Jeremiah 8;1-12  The time was drawing near.. judgement on Judah would be devastating.  Everything that they had.. everything that they valued.. would be taken away from them.  Death would be preferred over the life that they were about to endure.  And even still, they would not repent. 

"Why.. has this people, Jerusalem, turned away in continual apostasy ? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return.  I have listened and heard, they have spoken what is not right; no man repented of his wickedness." (v6) 

The Lord uses this illustration, " Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons; and the turtledove and the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration; but My people do not know the ordinance of the Lord." (v7)   Birds are remarkable creatures.. we know that they fly hundreds of miles every year.. south in the winter.. usually to the same places.  They know the right time to migrate. But, their brains are not very big...they cannot reason or speak (usually).. yet, they have more sense than God's own people! They do what they must so that they can live.  Judah didn't have enough sense to listen to their God.. the only way for them to live. So many in our world today are in the same situation.. they don't care.. they don't want what they must have in order to live!

Instead they choose lies.  The scribes were guilty of writing lies. The people were guilty of rejecting truth and believing the lies because they were greedy and wicked. 

Again, God accuses the religious leaders.. the ones that should have been speaking His Word, "and they heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, saying ,' Peace, Peace' when there is no peace."  This is the second time that this pronouncement has been made.. (see 6:14).   This was something that God  said they should have been ashamed of.. that they should have blushed at.. but they did not.  This is something that would bring them down. 

Matthew Henry writes this, " The pretenders to wisdom were the priests and false prophets. They flattered people in sin, and so flattered them into destruction, silencing their fears and  complaints with "All is well". Selfish teachers promise peace when there is no peace; and thus men encourage each other in committing evil; but in the day of visitation they will have no refuge to flee unto. " 

This seems so true in some churches in America today.. the lies about sin are taught instead of truth;  fears are silenced.. guilty consciences are soothed with promises that are not true.  The Word of God is not understood, but rejected and ignored. The greed, the lies, and the false teaching will most definitely lead to destruction.  "Therefore they shall fall among those who fall." (v12) 

Father, keep our feet on Your paths. Keep our eyes on Jesus.  Keep our hearts yielded and still before You. Keep us filled with the Spirit of truth.  Keep our mouths from all deceit and lies and false teaching.  May we not encourage sin.. compromise with the world.. or accept anything less than Your Holy Word. May Your Presence fill our sanctuaries and all that is of the world and of the evil one be snatched away forever!  We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 7:16  "As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you."   This must have brought Jeremiah to tears.. a command to not pray for those he loved, in spite of their stubborn rebellion.  It would bring me to tears if God told me to no longer pray for unsaved loved ones..  But, these people had gone too far.. 

"Do you not see what they are doing... The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out libations to other gods in order to spite Me.  'Do they spite Me?' declares the Lord. 'Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?'"   Not only that but "they set their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come into MY mind." (v17-19; 30-31) 

The people of Judah were counting on their sacrifices to false gods.. and for good measure they brought in the burnt offerings to the Temple.  God reminds them that His very first and most important commandment was not about sacrifices, but, "Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you." (v23)

They broke this first command by walking in their own ways, with "stubbornness of their evil heart".  They went "backward and not forward".  They would not listen to God's prophets. They would not listen to God at all.. "but stiffened their neck" and did even more evil.  "This is a nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth." (v28)

God would cause their valley of Hinnom, right outside Jerusalem,  to become the "Valley of Slaughter".  This place is also called Gehenna.  A place of judgement.  A place likened to Hell.  Where dead bodies would become food for the birds and the beasts because there would be too many to bury. 

God would also "make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and voice of the bride; for the land will become a ruin."

There is an awful price that one must pay when they ignore or reject the Lord. Stubborn hearts insist on living their own way and doing their own form of "religion".  But there is only One True God and One way that is right.. and we must choose to surrender to His will and ways.. to obey His Word.. to believe in His Son... 

Father in heaven, we hallow Your Name.. for You are God alone. You are righteous and holy. You are Sovereign and a consuming fire.  We yield to Your Rule and reign.  We surrender our own ways and turn to Jesus.. to follow Him as He leads us in Your paths and makes straight our ways.  Fill us with Your Spirit that our hearts will be sanctified and blameless before You.. Change stubborn hearts and bring repentance to those who are moving the wrong direction.. deliver them from evil, we pray.  In Jesus' name. Amen!

 Jeremiah 7 :1-15 This message.. that Jeremiah was to speak at the gates of the Temple.. is a powerful, clear, direct indictment of Judah.. God is giving them one chance to make the right choice that they might be saved from the enemy that was coming: 

"Amend your ways and your deeds and I will let you dwell in this place." (v3)  They were trusting in "deceptive words".  They were trusting in the temple building. They were trusting in their ritual sacrifices. But, they were not trusting in God. 

 "Amend your ways and deeds.. "  the Lord commands. ".. truly practice justice.. do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow.. do not shed innocent blood.. nor walk after other gods to your own ruin."  What does the Lord require?  As Micah wrote, "But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.." (Micah 6:8)  God makes His commands clear.. 

But, Judah would not listen.. "Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house and say, 'We are delivered!' - that you may do all these abominations? 'Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I even I, have seen it,' declares the Lord."

We recognize these words from the New Testament.. Jesus, on the last week before the cross, cleansed the temple of those who were doing the same thing that Judah did in Jeremiah's time.. They were deceiving the people.. they were not being just, kind, or honest.  They weren't sacrificing to Baal, but they were taking the sacrifices that were meant for the Lord and using them for their own gain. They were counting on the Temple to benefit them.. but they missed out on the True Temple.. the One that would never be torn down or destroyed.. Jesus Christ, the solid Rock. 

