Today’s Reading: Daniel 3; Psalm 26

When God revealed the meaning of the dream, King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that Daniel’s God is the greatest of gods. He did not recognize God as the ONLY true God, just that He was the Most High of all gods. He did not accept that God was the only one to be worshiped.

In his arrogance, Nebuchadnezzar made a 90 foot by 90 foot gold statue in the province where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in leadership (the base of this statue would have been much bigger than a basketball court). He commanded that everyone bow and worship this statue.

Once more, these three young men were given the opportunity to choose excellence, even when faced with the possibility of death. King Nebuchadnezzar may not have recognized who the only true God is, but these young men did. Their new positions of authority and power did not boost their pride, rather they remained humbly faithful to their God. They refused to bow to the statue.

COURAGE — EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENCE IN THEIR ACTIONS

Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” – Daniel 3:13-15

It did not take long for these three young Hebrew men to answer this question for they knew without a doubt what god would be able to rescue them. They knew what it was to be taken from their home and family only to become a possession of the king. They knew what it was to have their home country destroyed and to be forced to live in exile in a foreign country. God had proven himself faithful during a very difficult time in their lives, and they had the courage to boldly stand in their faith in God.

STRENGTH — EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENCE IN THEIR CHARACTER

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will NEVER serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” – Daniel 3:16-18

This has been one of my favorite testimonies of faith since I was a little girl and it remains extremely powerful to me today. EVEN IF God doesn’t answer my prayer in the way I have requested, I choose to serve God and only God. In good times and in bad, in the triumphs but also during the struggles, we have the opportunity to praise God!

In anger, Nebuchadnezzar heated the furnace seven times hotter than usual. In arrogance, this king had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego bound and thrown into the furnace. In shock, he watched as four men walked around the fire unbound and unharmed! In response, Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to step out of the fire. In amazement, he took note that their hair was not singed, their clothing was not scorched, and the smell of smoke was oddly absent.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God…There is no other god who can rescue like this!” – Daniel 3:28-29

As the climate of our culture continues to intensify, what will our response be? I pray that we are able to be strong and courageous as we refuse to put anything ahead of our worship of God. I pray that we speak boldly of the righteousness of God and His call to the excellence produced in our lives by Jesus Christ. I pray we become exactly who God created us to be, reflecting the beautiful holiness of our holy God!

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:11

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Declare me innocent, O Lord,
for I have acted with integrity;
I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.
Test my motives and my heart.
For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
and I have lived according to your truth. – Psalm 26:1-3

Today’s Reading: Daniel 2; Psalm 5

Tell me what I dreamed and what it means — this was the unreasonable demand of King Nebuchadnezzar to the wise men of Babylon. When they were unable to do this, he ordered their execution. When the officers came to kill Daniel, he handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked for more time and then he went to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) and asked them to pray.

He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. He said,

“Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for he has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.
He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,
for you have given me wisdom and strength.
You have told me what we asked of you
and revealed to us what the king demanded.” – Daniel 2:18-23

So, when faced with a difficult situation, a matter of life or death, Daniel gathered his friends together and they prayed for God’s intervention. Then, when God answered their prayer, Daniel first took time to praise God, acknowledging the source of all wisdom, power, knowledge and strength.

PRAYER & PRAISE WERE TWO OF THE MAIN INGREDIENTS TO DANIEL’S SUCCESS — TO HIS EXCELLENCE.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
For you bless the godly, O Lord;
you surround them with your shield of love. – Psalm 5:11-12

God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel, who in turn gave God all the glory when he explained to the king why God was revealing this dream. Daniel in essence said – What you have asked is impossible, but nothing is impossible for God. God doesn’t have to explain this dream, but He has chosen to reveal the future to you because He wants you to understand what is in your heart (2:27-30).

Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court. – Daniel 2:48-49

Now these four young Jewish men in captivity were being entrusted with even more. These young men of excellence were faithful to God and God was enlarging their territory.

OPPORTUNITY & ADVANCEMENT WERE TWO OF RESULTS OF THEIR FAITH — OF THEIR EXCELLENCE.

