Through the Bible - Jeremiah 10-11, 1 Timothy 5
Good morning,
What do you "glory in", take pride in? For some it may be career accomplishments, for many of us it may be our children our our spouse, having a "P-31 wife, (Proverbs 31), while for others it may be cars or a hobby.
If it is a person, the joy or pride is often magnified if they've accomplished something against the odds; whether it be disabilities, illness, or even being of small stature. Sometimes we come to realize that it was the very impediments that lead or inspired them to achieve their goals. We've seen this in our kids lives.
For today's verse we'll return to Jeremiah 9 where we finished yesterday.
Jer 9:23 This is what the Lord says:
"Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
24 But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken! NLT
"Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
24 But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken! NLT
When you look back through the Bible to those who "boast in the Lord" you see people like Abraham, Job, David, and Paul. All of them faced numerous trials and testing, but few "gloried" more in God and in the coming Messiah. David was a "man after God's own heart". Think about what God Himself said about Job, Job 2:3 "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. " NIV He said this before and after Jobs trials.
J.R. Miller writes, "There are many who never saw the beauty of Christ, and never knew the intimacy of a personal friendship, until they saw him, and learned to talk to him as friend with friend - in the hour of sorrow's darkness. When the lamps of earth went out, Christ's face appeared."
Consider a few words from the Third Day song , "Mountain of God"
Even though the journey's long,
and I know the road is hard.
Well the one who's gone before me,
He will help me carry on.
And after all that I've been through,
now I realize the truth
that I must go through the valley
to stand upon the Mountain of God.
and I know the road is hard.
Well the one who's gone before me,
He will help me carry on.
And after all that I've been through,
now I realize the truth
that I must go through the valley
to stand upon the Mountain of God.
My wife and I recently hiked up Sharp Top at the Peaks of Otter in Virginia. The sign for the trail said that it was a strenuous 1.5 miles. I must admit it that it was strenuous and that we did stop a few times on the way up. But reaching the top, the view of God's creation was inspiring. That's how our journey through the trials along the trail of life can be, especially with the one that we love. All the other things "that charmed us most" are cast aside. We gain strength from each other and our common faith in God. Life is more precious, conversations with our children are more precious, and it's because Christ is more precious having made the climb - actually going before us.
Are you facing a mountain right now? Rely on Christ, glory in Christ as He will help you "carry on."
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Jer 9:23-10:7
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Jer 9:23-10:7
God's Message:
"Don't let the wise brag of their wisdom.Don't let heroes brag of their exploits.Don't let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only:That you understand and know me.I'm God, and I act in loyal love.I do what's right and set things right and fair,and delight in those who do the same things.These are my trademarks."God's Decree.
"Stay alert! It won't be long now" — God's Decree! — "when I will personally deal with everyone whose life is all outside but no inside: Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab. All these nations are big on performance religion — including Israel, who is no better."
The Stick Gods
10 Listen to the Message that God is sending your way, House of Israel. Listen most carefully:
"Don't take the godless nations as your models.Don't be impressed by their glamour and glitz,no matter how much they're impressed. The religion of these peoplesis nothing but smoke.An idol is nothing but a tree chopped down,then shaped by a woodsman's ax. They trim it with tinsel and balls,use hammer and nails to keep it upright. It's like a scarecrow in a cabbage patch — can't talk!Dead wood that has to be carried — can't walk!Don't be impressed by such stuff.It's useless for either good or evil."
All this is nothing compared to you, O God.You're wondrously great, famously great. Who can fail to be impressed by you, King of the nations?It's your very nature to be worshiped!L
The Message
"Don't let the wise brag of their wisdom.Don't let heroes brag of their exploits.Don't let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only:That you understand and know me.I'm God, and I act in loyal love.I do what's right and set things right and fair,and delight in those who do the same things.These are my trademarks."God's Decree.
"Stay alert! It won't be long now" — God's Decree! — "when I will personally deal with everyone whose life is all outside but no inside: Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab. All these nations are big on performance religion — including Israel, who is no better."
The Stick Gods
10 Listen to the Message that God is sending your way, House of Israel. Listen most carefully:
"Don't take the godless nations as your models.Don't be impressed by their glamour and glitz,no matter how much they're impressed. The religion of these peoplesis nothing but smoke.An idol is nothing but a tree chopped down,then shaped by a woodsman's ax. They trim it with tinsel and balls,use hammer and nails to keep it upright. It's like a scarecrow in a cabbage patch — can't talk!Dead wood that has to be carried — can't walk!Don't be impressed by such stuff.It's useless for either good or evil."
All this is nothing compared to you, O God.You're wondrously great, famously great. Who can fail to be impressed by you, King of the nations?It's your very nature to be worshiped!L
The Message
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