Prayer: Father, Your instruction is personalized and customized for each of Your prophets and messengers. Thank You for the example of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 16 key: vs. “The word of Adonai came to me, saying: “You will not take a wife for yourself or have sons or daughters in this place.” For thus says Adonai about the sons and daughters born in this place, and about their mothers who give birth to them and about their fathers who father them in this land.” TLV
Attention: Most of us like to hear a word for us from God, through a prophet. But how many of us receive a word directly from God? Are you listening and praying for communication from God? Are you asking Him questions and then listening for the answer?
Jeremiah received a customized, personalized word from God, not to marry or have children. Why would God command Jeremiah not to marry? In God’s foreknowledge, He knows what lies ahead. He is sparing His anointed from the grief associated with seeing loved ones suffer and die. The judgement which God had given this region was to die from “deadly diseases,” the fatalities will overwhelm the abilities to bury the deceased, and “sword and famine” will “consume” them. Family members would not be spared.
Additionally, in past chapters, the people who surrounded Jeremiah, had turned against him. Family members too would become targets of those who plotted against Jeremiah. Being a messenger of God is difficult enough without adding the pressure and concern of a spouse and children’s wellbeing. Compromise is tempting when attempting to protect one’s family.
Has God ever told you that He was going to serve up a “double portion” of judgement for your sin? God’s single portion has always been enough for me. God sees all my sin.” For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes (vs.17).” None of my sin misses His purview. Neither did Israel’s sin. The current generations sin was graver then their fathers, “Yes, you have done worse than your fathers (vs. 12a).”
Be not deceived by God’s lack of immediate action in response to our personal and corporate sin. God is longsuffering. Do not mistake His longsuffering for indifference. God gives us the opportunity to repent and return. He desires that none would perish but all would come to receive life in Messiah (John 3:16-18). The apostle John summarizes by saying, “He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (vs. 36).” It is all about obedience.
Action: I choose to be obedient to the word of God, whether personal or corporate.
Yield: I choose to be submissive to God’s personal and corporate word (the scriptures).
Engage: I choose to engage in an obedient lifestyle with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedient, intimate relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, You provide guidance through Your corporate word and personal words to all who would listen. May obedience be the lifestyle for all who follow You. Amen.
Memory Verse: John 3:36 “He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” TLV
Music Video: Phil Wickham—Living Hope https://youtu.be/9f2FXxDVO6w?si=tOkiNMaDWeGT8i0D
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”