Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 14

This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord, explaining why he was holding back the rain:
“Judah wilts;
commerce at the city gates grinds to a halt.
All the people sit on the ground in mourning,
and a great cry rises from Jerusalem.
The nobles send servants to get water,
but all the wells are dry.
The servants return with empty pitchers,
confused and desperate,
covering their heads in grief.
The ground is parched
and cracked for lack of rain.
The farmers are deeply troubled;
they, too, cover their heads.
Even the doe abandons her newborn fawn
because there is no grass in the field.
The wild donkeys stand on the bare hills
panting like thirsty jackals.
They strain their eyes looking for grass,
but there is none to be found.” – Jeremiah 14:1-6

Have you ever wondered why God is withholding what you need? Have you ever gone through a time of drought in your walk with God and wondered why you can’t feel Him? Are you even now seeking answers and waiting for God’s reply?

DO YOU HAVE ANY UNREPENTED SIN IN YOUR LIFE?

The people say, “Our wickedness has caught up with us, Lord,
but help us for the sake of your own reputation.
We have turned away from you
and sinned against you again and again.
O Hope of Israel, our Savior in times of trouble,
why are you like a stranger to us?
Why are you like a traveler passing through the land,
stopping only for the night?” – Jeremiah 14:7-8

ARE YOU QUESTIONING GOD’S ABILITY OR HIS PRESENCE?

“Are you also confused?
Is our champion helpless to save us?
You are right here among us, Lord.
We are known as your people.
Please don’t abandon us now!” – Jeremiah 14:9

IS GOD’S SILENCE DUE TO OUR ABSENCE?

So this is what the Lord says to his people:
“You love to wander far from me
and do not restrain yourselves.
Therefore, I will no longer accept you as my people.
Now I will remember all your wickedness
and will punish you for your sins.” – Jeremiah 14:10

DO WE SIN WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT GOD IS OBLIGATED TO FORGIVE?

Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord, their prophets are telling them, ‘All is well—no war or famine will come. The Lord will surely send you peace.’”

Then the Lord said, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts.” – Jeremiah 14:13-14

God’s people had willfully walked away from Him and continued in their sin, rejecting the covenant relationship He had made with them. He grieved their disobedience; He mourned for their coming destruction. Jeremiah’s heart matched the heart of God as he prayed for the people — a prayer that we could pray for our nation today as we wait for God to help us.

Lord, we confess our wickedness
and that of our ancestors, too.
We all have sinned against you.
For the sake of your reputation, Lord, do not abandon us.
Do not disgrace your own glorious throne.
Please remember us,
and do not break your covenant with us.
Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain?
Does it fall from the sky by itself?
No, you are the one, O Lord our God!
Only you can do such things.
So we will wait for you to help us. – Jeremiah 14:20-22

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 13

This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it on, but do not wash it.” So I bought the loincloth as the Lord directed me, and I put it on.

Then the Lord gave me another message: “Take the linen loincloth you are wearing, and go to the Euphrates River. Hide it there in a hole in the rocks.” So I went and hid it by the Euphrates as the Lord had instructed me.

A long time afterward the Lord said to me, “Go back to the Euphrates and get the loincloth I told you to hide there.” So I went to the Euphrates and dug it out of the hole where I had hidden it. But now it was rotting and falling apart. The loincloth was good for nothing. – Jeremiah 13:1-7

What God asked of Jeremiah was strange, wouldn’t you agree? Yet Jeremiah did what God told him to do. A long time passed between Jeremiah’s obedience and the Lord’s explanation, yet the student did not lose his focus on the teacher.

Then I received this message from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem. These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing! As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me. – Jeremiah 13:8-11

PRIDE CAUSES US TO STOP LISTENING TO THE WORDS OF THE LORD.

When it comes down to it, all of the sins of Judah could be narrowed down to one root cause — pride. The created had lost their focus on the supremacy of God and made themselves higher than the Creator. They went from humble submission to arrogant disobedience. They did what they wanted to do with no regard to what God had commanded them to do.

We are created for a relationship with God. His desire was then and still is today for everyone to cling to Him. We are to be His pride and His glory, yet the sin nature within us causes us to seek our own glory for the sake of our own pride. What we learn in Jeremiah is that the sin of pride becomes the root of a lifetime of bad decisions and misdirected zeal, and this sin does not go unpunished.

