Finding Comfort In Jesus

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KJB Daily DevotionFollowing Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, August 10, 2018
Chapters: Jeremiah 10-13
Message: Finding Comfort In Jesus

Hello My Friend,

Sometimes it is hard to be a Christian, and I do not mean letting go of the temptations of the world, you get to a point when those have no affect on you, I am talking about affliction and how we handle it. We know that we can endure anything with Christ, but when we are going through things, especially one after another our faith can start to waiver. I think of faith like a roller coaster, up and down, twisty and windy, but one thing is for sure, when you get off the ride, you surely want to get on again. I never want to lose my faith, it is all I have that things will get better, but for some, their faith waivers so much that instead of turning to Christ for comfort they turn to the world. And then when that happens a whole new problem comes as they are drawn to that lust. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” – James 1:13-15.

Idols, man made objects of worship. Everyone has some kind of object that they hold on to as a type of comfort, but rarely do we think of them as idols. Now, there is no power or magic to these things, but if we are not careful we can become dependent upon them. Since God is a jealous God, He will not compete with anything, including objects we look to for comfort. Jesus has all the power to help us through any situation, we must look to Him. Through Jeremiah, God tells His people to stay away from idol worshipers and their idols.

Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.” – Jeremiah 10:1-6,23-24.

for one cutteth a tree out of the forest,Do you know how many saved, born again Christians take these verses out of context, comparing it to the Christmas tree? There is a group of Christians more of a threat to society than the evil itself, and while they do teach the Gospel, they teach something far more dangerous as well, they teach a version of the Bible that is not justified. We must look at the bigger picture here, what is being worshiped, it was a tree cut out of the forest, it is an idol. Then the workman or creator of the idol would carve it, work it into shape, and afterwards overlay it with silver and gold to cover the wood. To keep it upright and in its place they would fasten it down with nails so that it would not fall, be thrown down, or stolen. Today, idols are made out of anything. Ever hear of environmentalists? See the key word in the word, mental? It’s in the mind, objects have no power, it is the devil who gives power to these things through our minds because he would do anything to get our focus off Jesus. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” – 1 Corinthians 10:16,21,22.

It pains God to see His people living in sin, but there is something more painful and that is those who know of Him and are living in sin. Think about it, we are His creation, He made each and every one of us, He did not bring evil upon us, we do that all on our own because of our sin nature, some just take sin to the extreme because they believe their salvation will keep them safe. While God’s mercy does endure, there comes a time when those who refuse to repent will see Jesus quicker than they expect. Through Jeremiah, God reminds Israel of the covenant He made with their fathers and the judgment they face because they broke that covenant.

And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.” – Jeremiah 11:9-11,14.

Therefore pray not thou for this people,” Did you ever wonder why your prayers for some people are not answered? He will not listen because He knows them and they have no intention of repenting. It is one thing to just not be knowledgeable about the things of God because we all grow at different levels of our Christianity, it is another to create an image of Him based on ones own liking, never having any desire to know the truth let alone obey it. Remember, ignorance is not a defense, if you were to run a red light not knowing that you had to stop that still does not stop you from getting hit by oncoming traffic. We must learn all of God, not just that He loves us and has mercy on us, but that He is a just God, who will not put up with us worshiping idols or even Him in a way that we perceive Him to be. God’s anger is not toward the unbelievers here, but believers, and sometimes it is really hard to comprehend why God is so hard on us when they are the ones living in sin. Jeremiah is distraught as to why God is judging all if Israel and not those who are actually living wickedly.

Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 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. And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.” – Jeremiah 12:1-2,7,14-16.

yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments:” There is not one faithful Christian that does not ask God why the wicked seem to be blessed and have everything they want while we suffer, even to the point that we lose it to them. It is not God that keeps the wicked in their glory, it is the devil, and one day it will all come to an end, and then what will they have? Hell and the lake of fire, just as the devil will get as well. The wicked will lose everything, but those who are faithful will be restored everything they lost and then some. Through Jeremiah, God addresses His sorrow as well as He watches His people turn against Him.

Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive. This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear. I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?” – Jeremiah 13:15-17,25-27.

before he cause darkness,” Let me tell you, there is nothing more fearful than not being able to see what is coming. When I was younger I could vision what I would be doing with my life, that vision helped me see my path, but I took a detour and it was so dark that I could no longer see where I was going, my only source of light came when was in my sleep, I was dreaming my life away. You have to get to a point in your life that you let Jesus light your way, He truly is the light and gives you sight that is well beyond what we see in this world. Let Jesus light your path, and He will not only direct you to what your future holds with Him beyond this world. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:-3.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.” – Jeremiah 10:10.

Today’s Prayer: God, Help me to remain faithful to You and your calling upon my life. Strengthen and grow my faith as I daily search Your Scriptures and apply their truths, let them be a light unto my path. As I go through the trials and afflictions, fix my eyes and my heart upon You. let me not get caught up in idols or seek worldly comforts that compete with You, only look to You for comfort. I ask this in Your name Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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