The Flagrant Sinner – Jeremiah 32:34

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 32:34 (NIV)

“They set up their vile images in the house that bears my Name and defiled it.”

Jeremiah 32:34 (MSG)

“Why, they even set up obscene god and goddess statues in the Temple built in my honor—an outrageous desecration!”

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“But they put their detestable things (idols) in the house which is called by My Name, to defile it.” -AMPLIFIED

 “The height of the nation’s impiety was reached when the people set up their idols in the temple of God himself. Their obscene symbols had been removed during Josiah’s reforms. But they were reintroduced in the years of apostasy after Josiah’s reign.” ~John Feinberg

The Lord has told Jeremiah that the people of Israel and Judah have been acting like obstinate children, refusing to listen to Him, and refusing to accept His discipline:

“They have turned their backs to me and not their faces. Though I taught them time and time again, they do not listen and receive discipline.” -Jeremiah 32:33 (CSB)

In fact, these people have become flagrant in their sin, thumbing their noses, and disrespecting the Lord God. They have set up their abominations, their idols, right in the Lord’s Temple.

NOTE: To be flagrant is to be intentionally offensive, to be obviously shocking, offensive, blatant, and maliciously scandalous.

“They even put up their detestable idols in My temple, defiling the very place that is supposed to honor Me!” -(VOICE)

The Lord had good reason to take offense with Israel and Judah, for the people had intentionally turned the Temple, His Temple, which bore His Name, into an offensive place, deliberately. They had set up their idols in His Temple, even though they knew that He was a jealous God, and they had been warned:

“You are not to serve any other gods before Me. You are not to make any idol or image of other gods. In fact, you are not to make an image of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You are not to bow down and serve any image, for I, the Eternal your God, am a jealous God. As for those who are not loyal to Me, their children will endure the consequences of their sins for three or four generations. But for those who love Me and keep My directives, their children will experience My loyal love for a thousand generations.” -Exodus 20:3-6 (VOICE)

We have record that the wicked king, Manasseh, had set up altars to other gods in the Lord’s Temple:

“Manasseh was 12 years old when he inherited the throne. His reign in Jerusalem lasted 55 years. His mother was Hephzibah. He committed evil in the Eternal’s eyes, like the abhorrent practices of those nations driven out by the Eternal before the Israelites settled in Canaan. Manasseh reconstructed the high places his father, Hezekiah, had demolished. He constructed altars for Baal and crafted a sacred pole, just as Ahab the former king of Israel had done. He offered his praise to all the gods of the skies and was in service to them. He constructed altars in the Eternal’s temple to foreign, pagan gods. This was the temple the Eternal had spoken of when He said, “My name will dwell in Jerusalem.” He contaminated the temple by constructing altars for all the gods of the skies in both the courts in the Eternal’s temple. He forced his son to go through the fire as a burnt offering, and he was trained in the dark arts of witchcraft and fortune-telling. He practiced them both. He consulted necromancers and clairvoyants. He committed many wicked acts in the Eternal’s eyes, which caused Him to boil in anger.” -2 Kings 21:1-6 (VOICE)

And, in the book of Ezekiel we find the Lord showing Ezekiel, in a vision, how flagrant and blatant the sin of the people had become:

“Then, late in August of the sixth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, as I was talking with the elders of Judah in my home, the power of the Lord God fell upon me. I saw what appeared to be a Man; from his waist down, he was made of fire; from his waist up, he was all amber-colored brightness. He put out what seemed to be a hand and took me by the hair. And the Spirit lifted me up into the sky and seemed to transport me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate, where the large idol was that had made the Lord so angry. Suddenly the glory of the God of Israel was there, just as I had seen it before in the valley. He said to me, “Son of dust, look toward the north.” So I looked and, sure enough, north of the altar gate in the entrance stood the idol. And he said: “Son of dust, do you see what they are doing? Do you see what great sins the people of Israel are doing here, to push me from my Temple? But come, and I will show you greater sins than these!” Then he brought me to the door of the Temple court, where I could see an opening in the wall. “Now dig into the wall,” he said. I did and uncovered a door to a hidden room. “Go in,” he said, “and see the wickedness going on in there!” So I went in. The walls were covered with pictures of all kinds of snakes, lizards, and hideous creatures, besides all the various idols worshiped by the people of Israel. Seventy elders of Israel were standing there along with Jaazaniah (son of Shaphan) worshiping the pictures. Each of them held a censer of burning incense, so there was a thick cloud of smoke above their heads. Then the Lord said to me: “Son of dust, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in their minds? For they say, ‘The Lord doesn’t see us; he has gone away!’” Then he added, “Come, and I will show you greater sins than these!” He brought me to the north gate of the Temple, and there sat women weeping for Tammuz, their god. “Have you seen this?” he asked. “But I will show you greater evils than these!” Then he brought me into the inner court of the Temple, and there at the door, between the porch and the bronze altar, were about twenty-five men standing with their backs to the Temple of the Lord, facing east, worshiping the sun!” -Ezekiel 8:1-16 (TLB)

It is no wonder that the Lord was angry. The people had deliberately made the choice to blatantly sin, to do exactly what He had warned them not to do, and they did not care if they disrespected Him or offended Him.

“They have even defiled my own Temple by worshiping their abominable idols there.” -(TLB)

“Their idols, which were abominable to the Lord, and ought to have been so to them: these they placed in the house (which is called by my name), to defile it.” ~John Gill

Scripture warns us about knowing what the right thing is to do, but instead deliberately choosing to do the wrong:

“So then, anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is committing a sin.” -James 4:17 (Complete Jewish Bible)

The writer of Hebrews cautions us that judgement is in store for those who deliberately sin.

“For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, of raging fire that will consume the enemies.” -Hebrews 10:26-27 (Complete Jewish Bible)

“What destroys the soul is an eager, deliberate, willing, persistent, settled pattern of sin.” ~John Piper

John wrote in his first epistle about those who willfully and persistently sin against the Lord:

“Everyone who lives a life of habitual sin is living in moral anarchy. That’s what sin is. You realize that He came to eradicate sins, that there is not the slightest bit of sin in Him. The ones who live in an intimate relationship with Him do not persist in sin, but anyone who persists in sin has not seen and does not know the real Jesus. Children, don’t let anyone pull one over on you. The one doing the right thing is just imitating Jesus, the Righteous One. The one persisting in sin belongs to the diabolical one, who has been all about sin from the beginning. That is why the Son of God came into our world: to destroy the plague of destruction inflicted on the world by the diabolical one. Everyone who has been born into God’s family avoids sin as a lifestyle because the genes of God’s children come from God Himself. Therefore, a child of God can’t live a life of persistent sin. So it is not hard to figure out who are the children of God and who are the children of the diabolical one: those who lack right standing and those who don’t show love for one another do not belong to God.” -1 John 4:3-10 (VOICE)

“Jesus said, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). We must honestly face the question, “Am I willing to give up a certain practice or habit that is keeping me from holiness?” It is at this point of commitment that most of us fail. We prefer to dally with sin, to try to play with it a little without getting too deeply involved.” ~Jerry Bridges

My friend, I am sure you have heard this quote before, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission.” Sadly, many of us have adopted that mentality with the Lord. This is the wrong attitude, and an incorrect way of thinking. God has called us to a higher standard, we are to be holy as He is holy. And we would do well to remember that we are not of this world: “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, these evil desires—the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance—these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself. And this world is fading away, and these evil, forbidden things will go with it, but whoever keeps doing the will of God will live forever.” -1 John 2:15-17 (TLB) Let us stop any willful, flagrant sin, which is so offensive to the Lord.