The Lord  told Judah  to go look at Shiloh. A city  that had been a place to worship Him.. yet the corruption of Israel made it an abomination and God destroyed it.  ".. see what I did.. " He tells them.."And now, because you have done all these things, declares the Lord , and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer, therefore, I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I did to Shiloh."   God was about to cast them out like He did Israel.  Judah would be taken in to exile and the Temple would be destroyed. 

God is calling us.. each of us.. to choose.. to listen to His Word and obey.  He is speaking. He is making His way clear.  We cannot trust in a religion or a government or any other thing.  Only He can deliver us. Only Jesus can save us from sin and death and destruction. 

Father in heaven, we are so thankful that Jesus Christ came to save the lost.. to open the eyes of the blind and to set the prisoner free!  Thank You for giving us a solid Rock on which to stand.. to trust in You and to walk in Your ways that lead us to an eternal dwelling place. Too many are trusting in "deceptive words".  Trusting in rituals or false teachings. May Your voice cry out once again across the earth.. that ears would hear and hearts would be turned back to You. Send forth workers into the harvest Lord.  We pray this with sincere and earnest hearts.. in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

 Jeremiah 6  Disaster was coming to Jerusalem.. the "comely and dainty one, the daughter of Zion".. was about to be "cut off".  The enemy would come from the north, surround Jerusalem and attack.  And all this would happen because the Lord ordered it.. "This is the city to be punished, in whose midst there is only oppression.." 

The people of God would no longer listen to Him or to His prophets. They refused His warnings. They refused to repent. They kept getting more and more wicked.  "Violence and destruction are heard in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me." (v7)  God would pour out His wrath on every one in the city.. the young and the old; the husband and the wife; the aged and the very old.  "For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely." (v13)

Judah was described as "treacherous" by the Lord for their deception.. here He says, "and they have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying 'Peace, peace' But there is no peace."  Instead of speaking truth.. telling what the Lord was really saying.. that destruction was coming.. they lied and tried to manipulate and pacify the people.  We see.. and hear.. the same kinds of messages today.. 

The people of God "were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush.. " They were not ashamed of their "abomination" that they had done.  Their idolatry and wickedness would bring them to be  "cast down". They would not listen to the Word of the Lord. They rejected all His warnings.  They went along with useless religious activities with hearts that refused to accept the truth.  "All of them are stubbornly rebellious.. all of them are corrupt." (v28)

"The bellows blow fiercely, the lead is consumed by the fire; in vain the refining goes on, but the wicked are not separated.." (v29)  There are none that will repent.. and therefore the "Lord has rejected them."

We had this discussion last night looking at II Peter 2.. "for if God did not spare angels when they sinned.. and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah.. and He condemned Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction.. having made them an example to those who live ungodly thereafter.. "  And we can add.. if God would not spare Judah, the "dainty daughter of Zion"..  we know that He does bring punishment on those who reject Him and His Word. 

But,  we are also reminded of this wonderful truth.. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already.." Noah was preserved.. Lot was saved.. and all who call upon the Name of Jesus will also be saved.  Jeremiah will give this message of salvation in chapter 7!

Father in heaven, open our ears that we may hear Your warnings.. Your Truth.. for we live in a culture that has forgotten to be ashamed.. forgotten how to blush.. that tries to pacify people by saying that everything is alright.. but it is not.  We live in a world filled with corruption and rebellion. O God "Let the evil of the wicked come to an end but establish the righteous.." (Psalm 7:9)  We need Your Presence and Your refining work. We pray that there are still many who will turn from their sin and rebellion and come to Jesus that they may be saved! Send forth workers into Your harvest fields.. give them.. give us.. the words to speak and make manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ in every place.  We ask this in His Powerful Name. Amen.

 Jeremiah 5:26-31  It does not take much imagination to hear the words of Jeremiah and apply it to our world today:

"For wicked men are found among My people,

They watch like fowlers lying in wait; 

They set a trap, they catch men.

Like a cage full of birds,

So their houses are full of deceit;

Therefore they have become rich.

They are fat, they are sleek, 

They also excel in deeds of wickedness.

They do not plead the cause,

The cause of the orphan, that they may prosper;

And they do not defend the rights of the poor.

Shall I not punish these people? declares the Lord,

On a nation such as this shall I not avenge Myself?"

Not just the USA.. but all around the world we see the rich grow richer and the poor suffer more and more. There is a reason that people flee from other nations.. trying to escape the tyranny and cruelty of wicked men.. full of deceit.  Our current culture seems is not much different.. 

But, the Lord is not done yet.. "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so!"  When those who are supposed to speak for God.. for truth..  speak lies.. and when those who are supposed to lead in God's ways.. start leading in their own.. it is an "appalling and horrible thing"!  This is also happening in our nation today.... O Lord help us!

"But what will you do at the end of it?"  That is the question!

Father in heaven,  we will each stand before You one day... we will give an account of our deeds. We  want to be those who pled the cause of the orphan and defended the rights of the poor.  We want to be counted with those who were faithful and true.. standing in the righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord. May we remain diligent in our faith.. adding virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love.. that the character of Christ be made manifest in us.. to the glory of Your Name.  Send revival to our nation, Lord.  Turn the hearts of Your people back to Your Truth.. give us ears to hear and hearts to obey. We pray this for every church and every person who calls Jesus "Lord".  Let none remain in deceit or lies about who You are.  We ask this in the power of the Name that is above all names.. Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 5:14-25  "The Lord, the God of hosts".. proclaimed His judgement over Judah.. " Behold I am making My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it will consume them." 

