God Speaks
God-directed Prophets and Priests Versus Those Not Directed by Him
Verse of the Day: [In Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles in Babylon, he encouraged them with these words from the LORD:] “. . . For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you out of captivity. . . . ” [Quotes in original.] (Jeremiah 29:11-14a NIV 2011) [Their exile was to last 70 years. In the meantime, the exiles were to settle down, raise families and work for the benefit of their captors in Babylon.]
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Watch TBR Day 226
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Jeremiah 26-29:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Jeremiah 26
1. God calls people to repent of their evil ways. If they do, He will change His mind about the disaster He has ready to send. If they do not repent, He will send the disaster about which He has warned them through His prophets and through His Word, the Holy Bible.
2. People need to pay attention to what God says through His true prophets and His Word and obey–even if it is frightening or counter-intuitive. Then God will bless and protect them.
Jeremiah 27
1. The LORD God is the ultimate source of all things visible and invisible: strength, power, light, and the truth that leads to life eternal. Thus, He is worthy of our total trust and complete obedience.
2. People are not to listen to false prophets, fortune tellers, interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers, because they are all liars and are led by the father of lies, Satan. They tell lies about the LORD God that will lead to death and destruction.
Jeremiah 28
1. Only the LORD God knows the future. At times, He reveals it to people, but they must have purified hearts fully devoted to Him.
2. People should only believe in prophets whose words come true, come from God Himself, and lead them to Him rather than away from Him.
Jeremiah 29
1. God has plans for His people that are for good and not for disaster, to give them a future and a hope.
2. The people who want to see restoration and renewal need to look for and follow the LORD God wholeheartedly.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Jeremiah 26-29?
O LORD God, You truly are the ultimate source of all things visible and invisible: strength, power, light, and the truth that leads to life eternal. Because of this, You are worthy of my full trust and complete obedience. Only You know the future. At times, You choose to reveal it to people, but they must have purified hearts fully devoted to You and Your ways. Purify my heart, Holy Spirit, using the Word of God and the blood of Christ Jesus. Help me as I change my mind and repent of my evil ways. Perhaps, then You, LORD, will relent and not send the judgment my family, nation, and I deserve. May I (and other believers) pay attention to what You say through Your true prophets or in the Bible and obey–even if it is frightening or counter-intuitive. Then You, LORD God, promise to bless and protect us. Help us to not listen to anyone (whoever it is) telling lies about You and Your Word, the Bible. These lies lead only to death and destruction. May we trust only the people whose words come true, come from You Yourself, and lead us to You rather than away from You. Your plans for people, loving Father God, are for our good and not to bring disaster on us, to give us a future and a hope. People who have holy fear of You, LORD, want to see restoration and renewal in our families, communities, regions, nations, and world. Therefore, enable us to search for and follow You, LORD God, wholeheartedly. Then we will bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Jeremiah 26-29? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will do something God is calling me to do even if it goes against the accepted norm.
- I will pray for my nation (and myself) to turn to God and obey Him so that we can avoid the disasters He had planned to send as His rightful judgment of our many sins.
- I will support (with prayer, finances, and/or action) people I’m aware of that are standing (or speaking) up for what is right (in God’s sight) and against evil, whether near or far away.
- I will work for God to bless the community where I live, whether I think it is good or bad.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.