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The bottom of Ayles Creek down from the
cabin. The dark slender part to the left
is a native Speckled Trout. “Be like a mountain stream where every
pebble on the bottom may be seen, not like a muddy creek where only the surface
is visible. - Spurgeon”
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My Lessons and Applications from
Today’s Readings
(Ellipses are mine and are used for contemplation.)
The Weeping Prophet, the Angry Prophet, the Chastised
Prophet – Jeremiah 11 and 12: (Facts:
What It Says – Summarized) Now Jeremiah is seeing some of what
has caused God’s wrath against Judah. God tells Jeremiah once again to hear, speak,
proclaim the blessings…and the curses…of the covenant. The key word
here for the people and Jeremiah is “obedience.” The people persist in their idolatry despite
the warnings of many prophets and severe judgments. God calls it a “conspiracy” - in that they have banded
together and broken the sacred covenant. For the second time, God tells Jeremiah to NOT pray for these unrepentant,
wicked people. “So do not pray for this people…or lift up a
cry…or a prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry
out to me for their troubles. (Jeremiah
11:14; also see 7:16) The people also
“devise a scheme” against Jeremiah to destroy him. NOW, he starts understanding the depth of
God’s anger and wrath, and calls down God’s vengeance on the people. But this also brings the eternal questions to Jeremiah’s mind, and he takes
them to God. “Why does the way of the wicked
prosper? Why are those happy who deal so
treacherously? You have planted them; they have taken root. They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from
their mind.” God’s answer has already come to Jeremiah that
these people will be judged…calamity will come upon them…they are
“doomed…and when their
trouble comes, God will not hear them.” Then the LORD chastises Jeremiah for being
too weak at the beginning of his prophetic mission. “If you
run with the footmen, and they have wearied you; then how can you contend with
horses? And, if in the land of peace in
which you trusted, they wearied you; then how will you do in the floodplain of
the Jordan?’ In essence, this is
just the prophecy, Jeremiah. The agonies have yet to come. If you can’t deal with the prophetic part,
how will you deal with the calamitous part? Then
God mourns the loss of fellowship with His people. “I have
forsaken…left …given Judah into the hand of her enemies…My house…My heritage…the
dearly beloved of My soul.” But God vows to return and save Judah…conditionally. “I will
pluck out the house of Judah from them…I will return and have compassion on
them and bring them back…and IF they will learn carefully the ways of My
people…to swear by My name…THEN they shall be established in the midst of My
people. BUT if they do not obey…I will
utterly…pick up and destroy…that nation,” says the LORD. Principle: The only 2 unconditional covenants with God
are the Abrahamic covenant and the New Covenant in Christ, and those two are
tied together in the seed – through faith – not through genetic lineage. This Chosen Nation and Chosen People have
broken the conditional covenant, mainly in continued idolatry and in forsaking
God, thereby forsaking the covenantal blessings and bringing themselves under
the covenantal curses.
God Trumping Man’s Evil / Shadows of Joseph – Psalm 118:10-14 – Facts: What It Says - Summarized) The psalmist is
remembering being surrounded by his enemies and that his full trust and
certainty was that he would destroy them…in the power and faithfulness of the
LORD. “You pushed me violently…that
I might fall…BUT…the LORD helped me. The
LORD is my strength…and my song…and He has become my salvation. “
(This is reminiscent of faithful Joseph’s years of humility, disgrace and
abandonment when finally the tables are turned by God against his evil brothers. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order
to bring it about as it is this
day, to save many people alive.”) Principle: One of the great tasks of faith is to
train our minds in God’s Word, in His Ways, in knowledge and understanding of
Him as much as is possible to a finite mind.
This enables us to see things from a spiritual rather than a purely
physical perspective. So much of what
God does is anathema to a human timetable, to a human mindset, to even an
earthly fulfillment. There is both a
spiritual and a physical realm, and God’s people and their work on earth are
indelibly linked in both realms.
Paul’s Final Exhortations to the Church at Colossae – Colossians 4 – (Facts: What It Says –
Summarized) – 1) Masters are to be fair and just with bondservants…”knowing that you also have a Master in
heaven.” 2) They – and we – are exhorted
to continue in prayer…earnestly…vigilantly…with thanksgiving. 3) “Pray that God will open a door…for the
word…to speak the mystery of Christ. 4) Walk in wisdom…toward those who are
outside, 5) redeeming the time. 5) Let
your speech always be with grace…seasoned with salt…that you may know how you
ought to answer to each one. 6) Stand perfect and complete in all the will of
God.” Principle: Through
prayer, which brings us into union with God, we are to work out our salvation
as a witness for Christ in our daily walk and in fulfillment of our great
commission - taking the gospel to the world – all for the glory of God.
My Lessons and Applications: While we do not live under a conditional covenant,
through the grace of God and the sacrificial work of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, we still live in a God-ordained physical world that has consequences
based on our actions. We are also called
to bear witness for Christ in the world.
When a believer commits an intentional sin (a sin of commission) - such
as adultery or divorce without a New Testament basis, alcoholism, drug
addiction, corruption in business, etcetera - there are usually dire
consequences for the marriage and family – often reeking havoc for generations. The church, community and even the nation can
also reel from the fallout. Sometimes
the consequences are immediate; sometimes they are years or decades in coming. Worse,
the testimony of the believer can be irreparably tarnished with those inside
and outside the faith. Do we deeply
consider how our sins affect not only others but separate us from God, make a
mockery of our Lord’s sacrifice, grieve the Holy Spirit? Do we remind ourselves that we are “the dearly beloved of God’s soul”? How can we grieve the One who has done all –
given all - for us for what we think will “make us happy”, “give us a moment of
release” and will usually end in nothing but misery and sorrow for us and those
closest to us? How do we stay focused on
God’s will rather than on the deceptive pull of the world’s idea of “happiness”? Paul says faith wins out through continuous,
vigilant, earnest prayer…with thanksgiving, through being in the Word, taking
the Word into the world, redeeming the time for others as I myself was
redeemed. It is being Christ to the
world in my speech, in my stance in the world, in my dealings with others and
before God. We are His heritage. Are we worthy progeny?
You will be My witnesses.
In order to learn how to perform your
duty as a witness for Christ, look at His example…at all times - at the well,
in the temple, on the Lake, on a mountaintop, day and night; through His powerful
prayers, in His daily work, under all circumstances. The scribes could not shut His mouth, and
even before Pilate He declared His kingship.
He witnessed so clearly and distinctly that no mistake could be found in
Him. In the same way, dear Christian,
make your life a clear testimony. Be like a mountain stream where every
pebble on the bottom may be seen, not like a muddy creek where only the surface
is visible. Let your heart be
clear and transparent so that your love for God and for others may be visible
to all. Never say, “I am faithful” –
simply be faithful. Never boast of your
integrity – just be truthful. Never compromise your witness for fear of feeble
man, but remember that your lips have been warmed by a “live coal…from God’s
altar” (Is.6:6), so let them speak like heaven-touched lips should do. Also rejoice in this – that your sufferings,
losses, and persecution will make you a better platform from which you may more
vigorously and powerfully witness for Christ Jesus. Diligently study your great Example, and “be
filled with His Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
Also remember that you need much teaching of His Word, much upholding in
prayer, much grace, and much humility if your witnessing is to be to your
Master’s glory. Then others cannot help
but see your testimony. Charles
Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
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