He would bring an "enduring nation.. an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know.. " against Judah.  They would come and devour their food and their harvest. They would devour their sons and their daughters.  They would devour their flocks and herds.. their vines and fig trees.. and they would demolish their cities.   Everything that the people counted on and trusted in.. would be taken away.  "And it shall come about when they say, ' Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?' then you shall say to them, 'As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.' " 

Yet, once again, the Lord promised, " I will not make you a complete destruction." (v18) 

We live in a nation that has also greatly forsaken the Lord, the God of hosts.  We trust in our abundance of food.. our wealth measured in assets of land, businesses, money, or fame.  We wonder at the disasters.. the fires, hurricanes, earthquakes.. illnesses.. and cannot understand a God who would allow such things.  We do not recognize the Truth at all.  So we refuse to believe that He even exists. 

"Hear this.. O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear Me? declares the Lord. Do you not tremble in My presence?" 

The Lord, the God of hosts is the One who "placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, an eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it."  Climate change or not... God's decrees will stand! This is our God!

"But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and departed. they do not say in their heart, 'Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain in its season, both the autumn rain and the spring rain, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.'"   He speaks to Judah.. but this truth is for our land just as well. 

"Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have withheld good from you." 

Father, open the blinded eyes of people across this nation.. we have foolish and senseless leaders who have forsaken You.. who have not understood that all things come from Your Hand and that You alone can determine the future prosperity of a nation.  Thank You for always providing a way.. for a remnant to survive.. believers who will stand firm in the midst of stubborn, foolish, and rebellious people.  Help our nation, Lord, to turn back.. to repent.. and to once again tremble in Your Presence.  We ask this in the Name of Jesus, who is given authority over all things and every nation. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 5:1-13  The Lord tells Jeremiah to "Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and look now, and take note. And seek in her open squares, if you can find a man, if there is one who does justice, who seeks truth."   If there was one.. God would pardon the city.  So, Jeremiah went out searching.  But, there were only people who said that they were God's.. but they were "[swearing]  falsely".  They were weak, consumed.. stubborn.. refusing correction.. "they have made their faces harder than rock."

Jeremiah considered these people poor and foolish, not knowing any better.. so he decided to go to the greater ones.. the priests, the leaders "For they know the way of the Lord.. ".  But "they too, with one accord have broken the yoke and burst the bonds."  Every single person.. from the highest to the lowest... had turned away from the One true God.. 

"Because their transgressions are many, their apostasies are numerous"... God would send a vicious enemy against His people.  "Shall I not punish these people, declares the Lord, and on a nation such as this shall I not avenge Myself?"  

God again called His people treacherous.. "They have lied about the Lord.. " (v12)   They were so sure that they would be safe against the sword or famine.  They called the prophets windbags.. and they refused to repent. 

AW Tozer wrote this "Without doubt, the mightiest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God, and the weightiest word in any language is its word for God.... That our idea of God correspond as nearly as possible to the true being of God is of immense importance to us."  He goes on to say, "Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow; they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true. Perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear. The long career of Israel demonstrates this clearly enough, and the history of the Church confirms it." ( From the Knowledge of the Holy)   

This was the treachery of Judah.  They lied about God. They lied about their allegiance to God. They used His name in vain. It is the same thing that Jesus accused the Pharisees of.. their outsides seemed "righteous".. but inside they were vipers.. like graves full of dead men's bones..  This is the danger we see in modern American churches. We have, as Tozer wrote, allowed the "lofty concept of God"  to "decline".  And when that happens.. "the Church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it. The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God."

What lies have we allowed in our churches.. in our denominations.. in our nation.. about the One True God?  Do we have the wrong idea about His Word, His Will, His Majesty? May God help us!

Oh Father in heaven,  how we need You to unveil our eyes and make clear Your Truth.. we need the Light of the world to illumine our thoughts and to guide our steps.  Come Lord Jesus and draw us to Your heart that we might humble ourselves before You and receive Your forgiveness and grace.  Wash away every sin.. wipe away every lie.. fill us with Life and Truth by Your Spirit, we pray. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 4:15-31  "Because she has rebelled against Me, declares the Lord...."  Because their "ways and deeds" were evil.. because their hearts were hardened and they were bitter.. because they would not repent.. judgement came.  It came upon Judah.. and it will come upon the whole world.  We see it beginning.. we know the Word of God has made it clear.. yet,  do we live as those who care?

Jeremiah was heartbroken. " My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My heart is pounding in me; I cannot be silent. Because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war." 

Disasters were proclaimed.. land was devastated.. homes were destroyed.. Does any of that sound familiar?

God said, "For My people are foolish, they know Me not; They are stupid children, and they have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, but to do good they do not know." (v22)  That also sounds familiar.. We live in a culture that cannot even tell the difference between whether they are male or female! We live in a world where people believe lies and cannot recognize truth. We live in a world bent on their own disastrous choices.. where dangerous drugs are peddled to children.. where children are abused and trafficked and horrible people pay to watch!  Yes, they are shrewd to do evil.. they are good for nothing and fail to acknowledge that God exists.. let alone that He sees them and He will bring judgement upon them. 

Jeremiah wrote for his people during his lifetime.. but his words are God's words for every generation.. and we need to hear Him!

The rest of this chapter gives us a picture of the end results.. of a world that will pass away.. "I looked on the earth and behold, it was formless and void; and to the heavens and they had no light."  The mountains quaked, the hills shook. There were no men, no birds in the heavens, no cities left standing.  "For thus says the Lord, 'The whole land shall be a desolation.. " 

"Yet.. "  He says, "I will not execute a complete destruction, for this the earth will mourn, and the heavens above be dark, because I have spoken, I have purposed, and I will not change My mind, nor will I turn from it." 

