October 16th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Jeremiah 28:1-29:32 ~ 1 Timothy 1:1-20
Psalm 86:1-17 ~ Proverbs 25:17

Old Testament - Jeremiah 28 has a good lesson for us in Hananiah. I think we need to be careful when we use words like, "God says", or "this is God's will", or "I know God will do x, y, and z." Hananiah was using words like this... and he may have really thought this to be true... but he was wrong big-time. And paid a big price. I'm thinking in our lives it might be better to say, "God-willing, this hopefully will happen..." or "I believe God is leading me this way. I pray I'm right" - and then be prepared to adjust if we realize it wasn't quite the right way. I'm sure most of us are seeking God's will for our lives. We maybe should be cautious on making declarative statements on precisely what God's will is for our lives?   Let us instead simply try to follow God's lead in our life each and every day and trust that his lead will take us where he wants us to go.

In Jeremiah chapter 28 verses 15 through 17 today we read - "Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah, "Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, but the people believe your lies. Therefore, the LORD says you must die. Your life will end this very year because you have rebelled against the LORD." Two months later, Hananiah died."

Jeremiah 29:8-9 today tells us - "The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says, "Do not let the prophets and mediums who are there in Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams because they prophesy lies in my name. I have not sent them," says the Lord." My thought on these verses is that often times I think that we too are tricked by lies that the world is often selling us. "Money, Power, Status, Sex-Appeal, etc. etc. are things to be strived for above all else" are the type of things that I think we often hear. But, are these True? Or are they tricks - are they lies? Will you find emptiness or happiness in what the world is selling you? Where can you find true happiness and peace? I think these questions are answered for us today in verses 11-13: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me."  Are you looking for God in earnest?  If you've found God, are you following Him alone and not the tricksters of this world?

New Testament - This week we begin Paul’s first and second letters to Timothy! These are very powerful letters to read because Paul wrote them toward the end of his life. Paul’s second letter to Timothy was likely the last letter he ever wrote. Some call this letter Paul’s “last will and testament.” Please pay close attention to Paul’s teachings in these letters this next week. We cannot hear the teachings in these letters often enough!  Below is an image of Timothy receiving one of Paul's letters to him -

~ First Timothy ~
Author: Paul the apostle
Place: Uncertain
Date: A.D. 64
Content: This letter was written by Paul near the end of his life and he addressed it to his associate Timothy, whom he had left in Ephesus to correct some problems in the church. By this time problems had arisen concerning doctrine, church practice, church government, and various aspects of Christian living. Paul wrote to instruct Timothy concerning these matters so that the church would function properly. He also wrote to encourage Timothy so that he would not become weary in his Christian life, but would live wholly to the glory of God. There are some specific regulations given for the ordination of church officers as well.
Theme: The importance of right belief and right behavior form the theme of this book. Paul stresses that we must know the truth and defend it against the false doctrines that arise. We must also be very careful to live lives that are consistent with the truth so that Satan will not get an advantage over the people of God. The importance of dedicated and pure-hearted men to lead the church is also stressed. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 29)

A wonderful commentary on First Timothy by J. Hampton Keathley, III, titled “Critical Concerns for Pastoral Ministry” is at this link.

Psalms - Wow. Today in Psalm 86 we read an amazingly wise prayer of David to God in verse 11 – “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” How do you think this verse works as a prayer? Can you imagine praying it to God? Do you want God to teach you his way? Do you want to walk in God’s Truth? What does it mean to you to have an undivided heart? It is possible that your heart is now divided in some way? Will you pray to God for an undivided heart? What does it mean to fear God’s name? Why would David pray to fear God’s name? I read an interesting commentary on this verse saying that David is wisely praying for God to save him from his frailty within himself. Oftentimes in the Psalms we will read about David praying for God to deliver him from his enemies. In this verse David is praying for deliverance from what is within. This is a critical point to consider. I think sometimes we always look toward “external” circumstances as the cause of all of our problems. When perhaps we need to look at some “internal” things going on inside of us as causes of some of our problems? And in realizing that there are some internal things that need to be fixed, perhaps we can humbly pray Psalm 86 verse 11 like David did thousands of years ago?