“Perhaps you have been ensnared by a sinful habit that you will not abandon, and your guilt is so overwhelming you are ashamed to approach Christ. Whatever the reason for your broken intimacy with God, there is good news. Jesus waits to embrace you now in the arms of unconditional, divine love.” ~Charles Stanley

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, sadly there have been times when I have had the mentality that it was okay to sin because afterwards, I could always ask forgiveness. I realize now that line of thinking is disrespectful towards you, and wrong. Please forgive me. You have called your children to a higher standard. You have told me that I am not of this world, and I am not to live as if I am part of it. I am just a pilgrim passing through, on my way HOME to you. Please, help me to remember this fact. Help me to walk in Your ways, the way of righteousness. So that when I do stand before your Throne, I will hear those words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Stopping the Cycle of Sin – Jeremiah 32:30

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 32:30 (NIV)

“The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger with what their hands have made, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 32:30 (MSG)

“It isn’t as if this were the first time they had provoked me. The people of Israel and Judah have been doing this for a long time—doing what I hate, making me angry by the way they live.” God’s Decree.”

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“For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only evil in My sight from their youth; for the children of Israel have been provoking Me to anger by the [idols that are the] work of their hands,” says the Lord.” -AMPLIFIED

“He (God) amplifies the sin of the people, that they never departed from their vices.” ~John Calvin

The Lord tells Jeremiah that what He has foretold in the past, about the Babylonians conquering Jerusalem, will come to pass. And it will happen because he people have rebelled against Him, provoking Him. The Lord had given guidelines and boundaries, which the people had refused to obey:

“The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will come and set this city on fire. They will burn it, including the houses where incense has been burned to Baal on their rooftops and where drink offerings have been poured out to other gods to anger me.” -Jeremiah 32:29 (CSB)

This sin, idolatry, was no longer just regulated to Israel, but it had spread to Judah as well, and it was an ongoing cycle of sin which offended the Lord.

“The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in My sight since their early days. They have done nothing except kindle My anger with their handmade idols and the way they live their lives.” -(VOICE)

The Lord declares that the sin of idolatry had been a continuing cycle for Israel and Judah. This is the very sin which the Lord had cautioned them about back in Exodus, at the beginning of their journey together.

Eternal One: “I am the Eternal your God. I led you out of Egypt and liberated you from lives of slavery and oppression. You are not to serve any other gods before Me. You are not to make any idol or image of other gods. In fact, you are not to make an image of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You are not to bow down and serve any image, for I, the Eternal your God, am a jealous God. As for those who are not loyal to Me, their children will endure the consequences of their sins for three or four generations. But for those who love Me and keep My directives, their children will experience My loyal love for a thousand generations.” -Exodus 20:2-6 (VOICE)

And yet, though forewarned, they still fell into a cycle of sin. Though they knew what God’s expectations were, they chose to ignore His instructions and follow the ways of the nations around them. This provoked the Lord, and we will find Him speaking about this more over the coming days.

“For Israel and Judah have done nothing but wrong since their earliest days; they have infuriated me with all their evil deeds.” -(TLB)

“If they had offended me only by some particular single acts, or by some few omissions, or but for a small time, I might have been judged too severe upon them; but from the time they first began to be a nation they have made it their business, course, and trade, passing from one idolatry to another, &c.” ~Matthew Poole

Keep in mind, sin is rebelling against the Lord God and refusing to do His will or obeying His law.

 ^“So if you know the right way to live and ignore it, it is sin—plain and simple.” -James 4:17 (VOICE)

“Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.” ~Wayne Grudem

Guess what, Scripture tells us that we are all sinners.

“You see, all have sinned, and all their futile attempts to reach God in His glory fail.” -Romans 3:23 (VOICE)

We are reminded though that if we confess our sins to the Lord, that He will forgive us.

“But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done.” -1 John 1:9 (VOICE)

If we have confessed that sin to the Lord, it no longer has power over us.

“We know this: whatever we used to be with our old sinful ways has been nailed to His cross. So our entire record of sin has been canceled, and we no longer have to bow down to sin’s power. A dead man, you see, cannot be bound by sin. But if we have died with the Anointed One, we believe that we shall also live together with Him. So we stand firm in the conviction that death holds no power over God’s Anointed, because He was resurrected from the dead never to face death again. When He died, He died to whatever power sin had, once and for all, and now He lives completely to God. So here is how to picture yourself now that you have been initiated into Jesus the Anointed: you are dead to sin’s power and influence, but you are alive to God’s rule.” -Romans 6:6-11 (VOICE)

Once we have been forgiven, should we return to doing that sin? Absolutely not!

“Don’t invite that insufferable tyrant of sin back into your mortal body so you won’t become obedient to its destructive desires. Don’t offer your bodily members to sin’s service as tools of wickedness; instead, offer your body to God as those who are alive from the dead, and devote the parts of your body to God as tools for justice and goodness in this world. For sin is no longer a tyrant over you; indeed you are under grace and not the law.” -Romans 6:12-14 (VOICE)

Do not fall into cycle of continual, habitual sin.

“Everyone who lives a life of habitual sin is living in moral anarchy. That’s what sin is. You realize that He came to eradicate sins, that there is not the slightest bit of sin in Him. The ones who live in an intimate relationship with Him do not persist in sin, but anyone who persists in sin has not seen and does not know the real Jesus. Children, don’t let anyone pull one over on you. The one doing the right thing is just imitating Jesus, the Righteous One.” -1 John 3:4-7 (VOICE)

So, it is time to set aside those sinful desires, time to live a life that is holy and acceptable to the Lord.

“Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.” -Romans 12:1-2 (VOICE)

We must take action on our part. Actively putting aside the old desires, and obediently choosing instead to become like our Savior, holy.

“So get yourselves ready, prepare your minds to act, control yourselves, and look forward in hope as you focus on the grace that comes when Jesus the Anointed returns and is completely revealed to you. Be like obedient children as you put aside the desires you used to pursue when you didn’t know better. Since the One who called you is holy, be holy in all you do. For the Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.” -1 Peter 1:13-16 (VOICE)

“Be vigilant; be conscious, so that the temptations don’t take you by surprise. Avoid situations that you know are dangerous. When you acknowledge that you are weak and powerless, then God will be strong on your behalf. All of the incredible power He has – a power so huge that He created the heavens and the earth from nothing – is available to you. Ask God to pour it over you, to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire, so you can stand fast in that moment when sin is standing at the door and knocking. Jesus is right at the throne of God, making intercession for you too. (Romans 8:34) There is no reason in the world that it can’t succeed for you.” ~Ann Steiner

My friend, we all are sinners. We were born into sin. But Jesus paid the price for our sin. Every day we have a choice to make, will we choose to do things God’s way, or will we insist on doing things our own way. Sin stands at the door of our heart, beckoning us, but we do not have to give in to it. We have been set free from the power of sin. Make the choice to yell “NO” to that sin, and choose to live a life that is holy and acceptable to the Lord. It is time to break that cycle of sin.

“Abide in Jesus, the sinless One – which means, give up all of self and its life, and dwell in God’s will and rest in His strength. This is what brings the power that does not commit sin.” ~Andy Murray

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I am asking for your help today to live a life that is holy and acceptable to you. I have confessed my sin, and you have forgiven me, but each day is a battle. Each day I must make the choice to continually do things your way, not mine. Sometimes I have to make that choice moment by moment and some times are easier than others. I acknowledge that temptation to give into sin is a struggle. But Lord, I want to do things your way. Help me to be obedient. Help me to remember not to entertain things that are not holy and acceptable. Remind me to nip that thought of temptation in the bud by telling the Enemy to leave, by turning my thoughts to you, the Author and Finisher of my faith. Lord, I need your help, thank you for always being there for me.

When in Doubt – Jeremiah 32:25

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 32:25 (NIV)

 “And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.’”