When there is no more hope... when all is stripped away.. know this.. God is not done!

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer a sea. and I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." ( Rev. 21:1-2)

Father in heaven, Great and glorious God.. You are righteous and just..and merciful and gracious. Our souls cry out for the nations to bow before You.. to repent.. to return to their Creator and King.  We pray for those in our families.. in our neighborhoods.. in our land.. to break up the fallow ground.. their hard, foolish, stupid hearts that are shrewd to do evil and don't know how to do good.  Let the message of salvation through Jesus Christ be preached.. may hearts be turned back to You!  Send forth workers into the harvest fields.. that there may be a fruitful harvest of souls.. to the glory of Your Name. We are so thankful that You are not done.. that there is hope in Jesus Christ.. Hallelujah!  May we bring the sweet aroma of the Knowledge of Him every where we go today!  We ask this in His Name. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 4:1- 14  "If you will return, O Israel, declares the Lord, Then you should return to Me." The gracious Lord extends the invitation for His people to come back.. to put away their idols.. to choose Him. To no longer waver.. "And you will swear, 'As the Lord lives, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; '" 

The Lord will bless His people.. and the nations.. when they turn back and "glory" in Him.  

He calls for Judah to also return to Him.. "Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns." The parable of the sower comes to mind with these words.. Jesus said that some seed fell along the roadside.. this would be there "fallow ground".. nothing could grow there. Some fell in rocky areas and some among the thorns and were choked out. To break up the fallow ground.. to make it possible for the Word to grow.. Jeremiah writes.. "Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and remove the foreskins of your heart." (v4)  To "circumcise" means to cut down, destroy, to curtail or cut back. To cut away the hardness of one's heart.. to expose the true center of one's being.. in surrender..in humility.. in truth. 

Jesus called it laying down your life, picking up your cross and following Him.  Paul said it was dying with Jesus in His crucifixion.  Jeremiah wrote in verse 14 "Wash your heart from evil.. that you may be saved.. " 

This message starts with the word "If" and includes the word "will"... The result is dependent on our actions.. are determination.. our choices.. our "will".. 

"If.. you will return"

"If.. you will put away your detested things from My presence".

"If.. you will not waver"

"If.. you will swear..As the Lord lives.. "

If you will open up and expose your heart to His Word.. if you will be washed clean by the blood of the Lamb.. 

Then.. "you may be saved".  It is our only way to escape the wrath of God.. the judgement to come for the evil deeds.. for the deception and treachery and faithlessness of our sinful souls. 

Father in heaven, You make a way when there is no other way.. for You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. Thank You Lord God!  We do no deserve this invitation.. but You give it anyway.  Many will still not respond and our hearts are broken for them.  We pray that You would break up the fallow ground and change their hearts. But, for me.. I will lay down my life and surrender all to You. Wash me and  I will be whiter than snow, Lord. Forgive every sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Let truth and justice and righteousness fill my life.  May I glory in You!  I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 3: 11-   Israel was "faithless" and Judah was "treacherous".  Israel had turned away from God.. but Judah took it further with her deceptions and betrayals against the Lord.  Their wickedness was so awful that it made Israel look "more righteous".  Ezekiel gives a graphic picture of these two in Chapter 23 of that book.  When we see this intense.. shocking... portrait of God's view of their sinfulness.. we begin to grasp the severity of His judgement.. the pouring out of His wrath. 

But.. Our God is not done with His people..or with us!  As Psalm 86 declares.. " For Thou, Lord art good and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness.. "  He gives Jeremiah a message for faithless Israel.. " Return.. I will not look upon you in anger.  For I am gracious.. I will not be angry forever."  This is God's amazing grace! 

"Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God."  This is God's call to us all.  It is the message of John the Baptist.. Repent!  It is the message of Jesus.. Come!  It is the message of the disciples and the message of the church.  For if we confess our sins.. He is righteous and just to forgive our sins. And, when we return to Him.. He will do great things for us and in us..

"And I will bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding... At that time they shall call Jerusalem, 'The Throne of the Lord', and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord; nor shall they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil hearts."  He will give us a "beautiful inheritance".  We will call Him  "My Father." He will heal our faithlessness.  "Surely, in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel." 

Father in heaven, You are good and You have done wondrous works that no one else could ever do.. You have provided us this great salvation through Jesus Christ Your Son.  How amazing is Your grace!  That our sins.. which are treacherous.. faithless...treasonous.. that break Your heart because we betray Your love..   They are forgiven.. cleansed.. removed.. O Father.. How great is Your lovingkindness towards us! For while we were yet sinners.. rebellious, stubborn, deceitful.. Christ died for us.  We praise Your holy Name.  I love You Lord and I want to be faithful and please You in all my ways.  Help me.. help us, Your people..  Lord,  to seek after Your  heart.. to gather at Your throne and to glorify You in all our days.  In Christ we come and ask this.. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 3 God continues to speak to Judah about her sinfulness.  The illustrations that He used in chapter 2 are graphic... shocking even..  a "harlot"; a "degenerate shoot";  a "wild donkey... in heat".  It continues in this chapter.. "But you are a harlot with many lovers... where have you not been violated?"  He asks them.

 "Yet you turn to Me."  They are like a woman who is divorced, belongs to another man and then goes back to the first when she needs something. They have lived in wickedness and have refused to be ashamed of their behavior.. wanting only their own way.  But now,  there was no rain... crops were failing.. life was not comfortable.. trouble was coming and they were crying out, "My Father, Thou art the friend of my youth.. "  

Israel had already been sent away.  Judah had watched. But instead of repenting and turning to God.. they "did not fear"... but came to the Lord "in deception".  He calls Israel "faithless" and Judah "treacherous".  In God's view the deception of Judah was even worse than the faithlessness of Israel. 

