no substitute for the filter of God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Eventually, our "sin will find us out" (Numbers 32:23).
Lord, show me when my words are just for show. I want my "reins" to be controlled and sustained by You, not by outward, artificial means.

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Valiant for Truth!

5/2/2015

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Jeremiah 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Lord, help me to stand stand strong for truth upon the earth! When all around me are shooting their arrows of deceit, let me be valiant for the truth of your word. Help me to raise up warriors who will not be afraid to stand for you, even in the face of danger or death. I don't want to be characterized by conflict and militancy. I want to show your love to those around me. But there are times when I must stand for truth, and not fall in with those whose tongues are full of Satan's lies. Though I may have to suffer some injuries now, I know that ultimately, truth will prevail!

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Treasures from the Word

"Worse than Their Fathers..."

Turn Around!

My Friend, Isaiah!

Glory!

Christian Dialysis

Valiant for Truth!

Angie Harris

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﻿Treasures from the Word﻿﻿﻿

"Worse than Their Fathers..."

Turn Around!

My Friend, Isaiah!

Glory!

Christian Dialysis

Valiant for Truth!

Angie Harris

Archives

Categories

Treasures from the Word