Jeremiah 32:25 (MSG)

“And yet you, God, the Master, even though it is certain that the city will be turned over to the Babylonians, also told me, Buy the field. Pay for it in cash. And make sure there are witnesses.’”

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“Yet, O Lord God, You said to me, “Buy the field with money and get witnesses,” even though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’” -(AMP)

“Observe, it is hardly a prayer that Jeremiah utters; it is just a statement of his condition, and yet that is real prayer. When you do not know what to ask of God, state your difficulty; for that is the very best thing you can do. When you cannot see any way out of the maze, never mind; it is for God to show you the clue. There is often much sanctified common sense in laying the difficulty before the Lord, spreading the letter before him, and leaving it there. When you cannot ask for deliverance in this way or that, it will be sufficient just to state the case as Jeremiah did.” ~Charles Spurgeon

Jeremiah recognized the fact that everything was happening just as the Lord had predicted it would:

“Look! Siege ramps have come against the city to capture it, and the city, as a result of the sword, famine, and plague, has been handed over to the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you have spoken has happened. Look, you can see it!” -Jeremiah 32:24 (CSB)

And yet…even Jeremiah had his doubts. We find Jeremiah wondering why the Lord had instructed him to buy his cousin’s field.

“But You, Eternal Lord, tell me, “Buy Hanamel’s field with your own money in the presence of witnesses”—even as You hand over the city of Jerusalem to the Chaldeans.” -(VOICE)

Even though Jeremiah had been obedient to the Lord, here we find him expressing his doubts. We find him asking the Lord: “Have I done the right thing? Was this a wise investment? Did I really hear you Lord?” (We will find the Lord’s answer to Jeremiah beginning in the next verse.)

“It was hard for Jeremiah to understand why God told him to make the property purchase from prison. The Chaldeans were certainly going to conquer the city and the region. Even if God could restore His people to the land, they didn’t deserve it. This didn’t make much sense to Jeremiah, but he did the right thing: he looked to God and prayed for understanding.” ~David Guzik

Even Jeremiah, a prophet of God, struggled with doubts.

“And yet you say to buy the field—paying good money for it before these witnesses—even though the city will belong to our enemies.” -(TLB)

“Jeremiah adores the Lord and his infinite perfections. When at any time we are perplexed about the methods of Providence, it is good for us to look to first principles. Let us consider that God is the fountain of all being, power, and life; that with him no difficulty is such as cannot be overcome; that he is a God of boundless mercy; that he is a God of strict justice; and that he directs every thing for the best. Jeremiah owns that God was righteous in causing evil to come upon them. Whatever trouble we are in, personal or public, we may comfort ourselves that the Lord sees it, and knows how to remedy it. We must not dispute God’s will, but we may seek to know what it means.” ~Matthew Henry

We too often struggle with doubts. Doubts are common, we all have them. What we do when we begin to doubt is what matters. When in Doubt:

Listen and obey the Lord, despite the doubts: “Pay attention to my guidance, dare to be wise, and don’t disregard my teachings.” -Proverbs 8:33 (VOICE)

Trust the Lord, even though you have doubts: “Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 (VOICE)

Pray, regardless of the fact that you are experiencing doubts: “My God, my God, why have You turned Your back on me? Your ears are deaf to my groans. O my God, I cry all day and You are silent; my tears in the night bring no relief. Still, You are holy; You make Your home on the praises of Israel. Our mothers and fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You rescued them. They cried out to You for help and were spared; they trusted in You and were vindicated.” -Psalm 22:1-5 (VOICE)

Ask the Lord for wisdom: “If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking. The key is that your request be anchored by your single-minded commitment to God. Those who depend only on their own judgment are like those lost on the seas, carried away by any wave or picked up by any wind. Those adrift on their own wisdom shouldn’t assume the Lord will rescue them or bring them anything. The splinter of divided loyalty shatters your compass and leaves you dizzy and confused.” -James 1:5-8 (VOICE)

“Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can’t believe. Unbelief is won’t believe. Doubt is honesty. Unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light. Unbelief is content with darkness.” ~Henry Drummond

Remind yourself that God is All-Knowing, and nothing is impossible for Him: “Our Lord is great. Nothing is impossible with His overwhelming power. He is loving, compassionate, and wise beyond all measure.” -Psalm 147:5 (VOICE)

Keep in mind that God is Sovereign over all things: “We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.” -Romans 8:28 (VOICE)

“Doubt can actually be a good thing, if we continue to trust God, because it forces us to nail down why we believe what we believe. This doubt can actually cause our faith to be strengthened as we work through the issues that simply are not as clear as we would like them to be. By spending time understanding the deeper things of God, our faith and our relationship with Him is deepened.” ~Robert Driskell

My friend, we all have doubts from time to time. What we choose to do with those doubts though is what matters. They can help our faith grow, or they can drive us away from the Lord. The choice is ours. I encourage you to use those doubts to grow in your faith. Explore “why” you have doubts. Speak to the Lord about those doubts, He knows them already anyhow. Continue to walk in obedience to Him. Ask for wisdom. And keep in mind, we may not understand everything this side of Heaven, but our God, who is able to do the impossible, is working all things out for good. Trust Him.

“Doubting does not prove that a man has no faith, but only that his faith is small. And even when our faith is small, the Lord is ready to help us.” ~J. C. Ryle

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I admit, there are times that I do have doubts. I don’t understand why you ask me to do certain things, or why things happen the way that they do. There are times that I am confused, frustrated, and even fearful at how things will pan out. In my doubts, Lord, remind me that you are Sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Nothing gets by you by accident, and there are no surprises for you. You are always in complete control. I may not understand “why” things happen, but you have a plan, and that plan is good. Lord, I give you my doubts, my fears, my frustration. Help my faith and trust in you to grow stronger. Lord, I am counting on you.

The Lord is the Rewarder – Jeremiah 32:19

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 32:19 (NIV)

“…great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.”

Jeremiah 32:19 (MSG)

“Great and powerful God, named God-of-the-Angel-Armies, determined in purpose and relentless in following through, you see everything that men and women do and respond appropriately to the way they live, to the things they do.”

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“… great [are You] in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to reward or repay each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds…” -AMPLIFIED

“God is wise and strong, fully aware of all that happens, and just in giving everyone what he or she deserves. This is a classic statement of how God judges: according to people’s deeds, what they really do rather than what they intend or promise to do.” ~Thomas Constable

Jeremiah has been speaking to the Lord. He mentions the Lord’s faithful love and mercy, and also mentions God’s justice and righteous judgement.

“You show faithful love to thousands but lay the fathers’ iniquity on their sons’ laps after them, great and mighty God whose name is the Lord of Armies…” -Jeremiah 32:18 (CSB)

Jeremiah goes on in his prayer to speak of the fact that the Lord is the Rewarder:

“Your instructions are great, and Your actions are too wondrous for words. You see all that happens on this earth; You know what everyone does, and You deal with each fairly.” -(VOICE)

Three truths stand out in this verse:

First, the Lord is great in counsel, and in His purposes. He holds all wisdom, and He makes good plans.
“With great wisdom you make plans…” -(CEV)

Secondly, the Lord is mighty in deed. His actions are powerful. “…with your great power you do all the mighty things you planned.” -(CEV)

Thirdly, the Lord, the Omniscient One, sees everything, and He rewards man for his deeds, and He does so fairly. “Nothing we do is hidden from your eyes, and you reward or punish us as we deserve.” -(CEV)

Mind you, the Lord had spoken these words to Jeremiah back in chapter 17. There the Lord told him:

“I, the Lord, search and examine the mind, I test the heart, to give to each man according to his ways,
according to the results of his deeds.” -Jeremiah 17:10 (AMP)

As Jeremiah stands praying to the Lord in prison before this group of witnesses, he reiterates truths that the Lord has taught him. Mind you, this was not just for the sake of those who were hearing this prayer, but Jeremiah was reminding himself of who God was and His promises.

