KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, August 07, 2018
Chapters: Jeremiah 1-3
Message: Before I Formed Thee In The Belly
Hello My Friend,
The Book of Jeremiah contains fifty-two chapters, the timeline for these events took place approximately between 629BC – 588BC, about 70 years after Isaiah prophesied about the same thing. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to Judah to warn them of their coming captivity into Babylon, and a call for repentance. This book is actually directed to backsliders. What we are to learn from the book is that national disasters and deterioration of the world is often due to disobedience to God, but as we return to God things will be restored. “And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.” – Jeremiah 12:5.
As I was reading these chapters I could not escape the horrible thought of the millions of babes, probably more than that, that never got a chance at life. When has society become so evil that life itself has no meaning? It all started when a person discovered that they could end a life before it even began. Jeremiah was called to prophesy at a very young age during the time that Josiah began turning Judah around, well, he began removing all the idols, images, and even the people that were influencing these evils, and he prophesied actually until Babylon came in and seized the land. God had been warning Judah about the coming judgment for decades, and it was about to take place, God used Jeremiah to give them one last plea to repent before the judgment would begin. Just like any faithful Christian who God calls, Jeremiah questioned why God chose to use him for this, God simply answers him by telling him that he was born for that very reason, and can do it through Him.
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.” – Jeremiah 1:5-10,17,19.
“I have put my words in thy mouth.” There really is something incredible and overwhelming to realize that God has put His words in your mouth. Let me tell you, it is like a light bulb turning on in your head when He does. Before we are even born, God has a plan and a purpose for us, of course, some of us heed His calling, but sadly, many do not, and end up living lives that really have no meaning. You can be sure if you stand up for God and proclaim Christ people are going to fight you. Why? You belong to God, you are one of His and that makes you the enemy, especially if you tell them that the things they are doing is sin. Those whom have received Christ as their Saviour are, in fact, children of God, and when we allow Him to live in and through our lives that is what keeps us out of the world, and from backsliding. God has already touched our mouths and put His words them, the more we serve Him faithfully, the more prosperous we will become as one of His servants. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” – Psalm 1:1-3.
While God had told Josiah that His judgment stood, He would have done anything to get them to change their ways so He could, in fact, reverse the judgment. Do you think that while Josiah was removing the evil things from Israel that all of the people repented and turned to God? No, they did not. Yes, a few did, like any revival, but the majority of them held on to their sinful living, not to mention the rest of the kings after him doing the same things, which is why God told Josiah that His judgment stood.
“Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” – Jeremiah 2:4-5,8-9,11,13,19.
“Thine own wickedness shall correct thee,” People get this notion that God is the one who actually brings the evil. No, it is man, man that I believe is corrupt by the devil himself, but they are oblivious to that. Yes, God allows the evil, He will place catastrophes in the world in an attempt to bring people to Christ, but it is actually man that does as they walk in their sin. People all over the world are proclaiming Christ, the sad thing, very few know Him as their Saviour and are living sinful lives as if He is pleased with them. Let me tell you, Christianity is the complete opposite of what the world sees as being moral and right. Just because a person says they have received Christ as their Saviour that does not mean they are living Godly lives. And just because they are in the midst of those who are living Godly lives that does not mean that they actually are themselves. There are way too many saved, born again Christians proclaiming Christ yet living in the world, and doing even worse. Through Jeremiah, God calls out all the backsliders.
“The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.” – Jeremiah 3:6-8,11-13.
“Only acknowledge thine iniquity,” God truly is merciful, which is why Jesus has not returned yet. Do you understand the state of our world right now? Yes, God has formed them in the womb, He has gave them a purpose, even predestined them to do great things, but they refuse, and therefore, we are all suffering as their wickedness corrects them. I do not know how many times I have heard someone when asked if they know for sure they are going to heaven say, “Well, I try to be good.” None of us are good, we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. That is why God sent Jesus, none of us are without sin, no works can save us, only Jesus can, and until we acknowledge that we have sinned, and need Him, God will not hear or acknowledge us. God does not want to place judgment upon any nation, if they would just admit their sin and turn to Him than He would repent, but they have not obeyed His voice, therefore it stands. There is one bit of hope for those who do listen and obey, eternal life, and an amazing kingdom that will truly be sin, evil, and corrupt free. Oh, what a glorious day it will be when my Jesus I shall see, when both Jews and Gentiles unite in His kingdom. God speaks of this, and pleads with His backsliding children to repent.
“At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God. Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.” – Jeremiah 3:17-18,21-23.
“Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills,” Worldly Christians have made a mockery out of Christ, they proclaim His name, but do not know Him, they cry salvation, but never acknowledge Him as their Saviour, they walk in the darkness of their sin, never seeing the Light of day. Jesus is our only way to salvation, He will save anyone, all we have to do is acknowledge that we have sinned, confess that we need Him, and receive Him as our Saviour. Jesus will never turn anyone away who is sincere in their faith, and He never leaves us even if we have backslidden. Think about it, you were born into this world, having one father and one mother, even if you walk away from them, you are still their child. If you asked Jesus to save you, you are born again, a child of God, even if you have forgotten, God has not. However, only you can release His power in you by living your life with Him as He predestined you to be. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” – Romans 8:29-30.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.” – Jeremiah 3:23.
Today’s Prayer: God, With all my faults, and with all my shortcomings, it is incredible to know that You had a plan and purpose for me before I was even born. The road that brought me to Your Son was long, crooked, and often heartbreaking, but it is one that I would never change, except that I wish I knew Him sooner in my life as that would have kept me from going down the dark path that I did. Nevertheless, You watched over me, guided me, and waited for the right time to open my heart to the truth, and see Jesus as more than someone who died on a cross, but my one and only way to You, and what salvation really is. I know sometimes I get over confident and think that I can do this on my own, but You reveal to me time and time again that my way leads to a big mess, but Yours always leads to victory. Thank You for giving me those constant second chances to get back up and move forward, let me not be held captive to sin, only let me depend on You as I walk with You, my Saviour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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