“So tell them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: May all your jars be filled with wine.’ And they will reply, ‘Of course! Jars are made to be filled with wine!’” – Jeremiah 13:12

PRIDE CAUSES US TO SEE BLESSINGS FROM GOD AS A PRIVILEGE WE DESERVE.

This expectation of privilege leads to us demanding that God make life easy and pleasurable. We lose track of our created purpose to bring glory to Him and begin expecting His blessings to bring glory to us. Instead of praying for God to use us in the lives of those around us, we start praying for the people around us to make our own life better.

“Then tell them, ‘No, this is what the Lord means: I will fill everyone in this land with drunkenness — from the king sitting on David’s throne to the priests and the prophets, right down to the common people of Jerusalem. I will smash them against each other, even parents against children, says the Lord. I will not let my pity or mercy or compassion keep me from destroying them.’” – Jeremiah 13:13-14

King Solomon knew a little about the consequences of pride, so he gave us this advice in Proverbs:
Swallow your pride. (6:3)
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (11:2)
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. (13:10)
Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. (16:18)
Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. (29:23)

Lord, you have our attention. Please reveal in us all pride and arrogance. Help us to see our unhealthy need for importance or elevation. May we live to bring glory to you, may our prayers be for your ears only, and may we see your blessings as undeserved. May we not live in expectation of privilege but in gratitude for all you give us. Amen.

Listen and pay attention!
Do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken.
Give glory to the Lord your God
before it is too late.
Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you,
causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains.
For then, when you look for light,
you will find only terrible darkness and gloom.
And if you still refuse to listen,
I will weep alone because of your pride.
My eyes will overflow with tears,
because the Lord’s flock will be led away into exile. – Jeremiah 13:15-17

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 11-12

This whole section of Israelite history is difficult to study. There is a certain level of discomfort when we study God’s punishment of His people after they have sinned. We want to see our God as merciful and kind, but the revelation of his anger can leave us confused about the grace of God. Yet if we take the time to really study the words of God, we see that He gave His people opportunity after opportunity to change their ways.

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the terms of my covenant with them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of my covenant! For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, “If you obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people, and I will be your God.” I said this so I could keep my promise to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey—the land you live in today.’” – Jeremiah 11:1-5a

I WANTED TO BLESS YOU.

Here the heart of God is revealed. Our Lord invited the people of Judah to realign with the covenant He had made with them. He did this not only so He would not have to punish them, but also so that He could bless them. He desired for them to enjoy the land He had given them, and to live in peace surrounded by His blessings.

“For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, ‘Obey me!’ I have repeated this warning over and over to this day, but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant.’” – Jeremiah 11:7-8

BUT YOU CHOSE CURSES INSTEAD OF BLESSINGS.

God gave His people so many chances to turn from their wicked ways and follow Him, but they refused to listen. And God is true to His word — He had told them there would be consequences if they chose to worship idols, and now they were going to experience those consequences, even if it grieved God to have to watch His children suffer.

It sounds a lot like parenting, doesn’t it? It is not fun to punish our children for their misbehavior. Even if they quickly apologize when they see they are about to experience the consequences of their words or actions, taking away the punishment would not be helpful to the child. They must be taught a lesson in order to learn what is appropriate and what is not. Parents who do not punish their children are not doing their kids a favor, but rather a disfavor.

When we punish our children, it’s done out of love. When we have an honest conversation with a friend, it is in order to keep the friendship healthy. When we review the performance of an employee, it is to help them learn how to do their job with excellence and set them up for reward. So how is our Heavenly Father’s motive any different from ours?

I CREATED YOU TO THRIVE, DAILY DISPLAYING YOUR LOVE FOR ME AND FOR OTHERS.

I, the Lord, once called them a thriving olive tree, beautiful to see and full of good fruit.
But now I have sent the fury of their enemies to burn them with fire, leaving them charred and broken.
I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who planted this olive tree, have ordered it destroyed. For the people of Israel and Judah have done evil, arousing my anger by burning incense to Baal.” – Jeremiah 11:16-17

Jeremiah joined God in grieving the sinful behavior of the people. He was doing what God had called him to do and saying what God had specifically told him to relay, yet this did not make him popular with the people. Instead they plotted to kill him. Jeremiah described himself as a “lamb being led to the slaughter” (11:19). Have you ever felt that way?