“You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles; for your eyes are open to all the ways of men, and you reward everyone according to his life and deeds.” -(TLB)

“He (Jeremiah) adds, that His (God’s) eyes are open on all the ways of men By these words he intimates that He is the judge of the whole world, and that whatever men may consult, speak, or do, must come to a reckoning. The meaning is, that the providence of God so extends to all parts of the world, that the works of men cannot possibly be hid from Him, and that no one can escape His hand; for after having spoken of God’s eyes, he adds, that He may render to every one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.” ~John Calvin

The Lord is the Rewarder. He gives to us what we deserve, Scripture reminds us of this and encourages us to put God first and follow His counsel.

We are reminded that God has a purpose for everything.

“The Eternal’s purposes will last to the end of time; the thoughts of His heart will awaken and stir all generations.” -Psalm 33:11 (VOICE)

We are told that God must come first in our lives. Jesus explained it to His followers in this way; make God your top priority.

 “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” -Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

Scripture reminds us of the importance of listening to and following God’s counsel, so that one day we will be with Him in glory.

“But even so, you love me! You are holding my right hand! You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel, and afterwards receive me into the glories of heaven! Whom have I in heaven but you? And I desire no one on earth as much as you!” -Psalm 73:23-25 (TLB)

Let us look once again at Hebrews 11:6, the verse on faith. This verse begins by telling us without faith it is impossible to please God, and ends with a reminder that God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” -(NASB1995)

One day we will each be rewarded for how we have chosen to live our lives.

“It is written, You will be holy, because I am holy. Since you call upon a Father who judges all people according to their actions without favoritism, you should conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your dwelling in a strange land.” -1 Peter 1:16-17 (CEB)

So, build with lasting materials on the foundation that Jesus laid.

“People may build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw. The day will make what each one does clearly visible because fire will reveal it. That fire will determine what kind of work each person has done. If what a person has built survives, he will receive a reward. If his work is burned up, he will suffer the loss. However, he will be saved, though it will be like going through a fire.” -1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (NOG)

“He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity.” ~Randy Alcorn

My friend, remember, the Lord is the Rewarder. God calls His followers to a higher standard. We are to be holy as He is holy. We are to make Him our top priority. We are to listen to and follow His counsel. We are to diligently seek Him. And we are to build on the One True Foundation, Jesus, with lasting materials. So, ask yourself if you are doing things God’s way. If you are, then you can expect to be rewarded accordingly. If not, then it is time to make some changes in your life.

“God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” ~Max Lucado

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, you are the Rewarder, wise in counsel, and mighty in deed. You guide and direct me in the ways I should go. If I am wise, I choose to follow your guidance. Sometimes I have not been wise. For those times, Lord, I ask your forgiveness. Help me to be listening and following your counsel in obedience. Help me to be sure that you are always first, my top priority. You have directed me to be holy as you are holy, and I am trying Lord. Please help me. I want to be building on the One True Foundation with gold, silver and precious stone. Help me to do so. I am counting on your help, because I cannot do this alone. Thank you for being with me always. You are so good to me.

When God Speaks, Listen – Jeremiah 32:6-8

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 32:6-8 (NIV)

“Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’ “Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’ “I knew that this was the word of the Lord…”

Jeremiah 32:6-8 (MSG)

“Jeremiah said, “God’s Message came to me like this: Prepare yourself! Hanamel, your uncle Shallum’s son, is on his way to see you. He is going to say, ‘Buy my field in Anathoth. You have the legal right to buy it.’ “And sure enough, just as God had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me while I was in jail and said, ‘Buy my field in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin, for you have the legal right to keep it in the family. Buy it. Take it over.’ “That did it. I knew it was God’s Message.”

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“And Jeremiah [answered King Zedekiah and] said, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Behold (listen carefully), Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it [in accordance with the law].”’ Then Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard in accordance with the word of the Lord, and he said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is at Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin, for you have the right of inheritance and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.” -AMPLIFIED

“This was the word of the Lord. — It was by his appointment that I was to make this purchase. The whole was designed as a symbolical act, to show the people that there would be a return from Babylon, that each family should re-enter on its former possessions, and that a man might safely purchase on the certainty of this event.” ~Adam Clarke

Zedekiah has taken issue with Jeremiah and the Messages from the Lord that he has been delivering. Because of this, Zedekiah arrested him, keeping Jeremiah imprisoned within the palace courtyard, under guard at all times. As we looked at yesterday’s text, we were reminded that God will deal with our persecutors, as He eventually dealt with Zedekiah.

“He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will stay until I attend to him—this is the Lord’s declaration. For you will fight the Chaldeans, but you will not succeed.’” -Jeremiah 32:5 (CSB)

We now find Jeremiah sharing with Zedekiah some pertinent information. We need to remember that the book of Jeremiah is not in chronological order. So, as we look at this passage, we will be referring to verses further along in the book for guidance and information.

Jeremiah explains the need to Zedekiah for listening to God in obedience and why we should do as He says.

Jeremiah (to Zedekiah): ^“The message of the Eternal came to me through my cousin: “Look! Hanamel (son of Shallum, your uncle), is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth; as my nearest relative, it is your right to buy it before I offer it to anyone else. It is also your duty to keep it in the family.’” And just as He had predicted, my cousin Hanamel came to me while I was being held in the court of the guard. He said, “Jeremiah, buy my field in your hometown of Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. It’s your right to buy and redeem it so that it stays in our family.” Then I realized this message was from the Eternal.” -(VOICE)

Background:

“When the Chaldean army pulled back from Jerusalem, Jeremiah left Jerusalem to go over to the territory of Benjamin to take care of some personal business. When he got to the Benjamin Gate, the officer on guard there, Irijah son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, grabbed Jeremiah the prophet, accusing him, “You’re deserting to the Chaldeans!” “That’s a lie,” protested Jeremiah. “I wouldn’t think of deserting to the Chaldeans.” But Irijah wouldn’t listen to him. He arrested him and took him to the police. The police were furious with Jeremiah. They beat him up and threw him into jail in the house of Jonathan the secretary of state. (They were using the house for a prison cell.) So Jeremiah entered an underground cell in a cistern turned into a dungeon. He stayed there a long time. Later King Zedekiah had Jeremiah brought to him. The king questioned him privately, “Is there a Message from God?” “There certainly is,” said Jeremiah. “You’re going to be turned over to the king of Babylon.” Jeremiah continued speaking to King Zedekiah: “Can you tell me why you threw me into prison? What crime did I commit against you or your officials or this people? And tell me, whatever has become of your prophets who preached all those sermons saying that the king of Babylon would never attack you or this land? Listen to me, please, my master—my king! Please don’t send me back to that dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary. I’ll die there!” So King Zedekiah ordered that Jeremiah be assigned to the courtyard of the palace guards. He was given a loaf of bread from Bakers’ Alley every day until all the bread in the city was gone. And that’s where Jeremiah remained—in the courtyard of the palace guards.” -Jeremiah 37:11-21(MSG)

Jeremiah’s relative, Hanamel had a piece of property in Anathoth, Jeremiah’s hometown, that he wished to sell to Jeremiah. Jeremiah was headed that way to take care of business when Irijah arrested him, accusing Jeremiah of being a traitor. In today’s passage we find the Lord informing Jeremiah that he will have a visitor, Hanamel, (apparently, he was allowed to receive visitors). And things happen exactly as the Lord had told Jeremiah they would. (When God speaks, we need to listen.)

