KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Chapters: Jeremiah 26-29
Message: Sinking Sand or Solid Rock
Hello My Friend,
World; Public life, or society; A secular life. By the world we sometimes understand the things of this world, its pleasures and interests, but since we as Christians are not of the world we are to be careful not to fall into the lusts of the world. The secular life is not a life that leads to Jesus Christ, it is one that leads to the lusts, the pleasures of the world. A Christian living in the world is like having a house built upon the sand, it is wonderful and exiting until the storm comes it is destroyed. However, one that lives in the midst of the world yet follows Christ is like having a house built upon the Rock, it is wonderful and exciting, and then when the storm comes it remains intact. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” – Matthew 7:24-27.
Okay, I get it, we all want to live a prosperous life, one that we do not have to worry that our next paycheck will be enough to cover all the expenses, and we love that God provides for us, but we would like a little more once in a while. The amazing thing is that when we walk with Christ, when dedicate our lives to Him we do prosper, and God will bless us with many things that come from the world, homes, cars, computers, phones, tablets, these are all things that God blesses us with for our faithfulness. However, if the things of the world become more important than God we can be sure that He will start taking them away. It is not that God does not want us to have things, He wants us to be faithful and avoid the things of the world that are wicked and corrupt. We absolutely cannot live in the lusts of the world and love God, the world will always lead us to those houses built upon the sand, which is what was happening in Judah. The people were so caught up in the lusts of world that they forgot about God, became of the world, and started sinking in the sand as God’s judgments unfolded. Through Jeremiah, God tells them there was still time to repent, but they refused, instead attacking Jeremiah.
“So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God. Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt; Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.” – Jeremiah 26:7-8,16,18,20,21,24.
“the king sought to put him to death:” The world refuses to accept that they are under judgment, they rather die in their sin, and will try to destroy anyone who tells them otherwise. On top of that you have those lying prophets telling them, “God’s not angry.”. Well, God is angry, and He is angry at the very people who are telling them that He is not. God will protect His faithful, even if that means He has to relocate us for a while. You see, while judgment does come to the wicked, He will not punish the faithful, I know that when we are in the midst of the worlds judgments we feel like we are being punished too, but we are not, God will lead us to safety one way or another, the key to being safe is doing what God asks us to do. God was not just judging Israel, every surrounding nation was to get under the yoke of Babylon, He told them they would be just fine if they listened to Him, but if not, they would not escape the judgment.
“I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.” – Jeremiah 27:12-15.
“Why will ye die,” We do not have to die and end up in hell, we can live, but we must get under the yoke of Jesus. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30. Praise God!
God will use any means necessary to reach the lost and get them in the hands of Jesus. Let me tell you, if God sent the faithful Jews into a wicked nation for safety can you imagine how wicked the city of God was? It must have been pretty wicked if God was willing to destroy the promised land before another corrupt nation. As you can imagine, the news of Judah having to live under authority of Nebuchadnezzar did not go very well, it did not take long for some people to cause trouble. A man named Hananiah decided to challenge God by saying he would brake the yoke himself within two years.
“And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also. Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.” – Jeremiah 28:11-17.
“because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.” Some people will never learn that they cannot fight God nor play God, rebellion does nothing, but send their followers and hell upon themselves. Look at the fate of the devil for his causing all of mankind to fall, which is the fate of every person that tries to fight or play God. We are going to face adversity simply because we have this sin nature we carry around with us. The only way we can change our own fate is by knowing Jesus Christ personally as our Saviour and remaining yoked with Him. When we trust in Him in the midst of this world that is sinking in the sand, He is the Rock that we will be standing upon that keeps us from sinking. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” – I Corinthians 3:11-15. Praise God!
Sometimes we do not understand where God takes us, but if we trust Him and follow His commands we will see that it was the best thing He did for us. The Jews that are being carried into Babylon will likely remain there the rest of their lives until die or the seventy year judgment passes. God instructs Jeremiah to write a letter to the Jews, encouraging to live their lives, but to also warns them not to trust the false prophets.
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jeremiah 29:4-11.
“thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” We cannot change the fact that judgment will come here, we cannot live in fear, we must fear God and live. Live the life that God has in store for you, just be prepared, live you life in a way that if Jesus would appear right now He would not be disappointed. “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – I Thessalonians 5:15-23.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:12-13.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for placing me upon the Rock that never sinks, I know I am not perfect, I know I am going to make lots of mistakes, even though I am faithful to You, but I am safe, protected, and under the yoke of my Lord and Saviour, Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, give me Your power, wisdom, and guidance to live in this world and not be tempted by the lusts of it, You are my provider, and have always given me everything I need and then some. As we walk in the midst of this dark and wicked world, keep my eyes on You and Your promises, help me heed and listen for the warnings of false prophets as I serve You, trusting that no matter where You take me, it will lead me to where You want me to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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