WEEK 41 – Starting 10/14/24

Monday, 10/14/24: You are an Adulterer!
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 27-29, 24; James 4

           I have a confession to make. Got your attention, didn’t I? Recently, I went an entire day on accident without my wedding ring on. I felt naked. Or, at least my ring finger did. I found myself going to touch my ring throughout the day only to again remember that it wasn’t there. I must unconsciously touch it throughout most days and be unaware.

          Before you throw a stone, let me explain why it wasn’t on my finger. Sometimes I take my wedding ring off and put it by the side of the bed at night. Why? Because I have fat fingers and circulation can get cut off at night. Why did I not put it back on today? Because I woke up at midnight, couldn’t sleep, so I got up to schedule some communication and do my devotional reading. I was ready to go to sleep again after that but didn’t want to wake Katie so slept on the couch downstairs. Later that morning, we took a zoo trip. So most of the morning was dominated by breakfast, getting ready, and heading to the zoo. Being busy and out of my routine, I forgot to put on my wedding ring. So what does all this have to do with Adultery? Nothing really…I was still married to Katie – ring or no ring! Here’s today’s verse:

James 4:4 “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

          Pretty strong words, right? The analogy is jarring! God correlates “Adultery” (marital unfaithfulness) with “friendship with the world” (more specifically, the way the world orders things in contrast to God’s way). Jeremiah 2:20; 3:6-7 would use similar language to perhaps speak to a similar situation in Israel and Judah. Harsh language for harsh times to be sure!

          Are you walking in adultery to God today? Are you following the way the world does things versus God’s way? How would you know if you’re not be renewed by God’s Word?

Tuesday, 10/15/24: Deliver me…for me?
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 37, 21, 34; Psalm 79; James 5

          Why do you want deliverance in your Christian life? Deliverance for your marriage. Deliverance from a besetting sin. Deliverance from that character flaw. Do you want deliverance because of the consequences? I’m sure that is a valid reason and not to be ignored. But should that be the primary reason for deliverance? Unfortunately far too often, I believe this is our perspective. In essence, I want deliverance for ME! I don’t like the “undelivered state.” It’s ruining my health. It’s ruining my future. It’s already ruined my past. But, should we be merely preoccupied by the quality of life we’re living? After all, “this world is not my home…I’m just a passin’ through” the song writer wrote. So does that all really matter in the end anyway?

          That’s where the Scripture reminds us and brings us back to a Biblical perspective:

Psalm 79:9 “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins.”

          Do you see a reason to ask God for deliverance in the above verse? Here’s a hint – do you see the reason after the word “for”? “…for the glory of Your name…” He goes on to elaborate on this in the next verse. In essence, he’s saying “vindicate your name/character” “Prove who You really are!”

          Verse 13 ends speaking of Your…Your…You…Your praise. Do you see the focus? It’s not on…God I want it better for ME. But change this because it is about YOU. Do you find your prayers (even for deliverance) tend to be very self focused? Could this be an indication of what or who you are truly concerned about? May God help us to do everything with a burning desire to make HIS name known. (c.f Habakkuk 2:14)

Romans 11:36 says “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Wednesday, 10/16/24: The greatest untapped resource?
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 30-33; 1 Peter 1

          What is the greatest (and all too often) untapped resource? Is it the Oil reserves in Texas, Alaska or off the coast of America? Is it the diamond mines of Africa? Is it the fishing industry of Southeast Asia? Is it the vast farmlands of America? What would you say is the greatest untapped resource? I believe this verse points out the greatest and all too often untapped resource there is:

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

          God is and always will be the greatest and all too often untapped resource ever! That is not to demean God or make Him a mere resource. Merely to say your relationship to Him ought to be the most treasured thing ever! This verse gives us a challenge to tapping into that resource: Prayer!

          So let me ask – are you praying? You might say “Of course, I eat three times a day and pray at each meal!” OR, “I pray during my devotional time so I don’t need to pray throughout the day” Hmm…ok. I’m not even asking if you have a SET TIME to pray or a SET LIST to pray from – although I don’t want to discourage that application. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” Does that describe your relationship to God (the greatest untapped resource)?

          When you get frustrated, worried, or angry today, will your first response be to meditate on God’s Word and pray? Or will you ignore your greatest resource and try to accomplish life in your own strength? Why is it that we wait until “things are hopeless” until we truly seek God’s face? Aren’t we always in a hopeless condition unless God steps in? Perhaps you need to confess your lack of prayer as sin before an Almighty God (I John 1:9)? Read Luke 18:1-8!

Thursday, 10/17/24: When its right to be wrong!
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 38-39, 52; 1 Peter 2

          I have often thought and stated that we live in an “upside down” world. I thought of starting a sermon series to this end. I see continual patterns of reversed thinking from what the world says being the right thing! For instance, the world says “put yourself and your preferences first” God says “put others first” – that works great for me as long as everyone else but me is doing it, right? A discussion on Psalm 1 and the two ways we can walk and the outcomes of each is pertinent here but for another time. Our passage for today:

Jeremiah 38:4 “Therefore the princes said to the king, ‘Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.’”

