Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 18:1-17; 19:1-20:6 (Day Three)
“Does the snow of Lebanon
ever vanish from its rocky slopes?” When streams dry up, life suffers. What is true of the physical realm is true first of the spiritual realm—not because the physical realm is merely an inferior copy of the spiritual realm. It isn’t. But before the material universe came to be, God existed. He created the universe—everything that is—to function in a certain way—and only in that way. When streams dry up, people become alarmed, because they know the hardship that’s coming. Their physical well being is in danger. What is true of the physical is true first of the spiritual. Has righteousness ceased to flow in our lives? Should we be concerned?
Tag: God
What is Pride Worth?
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 18:1-12; 19:1-15 (day two)
I am going to bring on this city and the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words. (19:15) Is getting your way worth it? Jeremiah could not have been a popular figure when he delivered these words, but the reality is that the truth was painful. Maybe you know someone like this; unwilling to listen, bend their will, or repent. At times we even champion people with iron wills, but at what cost to their souls. We are not in a position to negotiate with God, we don’t have anything to bargain with. The arrogance that may work in a corporate setting will be smashed like a clay pot. We don’t have to be this way, God is offering to refine and shape up into His character if we will let go of ours.
Does God change His mind?
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 18:1-12; 19:1-15 (day one)
It is a trick question, I suppose. The true answer is that God never acts contrary to His own word and character. His does, however, leave Himself room for “flexibility” depending on how His word is received. He can (and does) warn nations of coming judgment. If that nation repents, He “will relent from the calamity planned” (18:8) He can (and does) announce His blessing on nations. If that nation becomes overconfident, takes His blessings for granted and moves into evil, He “thinks better of the good with which I had promised to bless it” (18:10) From our side, it may appear that He is changing His mind. From His perspective, God is ruling the world with absolute moral consistency. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. The one who sows to his own flesh . . .corruption; the one who sows to the Spirit. . .eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8)
Worth
Re:Verse reading–Psalm 8 (day three)
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place…” Consider, then: 13.3 billion light-years away, a tiny galaxy (the rather clunkily-named MACS0647-JD) shines its light. That light travels six trillion miles in one year, and even at that speed, it needs 13.3 billion years to reach earth. The psalmist didn’t measure space like we do, but he knew: God’s heavens are immense enough that the human race would seem trivial by comparison. And yet, God is mindful of us. Jesus knew that our well-being depends on our knowledge of that mindfulness in this vast universe: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God…Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)
A Good Boss
Re:Verse reading–Psalm 8 (day two)
If you’ve never had a good boss, it is hard to appreciate the significance of Psalm 8:6. “You made him lord over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet.” A good boss makes everyone’s life better. Objectives are clear. Less time is wasted. Conflicts don’t get out of hand. The organization flourishes, and everyone joyfully does their part. When the New Testament authors thought of Jesus, they thought of him as a good boss. Consequently, they referred to this psalm to celebrate Jesus’ reign over their lives and all creation (see Ephesians 1:20-23). When you see an organization well run, a home well-managed, a life well ordered, you are seeing the thumbprint of the perfect boss who “does all things well” (Mark 7:37). His work of restoration is not yet complete, and He invites us to participate in it. Are you a “good boss” of your own life, family and work?
How majestic
Re:Verse reading–Psalm 8 (day one)
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (vs 1) Fill in the blanks. “For purple mountain_________above the fruited plain.” (think song) “Her ________, the Queen!” (think England) When David says that God’s name is majestic, He used a word (addir) which meant, “glorious, mighty, huge or wide”. It was a word of scope, scale and size. Name meant “reputation or character”. It is an insight that came to David as he watched the stillness and beauty of the nighttime sky. How could the creator of such beauty not be beautiful, Himself? How could He be small? There is great benefit for those who gain this perspective. Whenever we are overwhelmed it is usually because our problems have gotten large and our God has gotten small (in our eyes, at least). To recover this vision is to experience peace. “Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is STRONG!”