So, Hanamel comes to Jeremiah and asks him to buy this piece of property, which was in accordance with the Law of Redemption found in Leviticus. There the Lord instructed the Israelites in this way: “You are not allowed to sell the land in perpetuity because it isn’t actually yours. The land belongs to Me. You will always be strangers and outsiders living in My land. So every plot of ground you possess carries a “right of redemption.” If your fellow citizen becomes so impoverished that he has no choice but to sell off a portion of his land, then his nearest family relation is to buy back the portion sold for him. If a man doesn’t have any relatives but finds a way to earn the money to redeem his land himself, then he will buy it back from the man who bought the land from him, less the profit the buyer would have made in the years since he leased it; then the original owner can go back to live on his land. But if a man does not earn or find the money he needs to buy back his land, then the man who leased the land will keep it until the year of jubilee. When the year of jubilee arrives, the land will return to the possession of its original owner.” -Leviticus 25:23-28 (VOICE)

What was the point of buying a piece of land if the Babylonians were going to conquer the land and take everything? The point was this, God had promised that the people would return to their homes in 70 years, back in chapter 29, and they needed to be thinking ahead. They needed to be considering and planning for their future. So, when the Lord spoke to Jeremiah, informing him that his cousin was coming to him to make this transaction, Jeremiah was ready. He had heard the Word of the Lord, and he was obedient to it.

“Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord; when I saw it came to pass, knowing that God alone knew what was in men’s hearts, told what they would do, I knew my former mentioned revelation was from God.” ~Matthew Poole

“Then this message from the Lord came to Jeremiah: Your cousin Hanamel (son of Shallum) will soon arrive to ask you to buy the farm he owns in Anathoth, for by law you have a chance to buy before it is offered to anyone else. So Hanamel came, as the Lord had said he would, and visited me in the prison. “Buy my field in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin,” he said, “for the law gives you the first right to purchase it.” Then I knew for sure that the message I had heard was really from the Lord.” -(TLB)

“Jeremiah bought the land when no one else would because he knew that this was the word of the LORD: “It would seem that the word of Jehovah came to him as an impression, as it so often comes to us. We often have impressions which seem to be from the Lord. Let us rest assured that what He commands He will make possible. When the call is followed by the open door, we need have no hesitation.” ~G. Campbell Morgan

Jeremiah heard the Word of the Lord and he not only listened, but he also obeyed. We need to do the same. Scripture instructs us to do so, saying to us:

• “Pay attention! Listen well; take care to hear my words.” -Isaiah 28:23 (VOICE)

• “So now listen to me, my children: those who live by my ways will find true happiness. Pay attention to my guidance, dare to be wise, and don’t disregard my teachings. The one who listens to me, who carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness. For when he recognizes and follows me, he finds a peaceful and satisfying life and receives favor from the Eternal. But heed my warning: the one who goes against me will only hurt himself, for all who despise me are playing with fire and courting death.” -Proverbs 8:32-36 (VOICE)

• “The one who loves Me will do the things I have commanded. My Father loves everyone who loves Me; and I will love you and reveal My heart, will, and nature to you.” -John 14:21 (VOICE)

• “But if someone responds to and obeys His word, then God’s love has truly taken root and filled him. This is how we know we are in an intimate relationship with Him: anyone who says, “I live in intimacy with Him,” should walk the path Jesus walked.” -1 John 2:5-6 (VOICE)

• “Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me. The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death I will place next to Me on My throne, just as I Myself conquered and took a place of honor with My Father on His throne. Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.” -Revelation 3:20-22 (VOICE)

“God speaks to those who take time to listen, and He listens to those who take time to pray.” ~Our Daily Bread Campus Journal

My friend, God is still speaking to His children. The question is, are we listening? And if we are listening, will we choose to obey? Remember, His intentions are for our good. He is standing at the door of our hearts knocking. Will you listen? Will you respond in obedience to His still, small Voice?

“God still speaks through the Holy Spirit. The question is, are we listening? Do we desire to hear His voice over our own voice? Most of us are moving 100 miles per hour throughout the day, but are we willing to stop everything to get alone with Him to listen to Him?” ~Ashley Evans

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I have heard your still, small Voice speaking to my heart. And I must confess, sometimes I am quick to obey, and other times I am not. Please forgive me. When I hear you knocking at the door of my heart, help me to be quick to open the door and invite you in, to take the time to listen and obey. I do not want to miss out on your blessings because I was too busy, or too stubborn to listen and obey. Lord, I do love you. I want you to see my love for you in my actions, not just my words. In faith I am asking for you help today, as I choose to listen and obey. Thank you, Lord.

God Never Gives Up on Us – Jeremiah 31:37

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:37 (NIV)

“This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 31:37 (MSG)

“God’s Message: “If the skies could be measured with a yardstick and the earth explored to its core, then and only then would I turn my back on Israel, disgusted with all they’ve done.” God’s Decree.”

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“Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off and abandon all the descendants of Israel for all that they have done,” says the Lord.” -AMPLIFIED

 “As surely as the heavenly bodies will continue their settled course, according to the will of their Creator, to the end of time, and as the raging sea obeys him, so surely will the Jews be continued a separate people. Words can scarcely set forth more strongly the restoration of Israel. The rebuilding of Jerusalem, and its enlargement and establishment, shall be an earnest of the great things God will do for the gospel church. The personal happiness of every true believer, as well as the future restoration of Israel, is secured by promise, covenant, and oath. This Divine love passes knowledge; and to those who take hold upon it, every present mercy is an earnest of salvation.” ~Matthew Henry

We have been reminded of God’ perfect order in His creation. And yesterday, we were reminded that the Lord in His order of establishing and securing of all things, decreed that Israel would remain a nation forever, for God will never give up on them. God’s Message:

“If this fixed order departs from before me—this is the Lord’s declaration—only then will Israel’s descendants cease to be a nation before me forever.” -Jeremiah 31:26 (CSB)

In today’s passage, we find the Lord reiterating what He has already declared. Jeremiah repeats the Lord’s pronouncement for us:

“This is what the Eternal says: Eternal One: “If the heavens above could ever be measured, or the depths below be fully explored, only then would I disown the children of Israel because of everything they have done.” -(VOICE)

We find Jeremiah clarifying for us that these are the Lord’s words, not his. And the Lord declares this: “There’s only one way I will reject all the descendants of Israel. That is if people can measure the sky above. It is if they can learn the secrets of the earth below. Then I will reject them because of what they have done,” says the Lord.” -(ICB)

The point is this: God may discipline His children, but He would never give up on them.

“Unworthy members of Israel may be cast away, but the race shall never entirely cease to exist.” ~Albert Barnes

The conditions given by the Lord are intended to be an over exaggeration, an unattainable achievement. No person would be able to accurately measure the foundations of the earth. And the Lord would never be able to reject His people. There would always remain a remnant of Israel.

Consider something that Paul wrote to the church in Rome:

“My brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be in the dark about this mystery—I am going to let you in on the plan so that you will not think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has been hardened to the good news until the full number of those outside the Jewish family have entered in. This is the way that all of Israel will be saved. As it was written, so it also stands: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will drive away wickedness from Jacob. And this is My covenant promise to them, on the day when I take away their sins. It may seem strange. When it comes to the work of the gospel, the fact that they oppose it is actually for your benefit. But when you factor in God’s election, they are truly loved because they descended from faithful forefathers. You see, when God gives a grace gift and issues a call to a people, He does not change His mind and take it back.” -Romans 11:25-29 (VOICE)

God will never give up on Israel.

“Not until the heavens can be measured and the foundations of the earth explored, will I consider casting them away forever for their sins!”-(TLB)

“It is impossible to conceive that God could state this principle in any stronger way. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have an enduring role in God’s plan of the ages until the end of the age.” ~David Guzik

Knowing that God has not, nor ever will, give up on His people, Israel, should reassure us and increase our faith, for God will never give up on us either.