Proverbs - Proverbs 25:17 is a great one - "Don't visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome." Kind of reminds me of the old adage: "fish and friends go bad after 3 days".  :)

What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Ramona]

Jeremiah 28-29:32

While reading these two chapters two very powerful images came into my mind’s eye, the gardening process of pruning and cutting, and the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 11:28-30.

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Mat 11:28-30 KJV)

Pruning and Cutting:

Throughout our reading of both Isaiah and Jeremiah, we see and read glimpses of “The Remnant.” Those people who will remain once the “unproductive” parts are removed and the “good” parts are cutback to produce more growth.

In the King James translation the English word, remnant is used a total of thirty-four times in both Isaiah and Jeremiah. A remnant based on the Hebrew words used (based on Strong’s numbering system) is: a survivor; residue; a portion that had escaped; posterity, etc. It is thus understandable why the scribes, Pharisees (far-to-sees) and Sadducees (sad-to-sees) were enraged when Jesus gave them the Parable of the Unproductive Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) new that the Fig Tree and the Vineyard mentioned in that Parable was talking about them. (Interesting to take note that the Vineyard in this Parable has a Fit Tree planted in the midst, both represent Israel. What does it mean to have a Fig Tree (Israel) in the middle of a Vineyard?) The discourse Jesus gave in John chapter 15 to His disciples also gives us great insight in the life of the Believer. By way of the Pruning Shears to either cut off those things that are dead and to cutback those things that will hinder the productive things in our lives that may be good but not good for us.

Then Jesus told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, 'For three years now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect it I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue to deplete the soil?' But the worker answered him, 'Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. Then if it bears fruit next year, very well, but if not, you can cut it down.' "
(Luk 13:6-9 NET.)

"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.
(Joh 15:1-5 NET.)

Yokes:

Jeremiah has been walking around with a “yoke” on his shoulders, which represented the burden they, Judah, would receive because she refused to accept the “Yoke” of God, enslavement to the King of Babylon, death, disease or famine. The implication is that no matter how much we think that God is a tough “slave” Master, men, and sin will always extract a higher price and the cost will be unplayable by us.

For those who think that rejecting God gives them freedom to do as they please, they will be sadly mistaken. The Word says that anything other than Yoking yourself to God is burdensome and weary. You must either take this by faith or suffer consequences and an interest rate you will never ever be able to pay. The Word says it is true and my personal experience confirms for me that the Word of God is Truth.

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isa 55:1-2 KJVR)

I Timothy 1:1-20

Now would be a good time to state why I just love this site. Here we can come and write to our hearts content on how the Word of God speaks to us. There is no one ganging up on us to have an “Us Four and no More” groupthink posse. Here Mike has given us, the readers and writers on this site, the opportunity to eat the hay and leave the sticks. Here the Word speaks for itself and it is assumed that we: a) have the intelligence to read for ourselves, b) use our understanding to perceive “Truth,” and c) allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. . Thank you.

Paul’s writing to Timothy sums it up so very nicely.

4Don't let people waste time in endless speculation over myths and spiritual pedigrees. For these things only cause arguments; they don't help people live a life of faith in God. 5The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith.

Psalm 86:1-17

>> Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” How do you think this verse works as a prayer? Can you imagine praying it to God? Do you want God to teach you his way?>>

I believe as long as we stay committed to reading God’s Word we will learn God’s way.” God and His Word are one. (John 1:1)

Proverbs 25:17

Do you think this verse also applies to relatives also?

Grace and peace to all those who have partaken of the Waters of Life and to those who haven’t, come taste and see that the Lord is Good.

Ramona

[humanly]

I am grateful beyond words for the insight of this site. Thanks - Mike, Romana and Michael Stone.