October 5th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Jeremiah 4:19-6:15 ~ Colossians 1:18-2:7
Psalm 77:1-20 ~ Proverbs 24:23-25

Old Testament - Today in Jeremiah chapter 5 verses 14 through 17 we read God's words to Israel about the coming of the armies of Babylon... "Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty says: "Because the people are talking like this, I will give you messages that will burn them up as if they were kindling wood. O Israel, I will bring a distant nation against you," says the LORD. "It is a mighty nation, an ancient nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you cannot understand. Their weapons are deadly; their warriors are mighty. They will eat your harvests and your children's bread, your flocks of sheep and your herds of cattle. Yes, they will eat your grapes and figs. And they will destroy your fortified cities, which you think are so safe."

Per Tyndale's One Year Bible Companion today - "Babylon was indeed an ancient nation.  The old Babylonian empire had lasted from about 1900 B.C. to 1550 B.C., and earlier kingdoms had been on her soil as early as 3000 B.C.  Babylon in Jeremiah's day would shortly rebel against Assyrian domination, form its own army, conquer Assyria, and become the next dominant world power."   

It is very interesting to see the rise of Babylon in history and how God foretold Israel that Babylon was coming.  God gave Israel so many chances to repent, but Israel would not.  Jeremiah in chapter 6 verses 10 & 11 today tells us - "To whom can I give warning? Who will listen when I speak? Their ears are closed, and they cannot hear. They scorn the word of the LORD. They don't want to listen at all. So now I am filled with the LORD's fury. Yes, I am weary of holding it in!"  What about us today - do we listen when God speaks?  It is amazing that Israel would not listen to words like these from God in verses 6 through 8 (though... maybe not so amazing... perhaps we can do a good job of ignoring God's words & warnings in our lives today as well...?)  - "This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Cut down the trees for battering rams. Build ramps against the walls of Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished, for she is wicked through and through. She spouts evil like a fountain! Her streets echo with the sounds of violence and destruction. Her sickness and sores are ever before me. This is your last warning, Jerusalem! If you do not listen, I will empty the land."

New Testament - I love Paul's teaching about the Christian life in Colossians chapter 1 verse 27 today - "For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory."  Were you aware of this secret?  Does Christ live in you?  Have you accepted Jesus into your life and your heart as your Lord and Savior so that he has your permission - your submission - for Him to live within you?  Do you want Jesus to live in you?  Do you have assurance that you will share in Jesus' glory for eternity?

Psalms - Today in Psalm 77 verses 11 and 12 we read – “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” I think these verses get at one of the amazing things about each of us reading the One Year Bible this year – both the Old & New Testaments. We are reading perhaps for the first time – or maybe the 16th time – about God’s miracles of long ago. We are “remembering” God’s miracles for our spiritual ancestors, for ourselves, and for those around us in our lives today whom we will teach about God’s saving love. As you are reading through the One Year Bible this year, are you truly “remembering” God’s miracles of long ago? Are you meditating on all of His mighty works and considering His mighty deeds? Are you being transformed by this process? And will you now go forth and help others in your life “remember” and meditate on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s miracles of long ago? Let us pray for “remembrance” today for ourselves and for others in our lives.   If post-it notes will help you remember God's miracles and will help you meditate on all of God's works, then by all means please use as many post-it notes as you deem necessary... :) 

Proverbs - Interesting Proverbs today in chapter 24 verses 23 through 25 - "Here are some further sayings of the wise:  It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment. A judge who says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations. But blessings are showered on those who convict the guilty." As we know from our readings earlier this year, God cares a lot about judges - and that judges should judge justly.  Honestly, I think being a judge would be a very tough job in a lot of ways.  I imagine there may be a judge or two reading this.  Hats off to you for your work.  I gotta believe that obviously most judges would agree with this Proverb.  But... there's likely some judges that may not follow this Proverb.  That is a sad thing to consider.  Here's actually a thought that just popped into my mind here as I am typing this.  How about if you and I pray for our local and national judges on occasion?  Do you ever do this?  I confess that I don't.  And I should.  We all should.  Let us pray that our judges will not show favoritism when passing judgment.  Let us pray that they convict the guilty.  Let us pray God would lead them in wisdom in their judgments that they must make.  Let us pray our judges rightly uphold and interpret the laws they are hired to uphold and interpret.  Let us pray for our judges!

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

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Vance Brown]

I LIKE THIS QUESTION / CHALLENGE:

“ Are you meditating on all of His mighty works and considering His mighty deeds? Are you being transformed by this process? And will you now go forth and help others in your life ‘ remember ’ and meditate on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s miracles of long ago? ”

Jeremiah 5
23
"But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned against me and have chosen to practice idolatry.
24
They do not say from the heart, `Let us live in awe of the LORD our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of plentiful harvests.'
25
Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.

Colossians 1
19
For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
20
and by him God reconciled everything to himself. HE MADE PEACE WITH EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH BY MEANS OF HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS.
21
This includes you who were once so far away from God. YOU WERE HIS ENEMIES, SEPARATED FROM HIM BY YOUR EVIL THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS,
22
yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. AS A RESULT, HE HAS BROUGHT YOU INTO THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD, AND YOU ARE HOLY AND BLAMELESS AS YOU STAND BEFORE HIM WITHOUT A SINGLE FAULT.
23
But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it.

I was meditating on Ephesians 6:15 (NKJV)

15
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Study from Vine’s Expository Dictionary and my thoughts:

a. SHOD =
Bind underneath (bind / tie on top to bind shoe under feet)

b. PREPARATION =
Firm foundation

c. GOSPEL =
Colossians 1:19 – 22 (above)

d. PEACE =
Completeness (God of Peace = God of completeness)

APPLICATION SUMMARY of meaning of these words:

I.
The Gospel is the firm foundation for me. Thus, by Grace, my life is to be worthy of the Gospel and, as such, my life is a testimony to the Gospel.

II.
The Gospel is not just “simply separated to the spiritual”; i.e., the Gospel is for the WHOLE person: spirit, soul, and body.

I Thessalonians 5 (Amplified)
23
And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
24
Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].

BUT…
We must be established in the Gospel to walk in and model the Peace of the Gospel. Jeremiah 5:25 above says: “Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.”

But righteousness expressed by faith and love will ESTABLISH us in God’s Peace.

As Colossians 1:23 above says:
“But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it.”

Vance