David reminds us that there may be times that we are experiencing the Lord’s anger and His hand of discipline, but the grace He extends to us last a lifetime. David wrote:

“His wrath, you see, is fleeting, but His grace lasts a lifetime. The deepest pains may linger through the night, but joy greets the soul with the smile of morning.” -Psalm 30:5 (VOICE)

In the book of Lamentations, we find Jeremiah reminding us that God cares for us, and He loves us, and wants to bless us:

“Kept in God’s care:  the Lord won’t reject him forever. Kindness prevails: Even though God torments sometimes, the greatness of God’s loyal love wins out. Keeping us down: it is not the desire or way of God’s heart to hurt and grieve the children of men.” -Lamentations 3:31-33 (VOICE)

The author of Psalm 94 tells us that God will never abandon His people:

The Eternal will not abandon His people; He will not turn away from those He redeemed because justice is coming for those who do what is right and all the good-hearted will pursue it.” -Psalm 94:14-15 (VOICE)

 “God’s love is not wearied by our sins & is relentless in its determination that we be cured at whatever cost to us or Him.” ~C. S. Lewis

The author of Psalm 118 reminds us that God’s love for us never quits. He cannot cease to be who and what He is, loving and kind. (Take the time to read this psalm in its entirety on your own.):

“Give thanks to the Eternal because He is always good. He never ceases to be loving and kind.” -Psalm 118:1 (VOICE)

Isaiah recorded this Message from the Lord. It was written to Israel, but it also applies to all who call upon the Name of the Lord. It is a promise that we too can hold on to, especially in times of difficulty:

“I have reached to wherever you are in the farthest corners of earth, and the most hidden places therein. I have called to you and said, “You are my servant. I have chosen you, not thrown you away!” So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.” -Isaiah 41:9-10 (VOICE)

“God’s love is like an ocean. You can see its beginning, but not its end.” ~Rick Warren

My friend, you may have wandered far from the Lord. In fact, He may have needed to discipline you, and may still be disciplining you. But He will never give up on you. He loves you with an everlasting love. He cares about what happens to you. He is doing whatever it takes to turn your heart back to Him. Stop fighting against Him, and accept His guidance and His love.

“God’s unfailing love for us is an objective fact affirmed over and over in the Scriptures. It is true whether we believe it or not. Our doubts do not destroy God’s love, nor does our faith create it. It originates in the very nature of God, who is love, and it flows to us through our union with His beloved Son.” ~Jerry Bridges

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I am so grateful for your love that never gives up on me. That love that is willing to discipline and teach, to guide me in the ways that I should go. The fact that you do whatever is needed to help me walk with you, shows me how much you truly care. I am so blessed by the extent of your love, your goodness, your mercy, and your grace. At times I am overwhelmed as I realize how deep your love for me is, help me to always remember the magnitude of your love, even when I am experiencing your hand of discipline. Because even the discipline you give is done out of love. You are so good to me, Lord. I am blessed to be called a child of the Most High.

God’s Perfect Order – Jeremiah 31:36

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:36 (NIV)

“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the Lord, “will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.”

Jeremiah 31:36 (MSG)

“If this ordered cosmos ever fell to pieces, fell into chaos before me”—God’s Decree—“Then and only then might Israel fall apart and disappear as a nation before me.”

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“If this fixed order departs from before Me,” says the Lord, “Then the descendants of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” -AMPLIFIED

“Future Israel would no more cease from being a special nation in God’s sight than the fixed order of nature would cease.” ~Thomas Constable

We have been reminded that Adonai holds all authority and power, yes, ALL. God’s Message:

“This is what the Lord says: “The one who gives the sun for light by day, the fixed order of moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea and makes its waves roar—the Lord of Armies is his name…” -Jeremiah 31:35 (CSB)

And to put some muscle behind that statement, the Lord reminds Israel, and us, that He is behind every “ordinance”. He has established a perfect order of doing things, His Laws of nature, and they work exactly the way that He intends them to work.

“If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.” -(KJV)

““Ordinance,” and “ordinances,” would perhaps be the best words. The word means a fixed order of things, sometimes rendered in our version ”statute,” and sometimes “ordinance,”” ~John Calvin

Eternal One: “Only if the natural order disintegrates before Me will the people of Israel cease to be a nation in covenant with Me.” -(VOICE)

Depending on what translation you look at, the wording may be different, but the idea stays the same, we are reminded that God, who created all things, and put in place the ordinances, or the natural order of things, otherwise known as the laws of nature, has instituted a plan for how things would work on a continual basis, a natural order. He is in control of everything, and this verse once again supports God’s total authority over all things.

“There are ordinances of worship, which are God’s laws relating to his worship; and ordinances of justice, which are God’s laws for the executing civil justice; and ordinances of nature, which are God’s establishments for the working of natural causes in their order; these are those here spoken of, which shall hold and continue to the dissolution of the world, the continuance of which God pawneth as a pledge of the continuance of Israel as a nation all the days, (so it is in the Hebrew,) that is, many days, or all the days they shall keep close with him, or which he hath appointed.” ~Matthew Poole

And the Lord tells Israel, and us, that just as He would never forget His ordinances, so too, He would never forget the nation of Israel. Just as it is impossible for Him to forget the fixed order, the process of the sun coming up each day, and the moon and stars at night, so too He could never forget His people.

“I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to do away with these laws of nature!” -(TLB)

“The message from God is both powerful and plain. God will stop thinking of and dealing with Israel as a nation when the sun, moon, and stars stop giving light and when the sea stops roaring. As long as those things continue, God will regard Israel as a nation before Him forever.” ~David Guzik

In the book of Job, we find these ordinances called the Law or Rules of Heaven. We find the Eternal One speaking about them when He was addressing Job personally.

“Can you bind together a cluster of twinkling stars—the seven sisters of Pleiades who keep company in the night sky? Can you loosen the cords of Orion’s bow? Can you lead the stars of the Zodiac out in their proper seasons and guide the Bear with her cubs? Do you know the rules of the heavens, or apportion their influence on the seasons of the earth?” -Job 38:31-33 (VOICE)

The author of Psalm 119 reminds us that everything in nature follows the Laws or ordinances that the Lord has set in place.

“Your faithfulness endures to every generation; You founded the earth, and it remains. Everything remains today in keeping with Your laws, for all things exist to serve You.” -Psalm 119:90-91 (VOICE)

The writer of Psalm 148 alludes to these Laws of Heaven or ordinances, writing:

“Let all things join together in a concert of praise to the name of the Eternal, for He gave the command and they were created. He put them in their places to stay forever—He declared it so, and it is final.” -Psalm 148:5-6 (VOICE)

I am reminded that God has a purpose and a plan for every part of His creation, and that includes you and I. Consider something that David wrote:

“I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]!” -Psalm 57:2 (AMPC)

And our God is a God of order, not confusion:

“God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace.” -1 Corinthians 14:33a (CEB)

“Since God is sovereign, and this world is his, then every moment, in a sense, is a moment of providence. Wherever you find yourself right now has come by the process of events he ordained. Every past moment of your life has led to your now. The same will be true tonight, and tomorrow, and ten years in the future. Our experience of providence is our experience of the present, which we know has been wondrously woven together by God. And because God is behind it all, we, as those united to Christ by faith, are assured of this: God’s providence neither gets it wrong nor lets us go, ever.” ~Jonathan Parnell

My friend, we serve a God of order, not confusion. He has put into place a natural order of how things will work, ordinances. And He reminded Israel, and us as well, that He would be more likely to forget that order of things, than He would be to forget them, or us. That is how much He loves you and me. Never forget that truth.