I NEVER PROMISED YOU POPULARITY WHEN I ASKED FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE.

It is not fun to have to speak out against the sinful behavior of another person. It can be uncomfortable to stand up and call out a wrong or injustice. Obeying God does not always win us popularity, and leadership is often HARD. Jeremiah cried out to God, asking Him why the wicked are allowed to prosper and some sin seems to go unpunished (12:1). God called Jeremiah out for his impatience:

“If racing against mere men makes you tired,
how will you race against horses?
If you stumble and fall on open ground,
what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?” – Jeremiah 12:5

Father God, we praise you for your supreme wisdom that knows how to get our attention and when to put us in our place. Help us to trust your plan and to keep our eyes focused on you. Show us ways in which we have strayed from what you are calling us to do or how you require us to live. May you be pleased and glorified by the lives we live. Thank you for your words of encouragement and your reminder to wait patiently on you, persevering even through difficult circumstances. We love you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 10, Psalm 50

“You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. – Deuteronomy 5:7-10

God made His expectations clear to the people of Israel — they were not to create or worship any idol or false god. As we read through the Bible, we see one instance after another of God’s people putting something else ahead of Him. Idol worship became their go-to sin and it caused a divide between creation and its Creator. They turned their back on the God who could do anything in order to worship worthless objects that could do nothing except distract them from their created purpose.

“Do not act like the other nations,
who try to read their future in the stars.
Do not be afraid of their predictions,
even though other nations are terrified by them.
Their ways are futile and foolish.
They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.
They decorate it with gold and silver
and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails
so it won’t fall over.
Their gods are like
helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field!
They cannot speak,
and they need to be carried because they cannot walk.
Do not be afraid of such gods,
for they can neither harm you nor do you any good.” – Jeremiah 10:2-5

It seems ridiculous to us that someone would bow down to an object made by human hands, yet how often do we make something else in our life more important than God. At times it is a relationship that we allow to draw us away from being fully devoted to God, and we have probably all been guilty of allowing a hobby or form of entertainment to consume more of our time than we spend doing what God has asked us to do. Lord, forgive us for taking our eyes off of you!

We serve an amazing God who is worthy of our full attention. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and He loves us in ways no other person or object ever could. There is no one like Him — no one as wonderful as our God!

Lord, there is no one like you!
For you are great, and your name is full of power.
Who would not fear you, O King of nations?
That title belongs to you alone!
Among all the wise people of the earth
and in all the kingdoms of the world,
there is no one like you. — Jeremiah 10:6-7

This description accurately describes the God who wants our full submission. He knows everything about us and has promised to watch over us through every season of life. It would be ridiculous to put our trust in anything or anyone besides the God Almighty, so why do we?

People who worship idols are stupid and foolish.
The things they worship are made of wood!
They bring beaten sheets of silver from Tarshish
and gold from Uphaz,
and they give these materials to skillful craftsmen
who make their idols.
Then they dress these gods in royal blue and purple robes
made by expert tailors.
But the Lord is the only true God.
He is the living God and the everlasting King! — Jeremiah 10:8-10a

Father God, thank you for the reminder this morning that you are worthy of our worship. Not only do you desire our full attention, you require it. Show us ways in which we have allowed other things to become more important in our lives than following you. Create in us a passion for the things that come from your heart, and give us the wisdom to recognize your guidance each day. Amen.

Say this to those who worship other gods: “Your so-called gods, who did not make the heavens and earth, will vanish from the earth and from under the heavens.”
But the Lord made the earth by his power,
and he preserves it by his wisdom.
With his own understanding
he stretched out the heavens.
When he speaks in the thunder,
the heavens roar with rain.
He causes the clouds to rise over the earth.
He sends the lightning with the rain
and releases the wind from his storehouses.
The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge!
The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make,
for their carefully shaped works are a fraud.
These idols have no breath or power.
Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies!
On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.
But the God of Israel is no idol!
He is the Creator of everything that exists,
including Israel, his own special possession.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name! — Jeremiah 10:11-16

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 7-9; Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now here we are,
standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a well-built city;
its seamless walls cannot be breached.
All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—
make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord,
as the law requires of Israel.
Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
the thrones of the dynasty of David.
Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper.
O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
and prosperity in your palaces.
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
“May you have peace.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem. – Psalm 122

This psalm is a great reminder of the Lord’s love for Jerusalem and its people. Even though God was pronouncing judgment on His people and on the city of Jerusalem, He still loved them both. No, the unfailing love of the Lord was responding to the blatant disregard of His instructions in order to bring them back to a place of relationship with Him.