God's view of sin... makes me stop in my tracks here.  I don't even know how to express what this impresses on my heart.. Sin is a complete betrayal against the Lover of our souls.  It is a personal wound upon the heart of the One who loves His own.. Who would give them all they need.. Who would protect and care for them.. And, Who even now... is willing to forgive the sin done against Him... 

Father in heaven, let our hearts be broken over the wickedness and faithlessness of our nation.. of our world.. of our own selves. Please forgive us.. for being like Judah.. pretending to have faith, but living in deception and treachery.  Uncover those secret sins in Your people.. that we might hear You and turn back... before it is too late..    Thank You that You are gracious and You will not be angry forever! Thank You that when we acknowledge our sins and repent.. to return to You.. in truth and in Your Spirit.. that You will restore us.. heal us.. and be our salvation!  What else. can we say, Lord?  You are an awesome God! In the Precious Name of Jesus we come to You, laying down our lives before You.. all glory and honor and praise to our God! Amen. 

 Jeremiah 2: 20-37 

God had brought Israel out of slavery "For long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds".. but they had chosen to enslave themselves "on every high hill and under every green tree.."  Like harlots.. 

God had planted them in the promised land.. "a choice vine".  But they had turned themselves "into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine." 

They tried to wash themselves with lye and soap.. but God still saw their sinful stains. 

They claimed to not be defiled.. but God saw what they were doing in secret and called them out "Know what you have done!"

God compared them to a camel or donkey in heat.. living in shameful ways. 

They had turned to useless idols.. "Who say to a tree, 'You are my father' and to a stone, 'You gave me birth'".  They turned their backs on God.. until trouble hit. Then they cried out.  Now, God tells them, ".. where are your gods which you made for yourself?  Let them arise, if they can save you.. "

God had sent warnings and discipline with no effect.. "They would accept no chastening." They would not admit their sinfulness.. let alone change their ways.  They considered themselves innocent while the blood of the poor stained their clothing. 

For all these reasons God was ready to bring judgement on Judah.  And in the same way.. God sees us. He sees the evil in our world today.. the degenerate generation, those who live shamefully.. who think their secret sins cannot be seen.. who fail to acknowledge that there is a God to whom they will have to give account to.  But,  His judgement will come.  There are warnings and there is discipline.. but our world explains it away.. thinks they can control what happens in a world that belongs to God alone.  But, they cannot. 

  We each make a choice.. to bow before the Lord who alone is God of the heavens and the earth.. or to face His wrath. And it is coming. 

Father in heaven , we confess that You alone are the God who can save us. We are totally incapable of righteousness and holiness. We need the cleansing that You alone can provide.. by the shed blood of the Lamb of God.. Jesus Christ.  May we heed Your Word and repent of our sins and surrender our all to Jesus. Again we pray for revival in our land.  Come Lord Jesus.. breathe forth Your Spirit across our nation that many more will confess their sins, repent, and follow You.  We ask this in Your holy Name. Thank You for the grace and mercy that You have poured out to all who will believe. May the Name of Jesus be exalted and all glory be given to the Lord our God and King. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 2:1-19   This first message that Jeremiah was given for Judah is a strong indictment against the apostasy of the nation.  The Lord said, " I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, the love of your betrothals, your following after Me in the wilderness, through a land not sown." 

Israel was "holy to the Lord".  A nation called out to be His people. His chosen ones. Under His banner and protection and blessing.  They were brought out of Egypt and given a "fruitful land". They were taken out of the desert and given a land of promise.. "to eat its fruit and its good things." 

But.. " you came and defiled My land."   They walked away from God. 

"They walked after emptiness and became empty..."  (v5)

They "changed their glory for that which did not profit.." (v11)

They forsook the Lord " the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (v13) 

They did it to themselves.. "by your forsaking the Lord your God... "  (v17) 

They no longer sought the Lord.. not the priests, not the rulers, not even the prophets.. They were a nation that "changed gods". 

"Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God." (v19)

I cannot read these words of Jeremiah without recognizing that these things are true of our own nation.  Our land has become defiled because we have walked away from God.  We see... the emptiness of people everywhere.. trying to satisfy themselves with what can never satisfy them.. forsaking the God who created them.. who sustains them.. who alone can save them.. They have "changed gods".. although they don't even recognize the futility of their devotion to money or fame or "fun" or whatever it is that gives them momentary happiness. 

Father, give us ears to hear... to repent.. to seek You and to find You.. and to pray.  May our nation turn back to You.. bring repentance to our leaders, to our people.. Raise up spiritual leaders who will speak these truths boldly.. for our nation must heed these truths and turn back to You before it is too late.   Help us, we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ,  who is Lord of all. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 1:  Jeremiah was called by God while he was a young man and served the Lord faithfully throughout his life.. through the last 5 kings of Judah until the exile and beyond.  It was not an easy life.  He was rejected, abused, thrown in a pit, despised and often depressed.   But, his message is God's Word, inspired by God's Spirit for the people of Judah.. and for us.  

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."  God's calling of Jeremiah came before he was ready.. he felt as if he were too young... unable to speak properly.. inadequate.  But, the Lord told him, "Do not say I am a youth, because everywhere I send you, you shall go. And all I command you, you shall speak."  What Jeremiah was unsure of.. God had no doubt!  He KNOWS!

The Lord put His words in Jeremiah's mouth.  He promised him deliverance even as He revealed that the people will fight against him. 

God was about to bring judgement on Judah for their wickedness.  Jeremiah would sound the warnings.  The Lord makes it very clear that He would do what He said. That He would bring about the destruction of Jerusalem.. and that Jeremiah's ministry would be difficult .. 

