I Corinthians 1:1-17  Paul introduces himself in this letter as one "called".  He was called to be an apostle of Jesus "by the will of God".  He is writing to the troubled church of Corinth, but reminds them immediately that they are "sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling.."  All who "call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.."  Paul writes.. are "called"- invited to be His.. saints, sanctified, made holy.. set apart.  He writes to all who "call" upon Jesus.. all who invoke His Name.. appeal to Him.. worship Him... all who have received "the grace of God which was given [us[ in Christ Jesus." That includes me.. and you!

It is in Christ that we are "enriched".. in"all speech and all knowledge".  The Living Word (Logos) gives us speech (logos).. as we come to know Him.  That is an amazing thought!  Paul goes on to remind his readers.. that we do not lack in "any gift" as we wait for Christ to come again.  Christ, Himself "shall confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."  For.. "God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

Paul confirmed this important truth to the church.. and we need to receive it too.. to remember and rejoice and be thankful for that grace that has called us.. invited us.. to belong to Him!  We, who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ.. our Lord.. are saints.. sanctified, set apart,  "by the will of God".  We have received everything that we need, in Jesus, as we await His coming.  

The divisions in the Corinthian church.. the quarrels.. the disagreements.. were keeping them from the one thing that should have united them.. they were called to  "be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment"  in Christ Jesus.   They were not called to belong to Paul, or Apollo, or Peter.. they were not baptized into any of these other men.. they were called to belong to Christ alone. 

Father, we live in a day when we see more divisions among those who claim Your Name.. how we need to turn back to the message of the gospel.. to Christ crucified.. the power and the wisdom of God made known in the Son, who came to make us complete and who is coming again one day soon!  Renew our understanding of who we are.. the called ones, who call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His name we pray. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 51-52  These final two chapters of Jeremiah once again remind us that God judges sin, yet, He is  faithful to keep His promises to Israel.  Babylon was used by God.. because of Israel's sinfulness.. to remove them from their land.   Jerusalem was destroyed.. the temple and the palace burned down.. the wall torn down.. and the people led away or killed.  But, Babylon would be judged because of this destruction. 

What God purposed, He performed.  What He spoke was accomplished.  We would do well to remember this!  "It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding he stretched out the heavens."(51:15) Our God is a God who reigns! Everything is in His Hands. He has not changed. He still is at work in this world!

".. the Lord is a God of recompense, He will fully repay.."  All that was done to Israel back then.. all that is being done now.. will not escape the Lord's notice and will not go unpunished. 

Judah was taken away in exile.. but also returned according to God's word.  We remember these events and gain understanding.. that God is involved with everything that is happening in this world.. He sees.. He has a purpose.. and He will bring about His plans according to His promises. 

Father in heaven, You are our Maker and our King.. the Lord of hosts is Your Name. We worship You alone and turn to You, waiting on You to accomplish Your purposes in us, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture.  Lead us in the path of righteousness, deliver us from evil.. fill us with Your Spirit.. may our cup runneth over! May the Name of Jesus Christ be made known, exalted, and lifted up.. drawing people to the True God of heaven and earth. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 49-50  Jeremiah is given prophecies regarding Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor,  and Babylon.. and all were found lacking. They were boastful, they were idolators, they were wicked, and they were guilty for their treatment of Israel.  For these reasons, God would judge them and their lands would become worthless.. "A wilderness, a parched land, and a desert.. " (50:12) 

The people of God would return to Zion.. they would once again find the covenant relationship with their God.  They would once again know their Redeemer, "the Lord of hosts is His name."  When God chooses to move.. no one will stop Him.  There are none who can oppose Him.. His purposes will be fulfilled. 

We know that these nations are no long called by those names.. all were removed from any power that they might have had.  But, in place we have nations like Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran.. The region is still full of turmoil.. the nations have not learned that God is Sovereign and He has chosen Israel to be His. "For who is like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherd who can stand before Me?" (50:44) 

If God judged the arrogant in those olden days.. will He not judge the arrogance of today? He has a plan and a purpose for every nation.. even as He did for Babylon..  

Father, we watch and we wait upon You.. for we know that You are at work in Your people. You have a plan and it will be carried out.. by Your Almighty Hand.  Nations will bow.. as every knee will bow before You. We rest in this truth.  Father, keep us in Your ways.. prepare us for the days ahead, and empower us by Your Spirit to run the race that You have set before us.. that  we will be ready to stand before You on that day.. with no regrets.. only thankful hearts for the grace of Jesus that has overflowed in our lives.  May our lives of faith bear much fruit.. to the glory of His Name. Amen.

 Jeremiah 48  "Concerning Moab"   This region had the Dead Sea to its west and the desert to its east.  In present times it is encompassed by the country of Jordan.  Moab is no more.  This passage tells us that the Lord judged Moab  " .. because of [their] trust in [their] own achievements and treasures.. "  They were proud, arrogant , boastful, and haughty.  There are several references to their love of drunkenness..  They worshipped Chemosh.. a false god. 

Arrogance, pride, and boasting... sounds familiar, doesn't it?  Drunkenness and immorality.. also way to prevalent in our society today.  We know that the Lord made an end to Moab.. we do not know when the day will come when the sins of America will bring about judgement too. 

Father, we pray for our country, for repentance and restoration.. that we might be a land where Your Truth is spoken, where Your ways are honored and obeyed, where we will join ourselves with You and be Your people. Bring humility and surrender to our leaders.  Make Your servants bold to speak the truth.  Protect those who are being persecuted for their faith. Show us what things we must do.. that Your Name will be honored in our land once more.  We ask these things in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Amen. 

Jeremiah 47  This chapter is a prophecy the the Lord gave Jeremiah against the region of Philistia.. which is the exact area that is in our current news.  The main city of Philistia was Gaza. Another that we still hear of is Ashkelon. 

