By flesh or promise?

Reading: Jeremiah 34, 37-38 and Romans 9

Scripture: Romans 9:8, This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

Thoughts: Most of the world is not descendants of Abraham or Issac. Paul is making the case that through Christ we are adopted into the family of God that has the covenant with Him, but also that some were born into the family who have rejected Christ and are the branches being pruned that the grafted in branches may bear fruit. In the previous verse, he said we are named for Israel. Originally Jacob (deceiver), Israel had his identity changed when he had an encounter with God. This is telling me that we are not just our parents' children, or what our name is. When you look at a group of people who all have the same name there are almost always similarities in who they are. In the western world most do not name their children thinking about the meaning but in other parts of the world, the meaning of names is important. Jacob being the “deceiver” or king Jabez being “will cause pain” these a just a couple of examples. My name means “God will increase,” When we encounter God are we going to be grafted in or pruned away? And are we living up to or down to the names our parents gave us? With that in mind, what is the name that God has given you, is he confirming what your parents gave you, or does he have a new one for you?

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you knew us before we were in our mother's womb. You know the hairs on our head and the trials we are walking through. I thank you that you know me and for calling me friend and adopted son. I thank you for my name that I know and if there is any other make it known to me. I thank you that you are with me and for leading and guiding me. I continue to seek your wisdom that I may steward those things you have placed in my life. I thank you that you have grafted me in, that I may I bear fruit. Help me so that when life squeezes me that you are what comes out and not my anger.

Consequences Smonsequences

Reading: Jeremiah 32-33 and Romans 8

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:42, For thus says the Lord: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them.

Thoughts: It is easy to focus on the grace and mercy of God, or the blessings and prosperity that are promised. Yet, we need to remember God is also just. In this Passage God is reminding Israel that He did bring about the disaster yet through His justice Israel was still under the promise made to them. We have promises made to us that we have in store but because of the justice that must be served there are consequences to our sins. One promise is that our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and just because we are saved from the wailing and gnashing of teeth that comes from the separation from God, we still have the consequences of our actions. We are given free will we have the choice to seek God or follow the world. God will not stop us from choosing to sin and receiving the consequences. If I decide to spit into the wind God will not keep it from blowing back into my face. We need to keep in mind that when you have unrepentant sin in your life God will let you experience the consequences and maybe disasters that come from the choices we make.

Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for your blessings, for your grace and your mercy. I thank you that you are leading and guiding me. I ask for forgiveness for the sins in my life. I ask that you help me see them, learn how to remove them, and overcome the temptations that will come.

Its killing me.

Reading:  Jeremiah 30-31 and Romans 7

Scripture: Romans 7:10-11, The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and though it killed me.

Thoughts: As Paul talked about how the Law made sin known, verses 10-11 jumped out at me. Looking at the Law in general from the 10 commandments to all the hundreds of Levitical laws that were to guide the nation, these laws were to lead them into life and prosperity. Yet, like many things meant for good the evil one will twist them for his own use. The law was meant to point out the sin that we could turn from it; the evil one uses it to condemn us calling us into the death that comes from separation from God. Sin is always looking for a way to infiltrate our lives and make us focus on our shortcomings, inadequacies, and failures. Jesus was the only one who was able to fulfill the law and take on our sins, every year the Jews would come seeking to fulfill the law with the blood of sheep and goats, but Jesus was able to cover sin completely without the need for continual sacrifices. Do not let sin deceive you, our sins were nailed to the cross with Jesus, He took the wages that we earned so that we could stand before our Father washed clean.

Prayer: Lord God, I thank you that you did give us the Law that we have a way to recognize what sin is. I thank you that even though we deserve death, you have given us a way to come to you and live. I thank you for your grace and mercy given to us through your Son. I ask that you help me to better recognize the sin in my life so that I can cut it out, that I can be a light to the world around me.

Comfort that is not comforting.

Reading: Jeremiah 28-29, Psalm 17, and Romans 6

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Thoughts: I feel that this passage has a tendency to be overused and misused. I see so many using this verse to try and comfort someone in times of loss or pain, trying to comfort them with the thought that God has a plan. There can be comfort in the knowledge that God has a plan, but I can promise that is not something someone wants to hear in the midst of their pain or loss. When you look at the context of this verse and what is going on, there was a "prophet" who was disagreeing with Jeremiah. Jeremiah was telling Israel to build homes and settle in you will be in Babylon for 70 years and this other prophet was saying they would go home in 2 years. This passage was a comfort in the knowledge that there is an end but not that their situation was going to change soon. When we sold our house and moved into a travel trailer our plan was six to eight months and we would be in our house on the property we bought. Nearly twenty months later our house is to be delivered in the next few days, but we will still not be able to live in it for a while longer because of work that needs to be done to finish things to get the approval from the county that everything is done and done properly so we can move into the house. Israel and the lying prophet had plans to briefly stay in Babylon, yet God knew the land needed rest and his plans included them to be there for much longer than they wanted. Yes, God has plans for us, welfare, and hope but His plans very rarely look like ours.