So.. He tells him, " Now, gird up your loins, and arise, and speak to them what I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, lest I dismay you before them."

This passage reminds me.. that God knows each of us.. before we were born.. and long after we are gone from this world.  He already knows our tomorrows just as well as He knows our past.  That is an amazing thought.. as David wrote in Psalm 139:16-17 " Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast the sum of them!"

God knows His plan for each of us.. His calling is intentional and personal for every individual. He sees us and knows us.  

We each have to make the same kind of decision that Jeremiah did.. will we obey God's commands and do what He has prepared for us to do?  Or will we be dismayed.. because we have not?  We will all stand before Him one day to give account to Him for our actions.. will we be guilty of not speaking what He has told us to speak? Of not going where He said to go? Or will we "pull up our boot straps"; get up; and go do what God tells us to do?

Father in heaven,  You know me.  You have called me.. invited me to follow Jesus.. to believe and trust Him as my Savior and Lord.  You have made know Your word to me and given me a love for it and for You.  Help me, my Lord, to be faithful and steadfast.  Help us, Your people. to be people of the Word and faithful to do it. Thank You for the grace poured out through Jesus Christ that we might be saved and sanctified and set apart for You.. thank You for the calling on our lives to be all that You have provided for us to be.. sons and daughters of the Most High God... servants of the King of Heaven!  Be glorified and exalted Mighty God.. for there is none like You. Amen. 

 Romans 16  This chapter is Paul's closing thoughts in his letter to Rome.  It is filled with personal greetings.. heartfelt and so endearing.  He "commends" Phoebe and others...  He names his fellow workers.. Prisca and Aquila; Epaenetus; Mary, etc.  He calls many "beloved" or "kinsmen".  These are people that he has known and cared for deeply.  They mean so much to him. Recognizing their contribution to the work of the Gospel was important to Paul.  Something we need to do better at.. 

Paul also gives an important warning here.. "Now I urge you , brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you have learned and turn away from them.. " (v17)  We live in a divided culture and we have seen division come into the church in America.. even our own denomination.  We know that Satan will use whatever he can to fan these fires.. to hinder the Gospel and to distract us from what is most vital.  We need to be aware.. as Paul has warned.. and to follow Paul's next instruction.. " I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil." 

His next words are "and the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (v20) Discernment and obedience to the Word leads us to where God can use us best. 

Father in heaven,  May we "be obedient" to Your Word in all things.  Grant us eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts that are wise in what is good.. that which is good and acceptable in Your sight.  Help us to have deep and abiding love for our fellow Christians.. even if we disagree.  Help us to turn away from those who cause dissension and hinder the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all! How we need You!

"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,

according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

but now is manifested and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the command of God,

has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;

to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever.

Amen." 

(v 25-27)

 Romans 15 Paul has encouraged believers to not pass judgement on one another.. whether they are "weak" in faith.. or not.  He taught that each of us are accountable to God for our own choices and that we need to act according to faith.. according the the convictions we have before God.  

He continues with this.. telling  us to "bear the weaknesses of those without strength".  It goes back to remembering that we serve Jesus.. we are not slaves to sin or to selfish ways.  We desire to be like Jesus in every way.. and this is one more way.. "Christ did not please Himself.. "  We are able.. through His Spirit to surrender our own wills and think of others.. to help them to persevere and to have hope. 

"Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another  according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v5-6)   This prayer is one that should be remembered and prayed continually for our church.. for all the churches.. for our denomination.  May God answer this prayer in America... in the world today!

"Wherefore, accepts one another just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God."  Paul was focused on the need for Jews and Gentiles to accept one another as fellow believers in Jesus.  Who is it that Jesus wants us to accept? Who is it that we need to bear with.. encourage.. and help.. in matters of faith and hope?

Paul is coming to the end of his letter to the Romans.  He longs to see them and to share the love of fellow believers with them. He asks for prayers and he prays for them.  May we follow his example and pray for one another and encourage one another.. and may we most of all.. bear with one another in love. 

Father in heaven, we are Your people, Your sheep, and we long to be all that You have created us to be.. a people of God, a holy priesthood, servants of the Most High God.  Transform us from the inside out.. that we might be like Jesus.. laying down our lives, taking up our crosses and following Him.. so that the world would come to know Your great and marvelous salvation. We ask this in His holy and wonderful name. Amen. 

 Romans 14 In this chapter Paul addresses another potentially explosive topic.. differences of conscience. He uses the example of those who believe that they can eat anything.. and those who think that it is wrong to eat certain things (meat) and eat only vegetables.  There was also a disagreement over holy days.. some still believed that certain days.. the Sabbath.. the Feast days.. should be kept according to the Law.. others felt that this no longer applied to them.  

Paul's teaching helps us know how to deal with these differences.. " accept the one.. " Accept the one who disagrees with your opinion.. because "God has accepted him."  Paul tells us to .. "let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.. "   The one who chooses to eat meat and gives thanks for it.. and the one who does not and gives thanks also... are equally living for the Lord. It is the Lord who judges and not us. We each give account to God for our choices. 

The biggest problem with this is that we need to be careful not to cause our brother or sister to stumble.. because we are free to "eat meat".. they choose to do so also, but in their minds it is still sinful.. so.. it is sin for them to do it.  We have unintentionally caused someone else to sin.  This is not loving or righteous and does not bring peace and joy to our fellowship. 

What we do need to do is serve Christ .. and each other.. pursuing peace and building up one another in faith. We need spiritual discernment in all things.. Come Holy Spirit and fill us now!

