219th Week, Jeremiah Chapters 35-39

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 Click on Title for Video Introduction


Monday, Jeremiah Chapter 35
Jeremiah 35
Verse 6b
Jeanie Boldt

Verse 6b:  “Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine.”

THOUGHT
This verse speaks of a covenant with the Lord. The people were told not to drink wine, and they followed that order. I guess I am very close to this because Rory has this special covenant with his Lord and Savior. He MUST NEVER drink again. It is a vow and a commitment. 

It seems like commitment and covenants are not being made and followed like they should in this world. With only the Lord’s help can we remain faithful to the promises we make.

PRAYER
God, our Father, thank You for Rory’s Sobriety. I praise You for the covenant and commitment he has made with Your help and his daily surrender. May we look to You for the strength to follow the rules and commandments You have given us in Your Word to live by. Help us to remember that You will honor those who follow Your Will and Way in the end.  God Bless this Family!  AMEN


Tuesday, Jeremiah Chapter 36
Jeremiah 36
Verse 23
Bart Strayer

Verse 23:  Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire.

THOUGHT 
God’s Word popped right off the page when I read this chapter. My fear is that we have raised a bunch of ‘wimpy’ Christians in this country that like to thumb through the Bible and rip out any page that has God’s Word in disagreement with our lifestyles and cast it into the firepot.

My concern is that messages spoken from the pulpits are ‘feel-good’ messages that leave you feeling all warm and bubbly inside instead of challenging you to grow in your faith. (I could go on for pages, but I’ll stop) 

Not much has changed since Jehudi. He was looking for a similar message. My question to you today is, “How much in common do you have with Jehudi?”

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us and Christians everywhere not to consider Your Word as constraining, but as Words to live our life by and Words that set us free by the love for Your people. Help us build a mighty church in this country. Help us to focus our minds this week on what is good, pure, and pleasing to You. In Jesus Name. AMEN


Wednesday, Jeremiah Chapter 37
Jeremiah 37
Verses 2 & 3
Bart Strayer

Verses 2 & 3:  Neither he (King Zedekiah), nor his attendants, nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah with the Priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message:  ‘Please pray to the Lord our God for us’.”

THOUGHT 
Have you ever been asked for prayers by a non-believer or a person whose lifestyle is not conducive to a relationship with Jesus?  Have you ever wondered what brought them to prayer at that point in their life? I often wonder what God will do for these people after my prayer is said. Prayer is a very easy and selfless act that we MUST engage in regardless of the person or situation. Can you think of a situation that does not warrant prayer? There is not one. God made us dependent on Him.  It is part of the completeness of His Plan.

I am going to steal a thought from one of the Theological Reviewers that write the interpretations found on the lower portion of the page in most Application Bibles.

“King Zedekiah and his officials did not want to listen to Jeremiah’s word  (the Bible), but they wanted the blessings of his prayers (from the Father). They wanted a superficial religion that wouldn’t cost anything.  But God is not pleased with those who come to him only for what they can get rather than seeking to establish or deepen a relationship with him. We would not accept that kind of relationship with someone else, and we shouldn’t expect God to accept it from us.”

I would like to see non-believers 1)acknowledge their sin, 2)repent, 3)submit their life to Jesus and 4)then pray.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, prayer is a necessity of the Christian life. Help us to seek You through prayer constantly. Hold us accountable for the prayers of believers and non-believers everywhere. Help us to carry the burden of prayer so that we may be reminded of our dependence on You. In Jesus Name.  AMEN


Thursday, Jeremiah Chapter 38
Jeremiah 38
Verse 6 
Bart Strayer

Verse 6:   So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

THOUGHT
In the past few chapters, we are getting a clearer idea of all the hardships that Jeremiah had to endure because of his task appointed by God.  

Wow, I don’t know about you, but there are some days that I can relate with Jeremiah. What we have to remember is that God is always true to His Promises. He didn’t ever say to me, ‘Bart, the plan I have for you is going to be very easy.’  I don’t think an easy road is always God’s plan.  Some situations in our life are reminders that we are to grow ever more dependent on God as a source of strength and wisdom. 

What promises does God have for you? How have you prepared yourself to receive those promises?

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, like Jeremiah, when times get tough for us, help us to remember the bigger picture and the plan You have for us. When we are weak, make us strong. When we are frightened, make us feel safe. We thank You for Your mercy and watchful eye that You have over Your people. In Jesus Name. AMEN


Friday, Jeremiah Chapter 39
Jeremiah 39
Verses: 17 & 18
Bart Strayer

Verses 17 & 18:  “But I will rescue you on that day.” declares the Lord; “You will not be handed over to those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in Me.” declares the Lord.

THOUGHT 
What a great lesson on trust. The Bible has many great lessons on trust.  This story accentuates the wideness of God’s mercy when we put our trust in Him. I think all of us can agree that we trust God; that doesn’t mean it is easy. 

Speaking personally, my biggest struggle is between personal plans and God’s plans. I trust that God will deliver His promises; how we get to those promises can be uncertain. Unfortunately, at times my plans of achievement are different from God’s plans, and when those plans fail, I become uncertain, which leads to fear. 

Maybe God has promised you a new territory, a family, a job, a spouse. Reread God’s message on trust and ask yourself: “Am I trusting God, or just trying to trust myself?”

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us put our trust in You. Help us when we get discouraged with progress. Remind us of Your power and love. Lead us to stories like Jeremiah and usher in Your comfort. In Jesus Name.  AMEN













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