What are you asking for today? Does your faith in God hinge on whether or not He answers your prayer your way? Prayer and praise — these two ingredients of Daniel’s faith are available to us. Are we prepared to praise God no matter how He answers our prayer? Do we trust the heart of God enough to trust His hand? Are we living out the excellence that God is producing within us?

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:11

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Today’s Reading: Daniel 1, Jeremiah 20-22

Are you ready? A new season is ahead for us. God has a plan for each of us in the coming days but are we prepared for the opportunities He has before us? We have been chosen for a specific purpose. The future is unknown but we know whom we serve. What do we need to do TODAY to be ready for what He has for us TOMORROW? Let’s look at four young men who had no idea what was ahead for them yet were prepared to be used by God in a powerful way.

When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus. – Daniel 1:18-21

What an incredible opportunity this was for these four young Jewish men. Jerusalem had been attacked and God’s people had been brought to Babylon where they would spend the next 70 years in exile. These Jewish families were allowed to live in peace and comfort in this new country but it did not take away the daily realization that they were most definitely in captivity. They could not leave and go home — they were strangers in a foreign land.

THEY WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY WERE READY.

The king ordered his chief of staff to bring to the palace some of the young men from Judah’s royal family and other noble families who were strong, healthy, and good-looking, as well as knowledgeable in every branch of learning — gifted with knowledge and good judgment (Daniel 1:3-4). These young men did not have to suddenly prepare themselves for this opportunity; it was given to them because they were ready. They had spent their time learning and listening. They were already healthy and strong. They were ready, therefore they were chosen.

THEY REMEMBERED TO WHOM THEY BELONGED.

Now that they were in royal service to the king, he wanted their loyalty. He renamed them after Babylonian gods in order to redefine them. Daniel’s name meant “God is my judge” but the chief of staff renamed him Belteshazzar, “Bel protects his life.” Hananiah meant “the Lord is grace” but he was given the name Shadrach, “command of Aku”. Mishael, “Who is God?” became Meshach “Who is Aku?” Azariah, “the Lord helps”, became Abednego, “servant of Nebo” (1:7). Nebuchadnezzar was trying to redefine them but these young men never lost track of the God to whom they truly belonged – who was their judge, who defined “grace”, who would tell them what to do and who would help them.

THEY CHOSE EXCELLENCE, SO GOD MADE THEM EXCELLENT.

The king wanted their loyalty so he treated all of the young men very well. They were given fine wine and delicious foods to eat, but the meats prepared were probably unclean by Jewish standards, such as pork. The custom in Babylon was to dedicate their wine to their gods so drinking the wine would have been disloyal to God.

This royal treatment was a way for King Nebuchadnezzar to win the loyalty of all of these young men. They were given a taste of what the world had to offer them, what the king could give them if they were loyal to him. Everyone else compromised their standards but these four young men remained loyal to the God of Israel. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah chose a more excellent way, denying themselves the rich foods and choosing vegetables and water instead (1:8-16).

God blessed their faithfulness by making them men of excellence. God gave these young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17). No one impressed King Nebuchadnezzar more than these four young men. They were found to be ten times more capable than any of the others. They were found to be men of excellence.

I want to be a woman of excellence. That is my prayer. I want to be prepared for the opportunities God sends my way. I want to prepare myself both physically and intellectually so that I am ready to be used by God. When the world tries to win my loyalty, I want to remember to whom I belong and who is my judge, choosing what God has to offer me instead of what the world has to offer. When difficult times come, I want to remember the grace of God and that He is the One who will help me. I want to be ready.

I CHOOSE EXCELLENCE!

God calls us to excel in who we are and in what we do, in our character and our actions. “Whatever you do, do well…” (Eccl. 9:10). Our pursuit of excellence cannot be of human effort for that will quickly become our own obsession for earthly significance. With excellence as our goal and our eyes focused on Jesus, the Spirit can work in us to produce character and spiritual maturity.

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:11

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 17-20

I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I was filled with indignation at their sins. Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry. – Jeremiah 15:17-18

At times the Lord allows us to distance ourselves from our “Judah” — the disaster that has formed around us due to sinful decisions and arrogant, godless living. We get to walk away and let them suffer the consequences of their sin, while we get to enjoy the blessings of choosing righteousness. But at times, God calls us to stay in “Jerusalem” and be used by Him in the lives of those who need to know there is hope in Christ. We know from Scripture that sometimes God’s children go through times of suffering, even when they are following His will for their lives.