Father in heaven, help us to have understanding and discernment in all things.  We desire to serve You and seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness.. to love others and to humbly submit ourselves for the sake of Your Body.. that there be unity and encouragement and grace that flows through us and from us into a world that needs Your Light.  Whatever our differences might be.. help us to not judge but to build up each other in faith.  Strengthen my faith Lord Jesus.. that all I do will be pleasing in Your sight. Amen. 

 Romans 13  Being a follower of Jesus.. walking as He walked.. transformed by His Spirit.. we are called to be righteous and to do good.  Paul gives some practical teaching here... 

The first, and perhaps most shocking to his readers, is to "be in subjection to the governing authorities.."  We can't even begin to imagine this when we think of the evil of someone like Nero or Herod. Roman soldiers were not that much different than say.. the Nazi's during WWII.  They were cruel and evil, led by cruel and evil leaders. Yet, Paul tells us, these authorities were "established by God."  He allowed it.. for His own purposes.  He still allows it.. China, North Korea, Russia, etc... We don't understand, but we don't have to.. we just need to trust Him. 

Our part is to do good... to obey the law.. to be subject.  The rest is in God's Mighty hand.  We are to "Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." 

The second thing that Paul teaches is that we are to "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law."  The commandments, Paul says, are "summed up in this saying, ' You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "   Love..does not "commit adultery.. murder.. steal.. covet.. " or commit any other sin against others.  Just one thing to remember.. LOVE. 

"And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us then when we believed." ( v11)  We must put aside the actions and attitudes of the world and "put on the Lord Jesus Christ.."  For He is coming soon!

Father in heaven, we desire that Christ be in us and shine through us.. to love.. to obey.. and to serve.  Fill us once again.. that Your Spirit will flow from us.. Living Water for a thirsty world.  Thank You for the Word and for Your promises. Thank You that You have good plans for us.. for me.. that  no matter what..I am Yours and You will no let me go.  We give You praise and honor and devotion.. for You alone are worthy of all our worship. Be exalted O God.. above the heavens and in all the earth, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Romans 12 " I urge you therefore... "  Because of the kindness of God.. the grace that He has given to us.. His gracious choice to preserve a remnant of His people and to extend His grace to the Gentiles.. Because Jesus did what no one else could do.. because of the "mercies of God".. we need to "present [our] bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual service of worship." 

There is no Temple in Jerusalem any more.. there are no burnt offerings to be offered.. there are none needed because Jesus paid it all!  But, those of us who know the kindness of God.. the greatness of His salvation through Jesus Christ.. are called to present our whole selves to Him.. this, Paul says, is our "worship".  This is how we serve Him.. how we honor Him.. how we live and abide with Him. 

We must begin by being "transformed by the renewing of [our] minds.."  No longer conformed to the way that the world thinks and teaches.. we allow the Word of God to fill our thoughts and dictate our actions.  We allow His Spirit to "prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  He gives us discernment and shows us His ways.. He helps us examine our lives and choose that which is acceptable in His sight. 

He helps us to understand that all we have.. we have been given by His grace. 

He helps us to know that even our faith has been "alloted" to each of us according to His measure. 

He gives each of us gifts to serve others and urges us to use what He provides with diligence and humility.. and love. 

He will work in us.. as we allow Him to transform us.. and make us like Jesus.. so that our character is like His.. loving without hypocrisy; abhorring what is evil; clinging to what is good; being devoted to one another in brotherly love; giving preference to one another in honor.. 

His good and perfect will.. is for us to be "...fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality... blessing those who curse us; rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep..."

He wants us to trust Him in every circumstance.. not taking vengeance but allowing Him to judge as He desires.  He wants us to seek peace.. and to "overcome evil with good."

This is a life that has been presented to God as a "living sacrifice".  This is the "good" that He wants to work in our lives.  

May God have His way in me.

Father in heaven, I present myself.. by body, my soul, my mind.. all of me.. to You.. a living sacrifice..Have Your way in me.  May I live for You..  constantly abiding in my Savior, Jesus Christ.. may I be all that You have called me to be and do the things that You have shown me to do.  Renew  Your Spirit in me each and every day..that I might please You.. honor You.. and grow in love for You. Thank You for the grace that You have chosen to pour out on me.  I deserve nothing and You have given me everything.. How can I ever thank You enough?  May Your name  and Your praise be ever on my lips! Amen!

 Romans 11 Paul turns back again to his discussion about Jews and Gentiles.  The question was asked about whether or not the Jews were rejected now.. by God.. since the Gentiles were now being saved.  Paul's reaction is "May it never be!"   He goes on to explain that God has chosen to keep a remnant of Jewish believers.. "according to God's gracious choice."    When Elijah thought he was the only faithful Israelite left.. God told him that there were ".. seven thousand men who have not bowed to Baal.."  God did not change His ways in Paul's time and He hasn't changed His ways now.. 

God chooses to save people.. by His grace.

".. if it is by grace, it is not longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.. " (v6) And "Behold the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness.. "  (v22) This grace.. this kindness and mercy of God.. is offered as He chooses.  As hard as it is to understand.. God sometimes gives "a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not.. "  In the case of the Jews..who failed to believe.. the result was salvation coming to the Gentiles..  Hallelujah !

But, Paul reminds us, God is not finished yet.. He has a perfect plan.. for the Jews as well as for the Gentiles.. a fulfillment of His promises to Israel is coming.. reconciliation will happen.. deliverance will come.. God has not forgotten His covenants with Abraham or with David.. 

Paul clarifies this further with his illustration of the olive tree.. The Gentiles were "wild branches".. grafted into a "rich root" ( Jesus)!  The Jews who would not believe were natural branches that were cut off from the root.. but "God is able to graft them in again."  He is also able to cut off the wild branches that were grafted in.. if they fail to stay faithful in Christ.  What we need to remember is that it is the Root that holds us all together... by His kindness and grace. So, whether Jew or Gentile.. salvation is by God's gracious choice.. 