          Going with the popular mob rule is not usually the way to go. The popular plan isn’t usually the right plan unless everyone is Spiritually in tune with what God is saying (Matthew 7:13-14; I Corinthians 3:1). For Jeremiah, he was speaking what God said to speak but was like a person from another century – wrong place, wrong time, wrong people. They literally wanted to kill him for saying what God told him to say. It was right for Jeremiah to be wrong in the popular view.

          Reminds me of someone else: Jesus Christ, Himself! Consider what the High Priest said, “Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” (John 11:49-50).

          Jeremiah and Jesus were both met with some fierce resistance from those in their day – “religious people” from their day. Both were wildly unpopular! Both were threatened with death – and Jesus actually did die.

          At the end of the day, all of us WILL give an account to God for our actions and attitudes (Romans 14:12) – let us all keep that in mind (Romans 14:4, 13). Further, let’s all draw near to God (James 4:8), ask God to search us (Psalm 139:23-24), and guide us (Psalm 119:18). May we be willing to do what’s unpopular if God, through His Word (Psalm 119:133) and the Spirit (Revelation 2:7), is clearly leading in that direction. Are you willing to suffer persecution or be unpopular in doing what God asks you to do?

          May God give us wisdom not to be an island of spirituality unto ourselves but clearly follow His leading no matter the cost. Spiritually speaking, it can be right to be “worldly” wrong!

Friday, 10/18/24: There was no hope!
Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36; Psalm 126; 1 Peter 3

          We can’t always see things from God’s perspective. In fact, I’ll argue that we never truly can see things completely from God’s perspective on this side of eternity. The closest we might get is when God’s Word and Spirit are active in our lives and we are responding positively. But I digress.

          Even in the darkest of times, there is hope because of God. God’s Word says (Romans 5:20) “…but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” So enters our passage today in one of the darkest times in Israel’s history:

2 Chronicles 36:16 “…till there was no remedy.”

          Some of the saddest words in Scripture to me! No longer was there a way out of the impending judgment. God’s Mercy had been exhausted 🙂 God’s people had so gone against God’s warnings and messengers that all hope was truly lost of averting the coming judgment! Have you reached this point in your life? I hope not! But understand believer (I Corinthians 11:30) and unbeliever (Romans 1:21, 26, 28) alike can reach this point!

          Consider this – these words come at the very end…perhaps in summary of the time God has spent trying to bring Israel back. But when was the exact point there was no longer a remedy? Could it be that there was even hope during Zedekiah’s reign? Consider II Chronicles 36:12:

“And he (Zedekiah) did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.”

          While there are many things to ponder and context of the whole book and Old Testament to consider, I believe this verse points to the fact that to the very end – There was HOPE! “It’s not over till the fat lady sings” comes to mind for me. Anyone else? The fat lady hadn’t sung until finally in Zedekiah’s life “there was no remedy”!

          So I ask you, are you responding to God’s messengers? (II Chronicles 36:15; I Thessalonians 5:19-20; ) Or I guess I should say HOW are you responding? Everyone responds to every message one of two ways – positively of negatively. We are NEVER standing still spiritually (Galatians 6:7-9). If you think you are, then I can guarantee you that you’re going backwards not forward! Because they mocked, despised, and misused the messengers (II Chronicles 36:16). Have you? Agree with God about it (I John 1:9)! Are you? Will you? May God continue His work in our hearts and may we be found responding favorably!

          Here is a suggested outline for those who would wish to follow this further:

          God’s Pursuit “And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending…” (2 Chronicles 36:15) How long did God pursue them? How many messengers did He send? What does the term “early” mean and how does it factor into this? Who is initiating this pursuit and what can we learn from that? Consider 2 Corinthians 5:20

          God’s Passion “…because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.” (2 Chronicles 36:15) Who were these people and when did they become God’s People? What does it mean that God had compassion on His people? On His dwelling place? Who are His people now? and dwelling place now? How does this mirror John 3:16? And God’s purpose from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15)?

          God’s Put-Off  “But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets…”(2 Chronicles 36:16) What does it mean to mock, despise, misused? Are there some Old Testament examples of these things taking place? Consider how each prophet was treated – make parallels as to how we treat the messengers God sends.

          God’s Pronouncement “…until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” (2 Chronicles 36:16) How many opportunities to turn back did God give? Prophets? Priests? Kings? Judges? How many years until God’s wrath was full? It is important to realize that there is a time to respond – while God is working in your heart (Isaiah 55:6-7; II Corinthians 6:2).

          In what area of your life is God challenging you to turn back before there is no hope? Biblically, there is a point of no return. I can’t tell you where that is for you…but we shouldn’t get as close to that line as possible, right? Listen to God’s voice and turn back now before it’s too late!