God wants to live in a covenant relationship with His people. He did not create us in order to punish us; He wants to pour out blessings on all of His children. God loves each of us and He daily finds creative ways to show us that love, and yet we often reject what He has planned for us.

“They have stubbornly followed their own desires.” – Jeremiah 9:14b

Does that describe you? Can you look back and see seasons of your life where you were pursuing your own desires rather than chasing after God’s? Are you even now pouring your time, energy and finances into something that God wants you to let go of so that you can fully embrace Him?

I DELIGHT IN SHOWING YOU UNFAILING LOVE.

This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!” – Jeremiah 9:23-24

Lord, help us this morning to truly know you and understand the depth of your unfailing love demonstrated for us day after day. May we be eager to please you today, drinking only from your fountain of living water for sustenance instead of depending on our own cracked cisterns. Lord, do a work in our hearts today in order to deepen our understanding.

The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. – Deuteronomy 30:10

He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.
The Lord rewarded me for doing right;
he restored me because of my innocence. – 2 Samuel 22:20-21

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand. – Psalm 37:23-24

Father God, we confess our pride and self-reliance and long to live in awe of you who brings rain into our lives so that you might reap a harvest of righteousness. We long for you to use us so that our lives can have an impact on the nation in which we live, just as you used Jeremiah. Father God, help us to hear only your voice as we stand at the next crossroads. Give us wisdom from you and place your words in our mouths. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 4-6

“O Israel,” says the Lord,
“if you wanted to return to me, you could.
You could throw away your detestable idols
and stray away no more.
Then when you swear by my name, saying,
‘As surely as the Lord lives,’
you could do so
with truth, justice, and righteousness.
Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,
and all people would come and praise my name.” – Jeremiah 4:1-2

I SEE WHAT YOU COULD BE.

The Lord looks at us and sees the potential of what could be if we would only submit ourselves to His sovereign plan. If we would choose to walk in His ways and find contentment in the Lord, we would be a blessing to all those around us. The world would be a better place because of our obedience and faithful living. These were the words of the Lord to the Israelites and it rings true for us today.

“My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord. “They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!” – Jeremiah 4:22

I hear a cry, like that of a woman in labor, the groans of a woman giving birth to her first child. It is beautiful Jerusalem gasping for breath and crying out, “Help! I’m being murdered!” – Jeremiah 4:31

Jeremiah spoke of a willful disobedience against God that was pervasive among His people. They were stubborn and rebellious, refusing to do what God told them to do. God would instruct them to do His will and they would say “No!” He would show them the path that would lead to the life He had prepared for them, but they would again say, “No!” They would stubbornly follow their own desires rather than the desires of God’s heart. How often is this same selfish disobedience reflected in our choices?

“I, the Lord, define the ocean’s sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set. But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me. They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’” – Jeremiah 5:22b-24

The Lord so generously provides for us. Look around! We are surrounded by the evidence of His faithfulness. Our God is good. The Lord shows up for us day after day. Let’s turn our attention to Him, listening to His words of guidance and wisdom.

I WILL SHOW YOU!

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ I posted watchmen over you who said, ‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’ But you replied, ‘No! We won’t pay attention!’” – Jeremiah 6:16-17

“This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.” – Jeremiah 7:23-24

“They have stubbornly followed their own desires.” – Jeremiah 9:14b

Father God, forgive us for our stubborn disobedience; forgive us for our unfaithfulness and prodigal hearts. Show us the potential of what we could be and the beautiful ways you could be glorified through our lives, if only we will keep our eyes focused on you. May our hearts be a reflection of your heart as we walk out our faith in you today. Amen.