"Oh the depth of the riches  both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable His ways!"  Paul writes.  God's ways are higher and His thoughts greater! We may not understand, but we can trust Him.  We can also pray.. for when we call on His name He hears our prayers.. He opens the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf.  All our hope is in Him.. in the heights and depths and greatness of His love towards mankind. 

Father, thank You for showing us such kindness and grace, that we have come to You and are made Your own.. grafted into the family of God through the Root.. Jesus Christ our Lord.  May the people of God, the nation of Israel, hear Your Word and repent and be saved.. to fulfill all Your purposes for them.  May the nations of the world bow before You and exalt Your Holy Name.  Open eyes and ears, Lord God, that they might hear the Word and come to faith.  Send forth workers into Your harvest fields that many more will be saved.  Open the eyes and ears of our own unsaved loved ones, Lord, we plead! For we  pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Romans 10  "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation." Oh yes!  This is our heart's desire and prayer for those we love too! But.. . Paul is praying this for those who were pursuing righteousness on their own merit.. those who were stumbling over Jesus.. those who had their sights on getting rid of this troublesome Paul..  Those who had the Law, but missed the Lawgiver's purpose and plan.. those who had zeal but no knowledge of God Himself. Those he loved but who wanted him gone.. 

"For Christ is the end (the goal) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."  This is the Good News that we have been  given. By faith we receive this gospel and are saved.. ".. if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." (v8-10) 

Gentiles have the same opportunity as the Jews, Paul teaches...the Lord is Lord of all and "whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."  But... 

"How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?

And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach unless they are sent?"

"So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ."  The Word has gone out across the world and some have received it with joy.. but others are "obstinate people" and refuse to listen.  And so.. we continue to pray.. 

Father in heaven,  I know some of those obstinate people.. they have heard the truth but have hardened their hearts and refused the grace so wonderfully offered.  Again we pray.. open their ears to hear and their hearts to receive the Truth.. that they might call upon the Lord and be saved.  This is our earnest prayer and our hearts desire, Gracious Lord.  Grant mercy to our loved ones.. the ones in our hearts right now.. that they might repent and call upon Jesus. We ask this in His name. Amen. 

 Romans 9  Paul had a great love for his people, the Jews.. to the point of sorrow at their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.  He wanted more than anything that the people of God.. who had received so much from God.. the covenants, the Law, the promises... would also receive the Son of God, born from the root of David "according to the flesh". 

But, there is a truth that has been revealed that we all need to take note of.. God said, " I will have mercy on whom I have mercy; and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."  

God makes choices..  He chose Isaac and not Ishmael.  He chose Jacob and not Esau. He chose Pharaoh.. and hardened his heart so that He could "demonstrate [His] power.." (v17)  

And like Paul's readers, we want to question God about how He makes His choices.. but Paul reminds us that God's ways are far greater than what we can understand.. He is the Potter and we are the clay... He can make us however He chooses.  What we can do, is be thankful!  For.. "He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon the vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us.. " 

God called Jews and Gentiles both to come to Him.. He took people who were far from Him and drew them near.. He took "her who was not beloved".. and called her "Beloved"!  He chooses to save those who pursue Him by faith.. and not by their own works.  He chooses to keep a remnant for Himself.  He chooses to reveal Himself according to His own will.. and it is all of grace. 

Father in heaven, we are so thankful to be able to come before You.. knowing that it is only because You have chosen to show us mercy and lovingkindness.  By grace You have revealed Your Word to us, You have sent Your Son for us, and You have opened our eyes and ears that we might come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  We pray for those who are still walking in the darkness of sin and plead with You to have mercy on them also... open their eyes and change their hearts.. for nothing is impossible for You.  Let the Word of Christ go out across the land that more will hear and believe.  We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Romans 8:28-39  "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." 

Paul has led us through a deeper understanding of what Christ has done for us.. coming to do what the Law could not accomplish.. becoming the propitiation for all sin.. reconciling us with the Father.. bringing us freedom as we die to sin and are raised up to everlasting life... now, he returns to his message of what lies ahead.. "For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (5:10)

This is the "much more".. "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." ( 8:29)  His plan is to take "all things" and use them to bring about a holy, miraculous, wonderful transformation in us.  

He has known us all along. He put this plan into action before we were even born.. and He is calling us to it.  He has justified us and He will "glorify" us!  Think on that!  It is truly amazing!

"What then shall we say to these things?"  God is for us.. He did not spare His own Son, "but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"  We are His chosen ones. We are the ones that Jesus died for.  We are the ones for whom He intercedes at the right hand of God.  There is absolutely nothing that can stop God from accomplishing His purposes for us!

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress,

or persecution, or famine,

or nakedness. or peril or sword?" (v35)

NO!

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

nor angels, nor principalities,

nor things present, 

nor things to come, 

nor powers,

nor height, nor depth,

nor any created thing,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (v38-39)

Father in heaven,  You are good and Your lovingkindness is without end.  Your plans are perfect and Your purposes will be accomplished. Hallelujah!  Thank You for these truths that we can cling to when things seem too hard or we feel overwhelmed.  Remind us continually that You have given us everything so that we can "overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."  Though we walk through the shadows.. we do not fear the evil for Your rod and Your staff comfort us.. Your mercy and kindness follow us... we are not alone.  Your love will not let us go..  Come and make Your Presence known as we call upon Your Name today. Thank You! All praise and honor and glory to the Name of our God and Father and to the Son!  Amen!