“Our God is a God of order, and so his creation reflects that same reality.” ~Steven Wedgeworth

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I am reminded that you are a God of order. When you created this world, you put in place rules, or ordinances, that everything had to follow. The sun comes up in the day, and the moon and stars at night. This is how you ordained it to be, and nature follows the rules and boundaries that you have set into place. I am reminded that when you finished each part of creation, you said, “It is good.” What you had accomplished, by your own authority and power, was good, it was what you intended and wanted. And you, the God of order, not chaos, has a plan for my life. Help me to remember that you are in charge, and I am not. I choose to submit and give you control of every part of my life, so that your perfect plan for my life will come to pass fully. Thank you for loving me so much, Lord. You are so good to me. ❤

God Holds All Authority and Power -Jeremiah 31:35

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:35 (NIV)

“This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord Almighty is his name…

Jeremiah 31:35 (MSG)

“God’s Message, from the God who lights up the day with sun and brightens the night with moon and stars, who whips the ocean into a billowy froth, whose name is God-of-the-Angel-Armies…”

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“Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and of the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea’s roaring billows or stills the waves when they roar; the Lord of hosts is His name…” -AMPLIFIED

“God introduces Himself with extreme descriptions of His incomparable power. He is the One who gives light, the planets and stars, rules over the storms and seas, and commands heavenly armies (LORD of hosts). This statement is clearly given remarkable seriousness.” ~David Guzik

 Adonai-Tzva’ot, the Lord of Hosts, has declared that one day, His children will truly know Him, and they will experience His whole and complete forgiveness. God’s Message to Israel:

“No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.” -Jeremiah 31:34 (CSB)

And to put some umph behind this statement, the Lord, the Almighty, the Creator of all things, declares by whose authority these things will happen. Adonai makes this declaration of His authority:

“These are the words of the Eternal, the One who orders the sun to give light to the day, the One who directs the moon and the stars to light the night, the One who stirs up the sea so its waves churn and roar. The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, is His name.” -(VOICE)

Immediately we are informed that these words are the words of the Lord, the Eternal One. And His Message was this: “The Lord makes the sun shine in the day. And he makes the moon and stars shine at night. He stirs up the sea so that its waves crash on the shore. The Lord of heaven’s armies is his name.” -(ICB)

We find the Almighty declaring His authority and His power. He was letting Israel know that He, the Creator of all things, the Lord of Hosts, was able to fulfill every prophecy that He had declared. Nothing was impossible for Him. What He said He would do, He would do! He was and is still able to accomplish what He has decreed!

“The Lord who gives us sunlight in the daytime and the moon and stars to light the night, and who stirs the sea to make the roaring waves—his name is Lord Almighty—says this…” -(TLB)

“God will sooner blot out the sun and moon than cast away his people, or any one of them. They shall all be his people, and he shall be their God; he will preserve them, and he will keep his covenant with them forever and forever, blessed be his holy name, the name of Jehovah, the God of the covenant which cannot be broken!” ~Charles Spurgeon

 The question is, do we truly understand and grasp God’s authority and power? What does the Bible teach us about God’s authority and power?

• All authority and power belong to God: “The True God spoke this once, and twice I’ve heard: that You, the True God, hold all power…” -Psalm 62:11 (VOICE)

• The Lord has established His own throne, and He rules over everything: “The Eternal has established His throne up in the heavens. He rules over every seen and unseen realm and creature.” -Psalm 103:19 (VOICE)

• God does what He pleases: “He alone is one True God; who can alter Him? Whatever He desires within Himself, He does.” -Job 23:13 (VOICE)

• The Eternal is great and powerful: “Now I know this: the Eternal is great; His power is unmatched. Our Master is above any so-called god. He does whatever He pleases, in heaven, on earth, in the seas, and in all the ocean depths.” -Psalm 135:5-6 (VOICE)

• God establishes all earthly powers: “It is important that all of us submit to the authorities who have charge over us because God establishes all authority in heaven and on the earth.” -Romans 13:1 (VOICE)

• God can do everything and nothing can stop His plans from coming to pass: “I know You can do everything; nothing You do can be foiled or frustrated.” -Job 42:2 (VOICE)

• For God, nothing is impossible: “Our Lord is great. Nothing is impossible with His overwhelming power. He is loving, compassionate, and wise beyond all measure.” -Psalm 147:5 (VOICE)

“God’s omnipotence refers to His limitless power and authority. As the all-powerful Creator of the universe, God has complete control over every aspect of nature and can accomplish anything He desires (Jeremiah 32:17). God’s power has no boundaries or limitations, and He wields it perfectly according to His divine will.” ~Amanda Williams

My friend, have you questioned God’s authority and power? I think most of us, if we were honest with ourselves, sadly would say that we have. We have wondered where He was when we were experiencing troubles and pain. We have questioned His abilities and His plans for our lives. But I would remind you of this verse: “Matters not who says a thing will or won’t happen unless the Lord determines that it should.” -Lamentations 3:37 (VOICE) What God says will be, will be. He is the Supreme and Final Authority and Power on all things. Trust His plans for your life.

“God is the ultimate authority simply because He is “the LORD, and there is no other.” It is He who created everything, including mankind. God is the Father of mankind, and as such, He has authority over us.” ~Jeremy Ham

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, please forgive me for those times that I have questioned your authority and power. In those moments, I know I have failed to trust your plan for my life. I am sorry. You, the Creator of all things, the Omnipotent One, the Omniscient One, the Omnipresent One, the Omnibenevolent One, YOU ARE ABLE! I am reminded of something Paul wrote: “Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.” -Ephesians 3:20-21 (VOICE) When I forget, Lord, please, remind me that nothing is impossible for you. Help me to remember that you hold all authority and power, and YOU ARE ABLE! Thank you, Lord.

Accepting Responsibility for Our Sin -Jeremiah 31:30

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:30 (NIV)

“Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.”

Jeremiah 31:30 (MSG)

“No, each person will pay for his own sin. You eat green apples, you’re the one who gets sick.”

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“But everyone will die [only] for his own wickedness; every man who eats sour grapes—his [own] teeth shall be set on edge.” -AMPLIFIED

“Although group or collective responsibility is an important concept, Jeremiah and Ezekiel emphasize individual responsibility as both preparation and explanation of for the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, which the people might have been tempted to blame on the sins of their ancestors.” ~NIV footnote

In yesterday’s passage we found the Lord addressing the subject of personal accountability. God’s Message:

“In those days, it will never again be said, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’” -Jeremiah 31:29 (CSB)

The people of Israel and Judah thought God was punishing them for the sins of their fathers. And the Lord continues in addressing this subject matter, saying to the people:

“No, now it will be that each one will die for his own sins. If you eat sour grapes, then it is your own teeth that will be set on edge.” -(VOICE)

 Adonai unequivocally disagrees with this line of thinking that the people of Israel had adopted. No one would be held responsible for the sins of anyone else, including, but not limited to, the sins of their fathers.

“No child shall suffer Divine punition for the sin of his father; only so far as he acts in the same way can he be said to bear the sins of his parents.” ~Adam Clarke

This does not mean that a child, or other decedent would not experience repercussion from their ancestor’s sin. Often there are consequences, or effects of sin that will have a ripple effect on our family members. We know that this can happen. A good example would be David’s affair with Bathsheba. His sin had a ripple effect and the consequences of his actions and choices carried on and affected his children and their children. His sons knew what he had done and sadly a few of them followed his negative example. But God did not hold David’s children responsible for their father’s actions. It was up to them to choose not to follow his bad example though. Sadly, we know from Scripture that some of them failed to break the cycle, Solomon, and Absalom in particular.

“God was going to deal with the Israelites individually, personally; and that is how he will deal with us.” ~Charles Spurgeon

God declares here that everyone will pay for and give an accounting of their own sin.