Prayer: Lord God, I know you have plans for me, plans for welfare and not evil, to give us a future and a hope. I thank you for having the plan. I thank you for being a part of your plan. I thank you for my family and the provisions you give us. I ask that you help me walk in your plans.

See yourself as righteous???

Reading:  Jeremiah 21;24&27, Psalm 33, and Romans 5

Scripture:  Romans 5:7-8, For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I thought it was interesting that the words used in these verses first the word "scarcely" the Greek word molis can also be translated as with difficulty, hardly, not easily, i.e. scarcely, very rarely. Then the word for "righteous" was dikaios in addition to the meaning of innocent, faultless, guiltless. They also can have the meaning of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined. When we translate this passage with the first meaning  I was thinking what would it be difficult to die for a righteous person they have done no wrong? But if we use the second translation I could see it being very difficult to lay down my life for someone who thinks they can do no wrong. Especially when there is the comparison to what seems like a greater (however small) willingness to die for a good person. In the eyes of God, we are filthy rags that are good for nothing. Yet He was willing to send His Son to the cross to wash us clean. 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful. Your grace abounds and drenches us in love. I thank you for sending your Son that I can be grafted into your family, that I can call you ABBA, Daddy. Your loving kindness knows no bounds and envelops my life. I pray that I can honor you all my days. I ask that you bring to mind those things in my life that need removing and help me to find the help I need to remove them. 

Which was as good as dead.

Reading: Jeremiah 48-49 and Romans 4

Scripture: Romans 4:19, He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.

Thoughts: I feel like a resounding gong sometimes; I know that what I am writing is for myself as well as if any other person reads this. I know that I struggle with my self-image, whether it is feeling like I am unable to do something, or if it is waiting for something we heard God say was to come. Abraham waited 25 years for his son whom God promised. It is easy to get discouraged or frustrated when you do not see the answers you are looking for or the timing is not what you think it should be. Abraham’s faith was as strong at 100 as it was when he made the covenant with God. Every day I need to remind myself that God is faithful, and I need to remember to place Him first in my life. When I put things in the proper order, all things fall into place. When I seek God and focus on Him my relationship with my wife and my kids are blessed. Stop allowing yourself to consider your situation as anything other than the next step in God’s plan. Sometimes because we are sinful beings and we live in a fallen world the path may be detoured but God still has a plan and a place for you.

Prayer: Father God I thank you that you do have a plan for my life and that you are working all things for the good of those you are yours. I thank you that even in the midst of the pain and suffering you are with us and that you are growing us. Help me not to focus on the situation that I am facing but focus on you and the path you have laid before me.

Who you were and what you did.

Reading: Jeremiah 45-47, Psalm 86, and Romans 3

Scripture:  Romans 3:23-24, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Thoughts: When working through a Bible reading plan like the one, I am working through I end up reading some portions of scripture a couple of times mainly the New Testament. Some of the passages like Romans 3:23-24 can lose some of their punch after reading them so many times. I need the reminder not necessarily where I came from but who I was before. On my own, I am not able to come before God but through the gift of redemption in Christ I can stand before God. I know that it is not in me to be giving, kind, and selfless, but through the continual renewing and repentance of who I was, I am becoming more like God and able to be generous and kind. If you have watched a toddler or had one you know that selfishness is something we are born with some of the first words they learn are “NO” and “Mine” All have sinned and fallen short of the perfection that God requires to be in his presence. But God made a way through His Son that we are clothed in His righteousness and can come into his presence. Do not focus on who you were or what you have done but remember you have been redeemed and brought back into His presence.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your love and for making a way for us to return to your presence. I thank you for sending your Son so that I could know you. You are worthy of all honor and praise. Your love endures forever. I ask for forgiveness for the times I have fallen into temptation. I turn to you and seek your help to walk with you and not seek my own way. I thank you for my family and the blessings you have poured out in my life, I thank you for the opportunity to steward a small part of what is yours.