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” – Luke 6:46-48

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 2-3; Psalm 50

The Lord, the Mighty One, is God,
and he has spoken;
he has summoned all humanity
from where the sun rises to where it sets.
From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines in glorious radiance.
Our God approaches,
and he is not silent.
Fire devours everything in his way,
and a great storm rages around him.
He calls on the heavens above and earth below
to witness the judgment of his people.
“Bring my faithful people to me—
those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.”
Then let the heavens proclaim his justice,
for God himself will be the judge. – Psalm 50:1-6

To fully understand God’s plans to punish His people, we need to read the book of Jeremiah and the words God spoke to him as he warned the people of what was to come and why it was happening. Let’s look at the heartbreak of our God as He describes the unfaithfulness of the people He has blessed generation after generation and consider how His words apply today:

“I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness…

“What did your ancestors find wrong with me
that led them to stray so far from me?
They worshiped worthless idols,
only to become worthless themselves.
They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord
who brought us safely out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness—
a land of deserts and pits,
a land of drought and death,
where no one lives or even travels?’
“And when I brought you into a fruitful land
to enjoy its bounty and goodness,
you defiled my land and
corrupted the possession I had promised you.” – Jeremiah 2:5-7

“Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? My people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols! The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the Lord. “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me — the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” – Jeremiah 2:11-13

“O my people, listen to the words of the Lord!
Have I been like a desert to Israel?
Have I been to them a land of darkness?
Why then do my people say, ‘At last we are free from God!
We don’t need him anymore!’
Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
or a bride her wedding dress?
Yet for years on end
my people have forgotten me.” – Jeremiah 2:31-32

God grieved the rebellion of His people, but He never stopped loving them. Out of His great mercy, God gave Israel this opportunity: Acknowledge your guilt, admit that you rebelled, confess that you refused to listen to my voice, return home and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

I WILL BRING YOU BACK HOME.

“I would love to treat you as my own children! I want nothing more than to give you this beautiful land – the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me.” – Jeremiah 3:19

These words reveal the heart of God — that He desired to bless His people, but they wanted to find blessings from another source. They rejected God and rebelled against Him, yet He said — “I would love to treat you as my own children!”

Jeremiah’s advice for the people then is also good for us today. Surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord; cleanse your heart that you may be saved. Listen to the voice of God calling you back home.

“My wayward children,” says the Lord,
“come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.”
“Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply,
“for you are the Lord our God.” – Jeremiah 3:22

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 1:13-19; Psalm 32

The calling God had placed on Jeremiah’s life was not an easy one, so God took the time to speak over Jeremiah. And the young prophet heard God’s affirmation — I have known you since you were in your mother’s womb, and I have been preparing you for this moment. I am calling you to be my voice to the people, and I will watch over you as you carry out my instructions.

I WILL WATCH OVER YOU.

Then the Lord spoke to me again and asked, “What do you see now?”
And I replied, “I see a pot of boiling water, spilling from the north.”
“Yes,” the Lord said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land. – Jeremiah 1:13-14

This word picture the Lord was giving Jeremiah was intense. He had gone from the beauty of the almond tree branch to the harsh reality of a pot of boiling water. Terror was about to be poured out over the people and country Jeremiah loved, and it was his responsibility to relay this message revealing the coming destruction. Knowing the difficulty of this task, God once again assured Jeremiah of both His power and His presence.

“Get up and prepare for action.
Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say.
Do not be afraid of them,
or I will make you look foolish in front of them.
For see, today I have made you strong
like a fortified city that cannot be captured,
like an iron pillar or a bronze wall.
You will stand against the whole land—
the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.
They will fight you, but they will fail.
For I am with you, and I will take care of you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!” – Jeremiah 1:17-19

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

Get up.
Prepare for action.
Do not be afraid.
I have made you strong.
You will experience opposition, but they will fail.
For I am with you. I will take care of you.
I will watch over you.

There is so much power in the words the Lord spoke over Jeremiah. I wish I knew how Jeremiah received these words of affirmation. He must have been afraid of what he was being asked to do, because God took the time to ease his fears. He must have been worried about how the people would respond, because God revealed to him that the attempts of his enemies would fail because God was on his side. He was not alone. The God of the Universe was promising to take care of him!

I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

I am so thankful for a God who takes the time to meet us where we are at as He prepares us for what He is calling us to do. He cares about how we are feeling. He cares about what we are grieving, and He takes the time to speak over us. He strengthens us for what is ahead, because He knows us and yet loves us deeply.

What is God calling you to during this season of your life? Is He calling you to accomplish something difficult? Perhaps today’s passage was meant for you. If so, I pray these words will wash over you fresh and new — that you will allow God to show you His power and surround you with His presence.