“For everyone shall die for his own sins—the person eating sour grapes is the one whose teeth are set on edge.” -(TLB)

“In that time of future blessing, people would no longer repeat a popular proverb that said that the children were suffering because of their fathers’ sins. This proverb expressed a popular misconception. It blamed present trouble on past ancestors inordinately. In that day, everyone would bear the consequences of his own actions. Justice would be obvious then, even though at present it did not seem to be operating. Whereas people do suffer consequences for the sins of their ancestors to a limited extent (corporate responsibility), they much more consistently suffer for their own sins (individual responsibility).” ~Thomas Constable

From the beginning, God’s intention was that each person would be held responsible for their own personal sins, not the sins of someone else. We know this from something that Moses said to the people back in the book of Deuteronomy, that people would personally pay for their own crimes:

“Don’t put parents to death for anything their children have done, and don’t put children to death for anything their parents have done. People are only to be executed for their own crimes.” -Deuteronomy 24:16 (VOICE)

In the book of Ezekiel, we find the Lord giving this pronouncement that the child would not pay for the sin of the parent:

“So why do you ask, “Why is the son not also punished for his father’s guilt?” Don’t you see? The son did not commit his father’s sins. The son chose to do what is just and right by remembering and following My laws, so he will surely live. The person who sins will die. The child will not be punished for the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent be punished for the guilt of the child. The righteous will be credited with righteousness. The wicked will be charged with wickedness.” -Ezekiel 18:19-20 (VOICE)

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, reminded them that what a person sowed, that he would also reap.

“Make no mistake: God can’t be mocked. What you give is what you get. What you sow, you harvest. Those who sow seeds into their flesh will only harvest destruction from their sinful nature. But those who sow seeds into the Spirit shall harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” -Galatians 6:7-8 (VOICE)

And the writer of Hebrews reminds us that one day we will have to give an accounting to the Lord for our actions:

“No creature can hide from God: God sees all. Everyone and everything is exposed, opened for His inspection; and He’s the One we will have to explain ourselves to.” -Hebrews 4:13 (VOICE)

And Solomon teaches us the importance of confessing our sin and accepting responsibility of them:

“Whoever tries to hide his sins will not succeed, but the one who confesses his sins and leaves them behind will find mercy.” -Proverbs 28:13 (VOICE)

“The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up.” ~John C. Maxwell

My friend, we are responsible for our own sins; Scripture is quite clear about this. Yes, you may experience the ripple effect of past sins of your family, but God only holds you responsible for the choices you have made. Knowing this fact, it is up to you and I to make good, godly choices. I encourage you to walk in obedience to the Lord. Remember, Jesus told His followers: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” -John 14:15 (ESV)

“The most important thought that ever occupied my mind is that of my individual responsibility to God.” ~Daniel Webster

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I am grateful that I am not being held responsible for the sins of my forefathers, and that my children are not held responsible for my sins. That would be a difficult burden to bear. I am so thankful that you are a gracious, merciful, and forgiving God. I want to take this time right now to confess to you any sin that I may not have laid at your feet. I am sorry, Lord. I want to be obedient to you. Your Word teaches me that my love for you will be evident in my obedience to you, “Love is defined by our obedience to His commands. This is the same command you have known about from the very beginning; you must live by it.” -2 John 1:6 (VOICE) Lord, help me to walk in obedience to you. Remind me that I am only responsible for the choices I make, and I want to make good choices. Thank you, Lord.

Going Home! – Jeremiah 31:23

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:23 (NIV)

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.’”

Jeremiah 31:23 (MSG)

“A Message from Israel’s God-of-the-Angel-Armies: “When I’ve turned everything around and brought my people back, the old expressions will be heard on the streets: ‘God bless you!’ . . . ‘O True Home!’ . . . ‘O Holy Mountain!’”

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“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Once more they will speak these words in the land of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and in her cities when I restore their fortunes and release them from exile, ‘The Lord bless you, O habitation of justice and righteousness, O holy mountain!’” -AMPLIFIED

“Jerusalem was cursed because of sin; but God declared that, in his great mercy, he would make it to be a place of blessing, and men should speak of it as the “habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.” ~Charles Spurgeon

The Lord is speaking to Israel, His unfaithful daughter, encouraging her to turn away from her sin, and turn back to Him. He tells her that if she will repent, and do a 180, turning from her sin, then He can do something new in her:

“How long will you turn here and there, faithless daughter?
For the Lord creates something new in the land—a female will shelter a man.” -Jeremiah 31:22 (CSB)

Over and over again we are reminded that God’s intentions for Israel were for good, not evil. He wanted to give her hope and a future, and we see this fact stated once again in today’s text, as the Lord speaks about bringing His children home.

“This is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies and God of Israel, has to say: Eternal One: When I bring them back from exile, people throughout the land and villages of Judah will speak these familiar words: “May the Eternal bless you, home of righteousness, O sacred mountain!” -(VOICE)

Jeremiah reiterates that it is the Lord speaking, Adonai-Tzva’ot, the Lord of Hosts, the Commander of heavenly armies. So, what the Lord has to say has power and strength behind it.

The Lord says: “When I bring you back…” This is a reminder of the fact that the Lord will be the One who will bring them home. Everything that has happened to Israel was because of the Lord’s divine hand working. He sent them away in order to discipline them. He will bring them home in order to restore them. Nothing happened in their lives by accident or chance, God’s purpose and plan was always at work in their lives.

When the Lord brought them home and restored them, then the people would say once again: “‘The Lord bless you, O righteous home, O holy mountain!’” -(NLT)

 “When the southern kingdom and her cities are restored, the old greeting of those visiting Jerusalem will be heard once more.” ~Feinberg

The point is, God would bring them home. The Lord would restore them and when He did so, the blessings would return.

“The Lord, the God of Israel, says: When I bring them back again, they shall say in Judah and her cities, “The Lord bless you, O center of righteousness, O holy hill!”” -(TLB)

“The Lord spoke of a coming day when this blessing would be said by the Jewish people as they returned to Zion and came to Jerusalem as pilgrims. This blessing indicates that the government of Israel is transformed and righteously governed by the Messiah, who makes Jerusalem a home of justice, and mountain of holiness.” ~David Guzik

God wants to prepare us to go home to be with Him as well. Scripture teaches us:

1.) God wants to turn us away from our sinful ways: “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” -Acts 3:26 (NIV)

2.) God wants to work in our hearts, in order to fulfill His purposes: “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” -Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

3.) Jesus comforted His followers with this promise of home: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” -John 14:1-4 (NIV)

4.) God is preparing us for our heavenly home: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (NIV)

5.) Remember, this world is not our home: “For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.” -Hebrews 13:14 (TLB)

6.) In the end, God will bring His children home to be with Him: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” -Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV)

“My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world.” ~Billy Graham

My friend, this world is not our home. We are just pilgrims traveling through, on our way to heaven. God is using this life to prepare us for what is yet to come. We need to keep that fact at the forefront of our minds and accept the discipline of the Father as He works in your life to prepare you for what lies ahead. Our eternal home, where we will dwell forever with our Lord and Savior, is what we need to keep our focus on, not on this world and its temporary pleasures. Please, keep your eyes on the goal.

“So, the great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return in glory to our heavenly home.” ~Henry B. Eyring

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, home is such a sweet word. It fills my mind with peace and contentment. Heaven, home with you, is my goal. Once again, I am reminded that this world is not my home. And I am so thankful that is true, because all I see is chaos and unrest in this place. I have realized that all that glitters is not gold. I am looking forward to an eternity spent with you, and I am working at storing up for myself treasures in heaven that will never fade. Lord, help me not become distracted by the things of this world. Help me to remain submissive as you discipline me and work in me for your purposes, because I know that your intention is to prepare me to be with you forevermore. Thank you, Lord.