Little Christ

Reading: Jeremiah 26, 35-36 and Romans 2

Scripture: Roans 2:3-4, Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Thoughts:  I know that I will not escape judgment, there are sins in my life. Like Paul, I do the things I do not want to do, and I do not do the things I want to do. I do my best not to judge others for the sins they struggle with, yet we are to call out the sin in others' lives so that they can repent and return to God. This does not mean that like the world thinks, all things are permissible and that we all have our own truth. Paul asked, “Should I sin more that grace may abound?” We are to emulate Christ. Christian means 'little christ,' which was originally a derogatory term for early Christ followers. We are to reflect Him in all that we do be like a little Christ a reflection of Him. Yes, we will fail, yet we are to continually get back up, turn back to God, and seek Him. His great grace and loving kindness are calling us to repentance instead of condemning us as the world does. Though I struggle with anger and lust, they do not define me, and I have to be reminded that I’m not condemned by them, but I do need to strive to be more like Christ when those temptations arise.

Prayer: Lord God, your patience overflows with me, every day I take two steps forward and one step back. I lay my life at your feet; I lay my anger and lust down on the cross. I praise you with all I have, even when it feels inadequate. I thank you for the work you are doing in me. I thank you that as the potter you continue to work me into the vessel that you need me to be. I ask that you help me see the progress and the steps to come.

Approval and Practice

Reading: Jeremiah 23&25 and Romans 1

Scripture: Romans 1:32, Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Thoughts: After a long list of things that bring judgment from God, there is this passage, “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” I see this in many churches today, just in the verses preceding that bring up everything from gossip, and homosexuality, to envy and murder. There are those “churches” that will not speak against the things God speaks against, and others actively promote some of the things that God speaks against. I know that even the most trivial on the list like Gossip may be spoken against from the pulpit but is not enforced and has a tendency to run rampant even in the most faithful church. When we read the Word of God we need to be sure what we are reading is accurate, there are so many translations out there that have twisted the translation or paraphrased it to say what the translators want. When you have a good translation if your church teaches something besides what is in the Word it may be time to find somewhere that does not add or subtract from God’s Word.

Prayer: Lord God, you are the Way the Truth, and the Life. Your Son is the only way to you. I thank you for the forgiveness that you gave me through the sacrifice of your Son. You are the beginning and the end. I thank you for leading me to a church that teaches your Word and does not add or take away from any of your commands, your precepts, or your teachings. I thank you that you are leading and guiding me. I ask that you continue to open my mind to a better understanding of your Word as I read and seek you every day.

They are watching?

Reading: 2 Kings 24, Jeremiah 22, Psalm 43, and Acts 28

Scripture: Acts 28:6, They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

Thoughts:  After Paul was bitten by the viper and shook it off, he continued to work, doing what must be done. He did not dwell on what happened or have a pity party complaining about how bad things are. He worked to the glory of God, and as they watched him expecting him to die, they saw God’s work. We go through trials and tribulations and I know how easy it is to want to throw those pity parties and complain about what you are going through, when we do that we are not showing the strength and power of God. I try only to share the things that point to God’s power and glory. It is not in me to be loving and kind in the midst of overwhelming situations, and I know that even with the strength that God has given me I still fall into letting the emotions dictate my reactions and attitude toward the problem. When I take time to focus on Him and seek His wisdom, plans, and peace things go much better and I treat everyone with more love and kindness. What are others seeing when they look at you when you are walking through a storm?

Prayer: Lord God, creator of all things, you are worthy of all I have to give and so much more. I lay my life before you and thank you that you know me. You know the hairs on my head and the groaning of my heart. I thank you for my family and my friends. I thank you for those people you have placed in my life to call me out and be the iron to sharpen me. I ask that you use me in that same way and help others. Help me to be an example and share your love with those around me.

Worthy of all praise

Reading: Jeremiah 19-20, Psalm 146, and Acts 27

Scripture: Psalm 146:1-2, Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Thoughts:  Why is it that I need these reminders to praise God? I get to see the majesty of his creation every day. I enjoy the family and friends that are in my life. I get to taste the abundance of the world around us. I get to smell the rain and the produce of the land. I get to experience His love and affection. I get to experience His rebuke and correction. I get to wake up every day with breath in my lungs. Without God and His loving kindness, His mercy and grace I would be nothing, and I would be going nowhere. I praise God for his love that would not let me stay where I was when I found him. God is worthy of it all and so much more than what I can give.