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.” – Psalm 32:8

Get up.
Prepare for action.
Do not be afraid.
I have made you strong.
You will experience opposition, but they will fail.
For I am with you. I will take care of you.
I will watch over you.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 1:1-12, Psalm 139

Jonah, Amos, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk. God used the faithful obedience of these prophets to make a difference in the lives of His people and their leaders. The obedience of each of these believers had an impact on the king and, in turn, on the entire nation. God called another man to make an impact on His people; he called a young man named Jeremiah.

I KNEW YOU BEFORE I FORMED YOU.

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,

“Look, I have put my words in your mouth!
Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms.
Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow.
Others you must build up and plant.”

Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”

And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”

And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out my plans.” – Jeremiah 1:5-12

I AM WATCHING OVER YOU.

The almond tree branches were among the first to blossom each spring. What the people of Judah were experiencing was only the beginning of all that was about to happen. And in the midst of this turmoil, God had plans to use a young man named Jeremiah to get His message to His people.

Jeremiah felt young and ill-equipped for what God was calling him to do. God confirmed His call on Jeremiah’s life and promised that He would watch over Jeremiah; he would give him the words to say and the credibility to be heard.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

Paul’s words to his young intern, Timothy, are similar to God’s words of encouragement to Jeremiah. These same words can fill our hearts with the assurance that God has created us for a purpose and He will equip us for the call. He is in control and desires to carry out His plans through us. He has been active in our life since conception, beautifully forming us into the child of God He created us to be. He knows everything about us, yet chooses to use us to carry out His perfect plan, regardless of our age, gender or education. Let’s recognize God’s hand on our life as we pray the words of the psalmist:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you. — Psalm 139:13-18

Today’s Reading: Zephaniah, Psalm 1

It was during this time that the prophet Zephaniah was also trying to move God’s people to renew their covenant relationship with God. He spoke of how our jealous God would punish the wicked but how God’s faithful people would enjoy the home He has prepared for them.

“I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” says the Lord…
“I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship.
I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear.
For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon and stars.
They claim to follow the Lord, but then they worship Molech, too.
And I will destroy those who used to worship me but no longer do.
They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”
Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord,
for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near. – Zephaniah 1:2,4-7

The United States of America is pulling away from the foundations of faith on which it was built. “In God we Trust” is our motto but now prayer is vanishing from our places of government. There is a pride and self-reliance that has taken the place of yesterday’s humility and calling upon the Lord for strength. There is a call upon our nation to renew our covenant with the Lord.

ASK FOR THE LORD’S GUIDANCE AND SEEK HIS BLESSINGS.

“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad.” – Zephaniah 1:12

What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime!
No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction.
It does not trust in the Lord or draw near to its God. – Zephaniah 3:1-2

What can we do? What is God’s call to His people today? Perhaps similar to what He called His people to do in the days of the prophet Zephaniah:

Gather together – yes, gather together, you shameless nation.
Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff.
Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls and the terrible day of the Lord’s anger begins.
Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you – protect you from his anger on the day of destruction. – Zephaniah 2:1-3

GATHER TOGETHER. ACT NOW. SEEK THE LORD TODAY.

Let’s unite our voices in petition and repentance for our nation. Let’s ask the Lord to remain with us and help us to turn the hearts of our nation back to Him. I find these verses encouraging:

But the Lord is still there in the city…
“Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty Savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” – Zephaniah 3:5a,16-17

God’s message through the prophet Zephaniah is clear and leaves us with a choice. There is judgment for those who claim to follow the Lord but no longer worship Him — for those who no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek His blessings. But when we humble ourselves and trust in the name of the Lord, he delights in us! We are surrounded by His love and our fears are calmed. Not only are we blessed with His presence, He rejoices over us with singing! What an incredible realization! The Lord is with us and He takes delight in us, expressing His joy in song when we trust in Him and humble ourselves in His presence.

SO LET’S TRUST IN HIM AND HUMBLE OURSELVES IN HIS PRESENCE!

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. – Psalm 1:1-3

Lord, we humbly seek you this morning. We seek to do what is right and to live humbly before you, as individuals and as a nation. Lord, forgive us for our pride and self-reliance. Forgive us for saying “In God We Trust” and then failing to lean on you. May your people gather together and unite to give you praise. May your presence in our lives, individually and as the body of Christ, make a difference in our nation. Lord, we pray for revival for our country. Mighty Savior, may you take delight today in your people and sing over us with joy. Amen.