KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, August 11, 2018
Chapters: Jeremiah 14-17
Message: God Will Supply Even Through Judgments
Hello My Friend,
As you read through the prophecy books it can be kind of depressing, seeing how Israel never heeded the warnings of the judgment, and how angry God was that the majority of them would not turn away from their sin. On top of that we read of the judgments yet to come to the entire world and all we can do is feel sad that so many people will die and end up in a much worse state than the worse that could happen here on earth. God is angry, not at the ones who do not know any better, but the ones who do, and not only advocate sin, but encourage it as well. We see before our very own eyes how wicked and sinful our nations are becoming, we see those nations is such poverty that never seem to overcome it, and it is only going to get worse. While we cannot do anything about the devastation that is about to happen, we can do something to prepare for it, and we can trust that God will supply and help us endure until He takes us home. “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” – I Thessalonians 5:14-15.
How is it that a man of God, one whom tells us to flee sin goes running to it? How is it that people always think that their sin will never be found out, regardless of who they are? How is it that a saved, born again Christian can live in sin, believing that their sin is justified because they are saved? I will tell you how, they are not grounded in the Word of God to begin with, they use their salvation as a means to live the way they please and believe they will not face any judgment for it. Well, we might not face hell, but judgment always starts at the house of God first. Jeremiah is in the midst of a famine in the land, he knows that it is because of the sins of the nation, he sees people offering sacrifices and fasting to God in hopes of Him helping them, he looks up to God, prays, and pleads with Him to show Himself and save them. God, knowing their hearts actually tells Jeremiah to stop praying for their good.
“O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” – Jeremiah 14:8-14.
“The prophets prophesy lies in my name:” Let me tell you, if you have a heart, it breaks when you hear of what is to come of our world, we do not want to preach fire and brimstone, but it is something that has to be done. God is always watching, especially those who claim His name, He may be merciful to us sinners, but will never condone or justify sin, just as He did with Israel, who still struggles today because they refuse to acknowledge Christ. We who are saved cannot help, but wonder how much more we have to endure before God’s mercy does run out. We can become discouraged when we are doing what we can to live the way God wants us to live and yet suffer also. Jeremiah, discouraged and dismayed over all that is going on, does what many faithful servants of God do, he loses his zeal for serving Him, but it is only making things worse. A bit angry, he reminds God that he has been living by His Word, but then God answers him, knowing exactly what he has been doing.
“O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.” – Jeremiah 15:15-21.
“and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.” God promises Jeremiah that while he will face some suffering because they are going to fight him on this, He will save him from the destruction. We cannot do anything about the fate of the world, we have to live among them because there are still people who need to be saved, but we do not go back the way we came, we follow Christ, let Him guide us and deliver us from the worse that is yet to come. God wants to restore the relationship He has with Jeremiah, He wants him back on the streets telling the people about the judgment. God wants to restore His relationship with all His faithful, He wants us out there preaching the Gospel. He is always with us, and will protect us, sometimes that means we must endure some suffering here, maybe even death, but God sees what we do not see, and if death is what is needed to protect us then that is what He will do. One day we will not have to face any more pain, suffering, or death, all who put their faith and trust in Him will be restored, including a remnant of Israel. Through Jeremiah, God foretells the day that He gathers and restores Israel, but first they must suffer in their sin.
“Terefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.” – Jeremiah 16:14-17.
“For mine eyes are upon all their ways:” Those who trust God, even though they may have to suffer through some things and be scattered all over the earth, will one day unite together in one place where there will be no more sorrow, pain, or even sin. There are missionaries all over the world looking for God’s lost sheep, some face dangers like no other to seek those lost souls in hopes that they will find just one. The heart apart from God is full of sinful imagination that goes well beyond anything that God would ever want for us. Quite often, the things we go through are the cause of things that we have devised from within our heart. Yes, God knows our heart, and if we trust Him, He will carry us through every sorrow, but curses come to those who turn their heart away from Him.
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” – Jeremiah 17:5-10.
“and shall not be careful in the year of drought,” Those who trust God, while prepared somewhat, do not fear famines, natural disasters, or war because he is with them and will take care of them one way or another. There are people who have storage sheds filled with food and water, just waiting for the day everything comes to an end. Yes, we do need to be prepared for things, but when we trust in God, we do not have worry about tomorrow, for He is already there, He knows what we need and He will always supply, even if that means He has to take us to a foreign land or lead us through the wilderness somewhere for forty years, He always takes care of those who are faithful to Him. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” – I Corinthians 2:4-5,9.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” – Jeremiah 17:7.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy, You could have made me suffer more the well deserved punishment I needed for my sins, but through Your Son I got pardoned from that. Thank You for Your grace, as much as I mess up, Your are always there to help me clean it up. You promised to never leave nor forsake me, and for that I am truly grateful, I know many times I have come to the edge of sin, only to have You bring me back to solid ground. Lord, I am Your mouth, let me speak boldly about Your Son, and give me the strength to endure all the affliction I face for remaining faithful to You. Give me Your power to stay faithful, keep my eyes straight on You, and keep my feet from going into the world. I ask these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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