Evidence of What?

Reading: Jeremiah 17-18 and Acts 26

Scripture: Acts 26:29, And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

Thoughts: Whenever Paul had the opportunity, he would present the gospel, no matter what the situation he found himself in he pointed to God. I have heard it asked many times, “Is there enough evidence to convict you of being a follower of Christ?” We are on trial every day by our coworkers, the traffic you drive home in, our brothers and sisters in Christ, yet if there was a camera following us around would there be evidence of who we say we serve? There is no doubt in my mind that Paul would have the abundant evidence but looking at my life, I know that there are days weeks, and months where there was extraordinarily little evidence. I want that kind of evidence in my life.

Prayer: Lord God, you are worthy of all praise, you are worthy of my whole life. Your presence overwhelms my soul. I thank you for all you have done. I thank you for my family, I thank you for the provisions you pour out on us. I thank you for the wisdom and power to do your work. I ask that you help me to use those for your glory and honor. Help me to steward well those things that you have blessed me with. I place them all in your hands, it was all yours from the beginning.

Appeal to Heaven

Reading: Jeremiah 15-16, Psalm 10, and Acts 25

Scripture: Acts 25:11, If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.

Thoughts: I love this reminder of where my citizenship is, and that we have the right to appeal to our Lord. Paul as a Roman citizen had the right to appeal to Caesar and bring charges against Rome if a wrong had been done to him. Our appeal is not an accusation against God but a plea, a bringing of a situation to the higher power. One of the first flags used in the United States as we battled for our freedom from the British was the “Appeal to Heaven” flag. We have a higher authority to go to when the evil one comes accusing us. He has only come to steal, kill, and destroy and his power to do so only goes as far as we let it. Once we appeal to God and use the authority, He has granted us the evil one must flee. It does not mean he will not come back to attack again; just as when tempting Jesus, the evil one will return at an opportune time. Let us be in constant prayer and keep on the Lord’s armor.

Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful, your grace and mercy abound. Your love overflows in my life. I thank you for the covenant you made through your Son and that we have the ability to take up your armor. I ask that you help me remember always to have it on and to be ready to use it when needed.

Incense before the Lord

Reading: Jeremiah 13-14, Psalm 141, and Acts 24

Scripture: Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

Thoughts: When the Tabernacle was first introduced, Israel was commanded to keep incense always burning, and the regular evening sacrifices. As I read this and thought about it this is a call to have constant prayer in our lives. I know in Western culture, we were encouraged to busy ourselves to the point that things like prayer get left behind. Like the Steven Curtis Chapman song says, “Let us pray, like breathing out and breathing in, when we finish start again, let us pray.” Prayer should not be something we just do at meals and in the mornings and nights, it needs to be a part of everything we do, it is an ongoing conversation with God at all times. This is one of my biggest challenges, I struggle with keeping God at the forefront of my mind and letting my work and daily worries get in the way of seeking and worshipping God all day. Let my prayer be like the incense of the temple always before God.

Prayer: Lord God, you are worthy of all my praise and all my affection. You are the great I AM you own the cattle on a thousand hills. I thank you that you remind me of where I was and where you are calling me to. That there are progress and growth. I thank you for all your provisions and blessings. I ask that you continue to guide me so that I may steward those things that you have placed in my care. I place my family and finances in your hands.

You can do it!!!

Reading: Jeremiah 11-12, Psalm 97, and Acts 23

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:5, If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?

Thoughts: After Jeremiah had been asking God, “How long is this going to go on” and lamenting over how those who are not following God are prospering. God comes back with If you weary from running with man how will you compete with horses? This is not an admonishment on how we are going but a reminder of what we are capable of with God’s power and authority on our side. When it comes to our situation of living in an RV as our house was built and our land was prepared, in my own power I would have only made it a few months, yet at this point, we are sitting at 17 months living in this travel trailer. It is God’s power and grace that have sustained me and allowed my wife to work through my problems in this small space. We also have had financial things come up in a way where we do not know where the money is coming from and we watch God change hearts and multiply things we did not know were there. God knows our abilities and what we are able to do, both with and without him and he calls us to do more than we think, and lean into him. Are you leaning into God or only into your own power and understanding?

Prayer: Father God you are my strength; you are the power through which I can do all things. I thank you for giving freely and abundantly. I thank you for the grace you grant me and my family. I thank you for the work you are doing in my heart. I ask that you continue to work in me. I give up my anxiety and anger and put on your peace and understanding.