The Lord told Jeremiah that destruction was coming to Philistia.. it would overflow the land, it would make the men so weak that they wouldn't even try to save their children, it would destroy all of the Philistines, and would leave Gaza and Ashlelon "ruined".  They would begin to cry out to the Lord, "Ah, sword of the Lord, How long will you not be quiet?"  They would beg for rest from the Lord's sword. 

His answer?  "How can it be quiet, when the Lord has given it an order?" The Lord is at work.  We may not understand.  We do pray for peace.. but until the Lord has completed His perfect and holy work, the war will not cease.  What is the Lord's order for this current stretch of land? We do not know... but this we do know.. God is at work for His good purposes and He will carry out His will.  So, we pray... 

Father in heaven, holy and hallowed is Your Name.. above every other name on earth or in the heavens. We ask that Your Kingdom come.. reign in this world.. reign over Jerusalem and over the Gaza strip. Reign in our hearts.  We ask that Your will be done on earth.. in every inch of this earth.. as it is in all of heaven!  We ask for daily bread.. for everything we need comes from Your Hands.. You are our Shepherd and we do not lack. Thank You.  Provide food for those who are hungry, Lord God.  Provide shelter for those without homes.. lost to the bombs and fires.  Father, forgive us our sins.  Bring to repentance those who have still not recognized the sins of their nation.. as well as our own. .. repentance from shedding innocent blood.. repentance from immortality and greed and brutality.  May we forgive our enemies.. pray for our enemies.. and see our enemies turn from their sins. Deliver us from evil and lead us in paths of righteousness.. for Your Name's sake.  Yours is the power, the glory, and the honor, Father.  For You have lavished Your grace on us through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son of God.  And it is in His name that we pray. Amen.  

 Jeremiah 44-46  The remnant of Judah kidnapped Jeremiah and moved to Egypt. They still refused to listen to the Word of the Lord.  They refused to repent.  They would not even believe that they were causing the calamity that happened because of their idolatry!  They even went as far as to vow to offer sacrifices to the queen of heaven.. because they considered their lack of everything because of not worshipping her!   They seemed to have completely forgotten the God who had brought His people out of Egypt.. astonishing!

But, what would happen next.. they could not deny... for God sent Nebuchadnezzar to attack Egypt.  Egypt would be terrified, would fall back, would stumble.  There would be no refuge for Judah in the land of Egypt.  Very few would survive and return to Israel. 

Yet,  God is still not finished with His people .. " But as for you, O Jacob My servant, do not fear, nor be dismayed, O Israel! For, see, I am going to save you from afar, and your descendants from the land of captivity; and Jacob shall return and be undisturbed and secure, with not one making him tremble. " 

God promises correction.. punishment.. but restoration.  Even now, as we watch the news about Israel.. we see that Israel still has not fully returned to her God.. has not learned the lessons of God's Word.. and is still trying to do things her own way.  May God open the eyes of His people.. May their ears listen to His Voice and turn to their God and His Anointed One. 

Father in heaven, may we hear Your voice today in Your Word. May we know that You alone are God and that there is NO other. May we worship and serve You alone.  May we know the security and peace of being the sheep of Your pasture.. Your children, resting in You, trusting You, and obeying Your Word. We cast our cares on You, for we know that You care for us!  We will not be anxious about anything, but in everything, bring our prayers and petitions to You, with thanksgiving!  We will rest in the arms of Jesus who will defend us and keep us in His perfect peace. All glory and praise and thanks we give to You, our Almighty and Gracious King. Amen. 

 Jeremiah 42-43  Johanan and his forces came to Jeremiah and asked him to pray.. "Please let our petition come before you, and pray for us to the Lord your God.. "  If God would tell them what to do next.. they promised.. "whether it is pleasant to unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, in order that it may go  well with us the we listen to the voice of the Lord our God." 

Sounds good!  So, Jeremiah went to pray.. and after 10 days he heard from the Lord.  "Thus says the Lord the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him: 'If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I shall relent concerning the calamity that I have inflicted on you.. ' "  He told them to not be afraid. To trust in His provision and protection. " I will also show you compassion, so that he ( Nebuchadnezzar ) will have compassion on you and restore you to your own soil."  What wonderful promises!

But, there was also a warning.. if they would not obey.. if they went down to Egypt like they wanted.. "then in that case listen to the word of the Lord of hosts... then it will come about that the sword, which you are afraid of will overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, about which you are anxious, will follow closely after you there in Egypt; and you will die there."

Jeremiah made it clear.. this is what God was telling them.. stay and He will provide.. go to Egypt and they would die... "But it came about, as soon as Jeremiah whom the Lord their God had sent, had finished telling all the people all the words of the Lord their God - that is, all these words- that Azariah.. Johanan.. and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, ' You are telling a lie!' "  They "did not obey the voice of the Lord, so as to stay in the land of Judah."  They took everyone.. including Jeremiah.. and went to Egypt.  The result would be destruction.. from the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.. upon Egypt too. 

Father, You make a way for us.. You show us Your paths of righteousness.. and yet in arrogance and deceit, many turn away.. refuse to listen.. and refuse to obey.  Oh help us Lord, to repent and turn to You, no matter what.. whether pleasant or unpleasant.. whether we understand or not.. let us follow our Good Shepherd!  May we not just say that we will do Your will...but, let us do it. Help us to remember that You will provide all the strength we need to face the obstacles of life.  You are with us always and will never forsake us.  Make Your presence and compassion known to those who are struggling today, Father. Help us, Your children, to contend earnestly for the faith that is ours in Christ Jesus. May we remain steadfast in Him.. who keeps us from falling.. for it is in His mighty Name we pray. Amen.