In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. – 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. – 2 Timothy 3:12

So, if following God does not guarantee us a life of peace, why do we continue to serve Him? If doing the right thing is not always rewarded in this life, why do we continue to obey?

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name. O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. – Jeremiah 15:16

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. – 2 Timothy 2:10-12a

If we keep our eyes focused on Him during the difficult times, enduring the hardship of the calling He has placed on our lives, we will reign with Him! There is a wonderful reward for those who love God!

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

I WILL BLESS YOU. I WILL GIVE YOU JOY.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. – 1 Peter 1:6

…Be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. – 1 Peter 4:13

I am going to stir a second helping of the words of God to Jeremiah into my morning coffee and choose to be glad no matter what the circumstances:

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Lord, in you we put our trust. There are some who are reading this devotional who are going through a really difficult time. But you, O God, know everything about us. You knew us when you formed us in our mother’s womb and you know us now. You search our hearts and you know our struggles. You know our desire to serve you and you know our desire to experience your goodness. We pray that you will fill our hearts today with your hope and confidence. We pray that you will see the desires of our heart and fill us with what you desire for our lives. Bring us to a point of being in sync with the beat of your heart, for we love you more than we love the comforts of this world. We desire to chase after your perfect plan for our lives. Please give us joy in our pursuit of you as we claim your promises this morning:

I know you.
I will watch over you.
I am on the move.
I will answer you.
I am with you.
I will give you joy.
Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 15-16

Why do bad things happen to good people? Have you ever wondered why God allows difficult times in your life? Have you ever suffered physical pain or disease? Have you ever watched a loved one struggle with cancer and wondered why God does not heal all of His faithful children?

Jeremiah was called by God to proclaim to the people of Judah their future destruction and captivity. Although intimidated by God’s call on his life, Jeremiah was obedient and listened to God, passing on each message that the Lord gave him. Yet, as we read through the book of Jeremiah, we see that life was not easy for him. We can imagine that his message was less than popular because it was extremely harsh. For example, listen to these words of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah:

“For I will upset the careful plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will allow the people to be slaughtered by invading armies, and I will leave their dead bodies as food for the vultures and wild animals. I will reduce Jerusalem to ruins, making it a monument to their stupidity. All who pass by will be astonished and will gasp at the destruction they see there. I will see to it that your enemies lay siege to the city until all the food is gone. Then those trapped inside will eat their own sons and daughters and friends. They will be driven to utter despair.” – Jeremiah 19:7-9

As you can imagine, Jeremiah’s message did not get a resounding “Amen” from the people. Instead he was persecuted, plotted against, arrested, mocked, flogged, whipped, put in stocks and placed on trial. When Jerusalem was attacked, Jeremiah’s life was in danger as well. When the people of Judah were led into exile, Jeremiah was also taken captive.

Listen to these words of Jeremiah and God’s response to His faithful servant:

Jeremiah: “What sorrow is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at birth! I am hated everywhere I go.”

God: “I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, Jeremiah.” (Jeremiah 15:10-11)

Jeremiah: “Lord, you know what’s happening to me. Please step in and help me…I bear your name…Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.”

God: “I AM WITH YOU to protect you and rescue you…I will certainly keep you safe…I will rescue you…” (Jeremiah 15:15-21)

Jeremiah: “Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble!” (Jeremiah 16:19)

I am so thankful for a God who knows us, who watches over us, and who answers us when we call. He is with us when things are going great and He is with us when life is at its toughest. He does not promise us that the task will be easy or that our obedience will result in popularity, but He does promise to care of us. He promises to never leave us. What a joy it is to have the Lord as our hope and confidence.

God: “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Jeremiah: “O Lord, if you heal me, I will truly be healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!” (Jeremiah 17:14)

What a beautiful testimony of faith! Lord, we give you everything we are facing right now. We ask for you to be our strength when we are weak and our fortress when we need protection. Lord, please be our refuge in our day of trouble. We trust in you and rest on your riverbank, rooted in you and growing in our faith.

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.