Today’s Reading: Jer 14:1–15:21, Rom 1:1–17, Prov 15:1–33

Today’s Theme: The Gospel of God

Today we embark on one of the most fascinating journey’s as we enter the book of Romans which some would consider the greatest and most important letter in the NT.

Today we only get to read Paul’s introduction to the letter in which he makes clear his theme which is the gospel. He call this the gospel of God and we conclude that God himself is the gospel which has the power to save us.

Jeremiah 14:1–15:21

The intercessor

“Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.(Jeremiah 14:7, ESV)

Jeremiah intercedes well by first recognising the sin of the people and their backsliding hearts. We can learn from his pattern of prayer as we intercede today.

The Hope of Israel

O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?(Jeremiah 14:8, ESV)

Jesus is the great hope of Israel and its only saviour in troubled times. Pray today for the opening of their eyes to see that Jesus is their true and long awaited great hope.

Use restraint

Thus says the Lord concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.”(Jeremiah 14:10, ESV)

Lord keep us from wandering off and being unrestrained. We are called to follow and to have self control.

Don’t pray for them

The Lord said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people.(Jeremiah 14:11, ESV)

This does away with unerversalist tendencies of God not judging anyone, there are those who he does not want us to pray for so he can work out his justice and anger, this is sometimes what someone needs to genuinely draw them close to God.

Lying prophets

And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.(Jeremiah 14:14, ESV)

This is indicative of so much happening in the church today, Lord expose them and save your people from false prophets.

We are not professionals

If I go out into the field, behold, those pierced by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land and have no knowledge.’ ”(Jeremiah 14:18, ESV)

It is horrible to see this sort of professionalism in the church today, the ministry is a calling not a profession or trade.

Hope in God

Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.(Jeremiah 14:22, ESV)

All we can do is set our hope on The Lord, the one who brings rain when it is needed.

God is holy

And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.(Jeremiah 15:4, ESV)

God is holy and just, just praying please forgive me doesn’t just work, Gods active grace and mercy are needed.

Don’t weary God with treason

You have rejected me, declares the Lord; you keep going backward, so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you— I am weary of relenting.(Jeremiah 15:6, ESV)

Mankind’s primary treason is directly against The Lord

God is a person not a force, God can be wearied from constantly turning form judgement to mercy. Lord keep us from wearying you

The joy of God’s word

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.(Jeremiah 15:16, ESV)

Yes Lord we found your words and they are a great joy and treasure to us.

They will turn, you will stand

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.(Jeremiah 15:19, ESV)

We should not capitulate, our hearers should.

We must speak what is right before God and not rubbish and emotionalism also we should not change our standards the world should change theirs

Romans 1:1–17

The gospel of God

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,(Romans 1:1-2, ESV)

The gospel was promised beforehand, this is the epic opening to possibly the greatest book the world has ever seen, Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Paul’s main concern and theme throughout the book is this gospel of God. Romans is one of the single most important books in the world, it defines the gospel more clearly than any other.

The Gospel being promised before hand gives us an idea of the scope and importance of the gospel, it has it’s roots in Genesis is realised in the Gospels, defined in the Epistles and consummated in The Revelation.

The gospel or good news was promised by God to humanity in the garden of Eden and that promise has been defined and reaffirmed throughout redemptive history finding its fulfilment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

All Nations

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,(Romans 1:5, ESV)

One of the first arguments Paul will make is that this Gospel is not for one nation, class or type of people. It is a message for the entire world, for all humanity.

The promise was made to Adam and Eve and is now fulfilled for all the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.

The gospel is universal in its appeal and does not require cultural, ethnic or religious rites. It is a message for all mankind because all men share the same origin (created in God’s image), problem (sin and it’s penalties) and destiny (eternity in heaven or hell)

The power for salvation

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.(Romans 1:16, ESV)

The message of the gospel is Gods power for salvation. The power is not in religion, rites, buildings, prayers, miracles, books, knowledge, fasting, being good, the law or anything else.

The power to save is only found in the gospel.

This is why Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel which is a message concerning what God has done to save those who believe through Christ, it is good news of God’s victory and our salvation.

We live by faith

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”(Romans 1:17, ESV)

Not by order or ritual but faith in God. This was the great cry of the reformation, we break the bonds of man’s own forms of religion today, we shall live by faith.

The gospel is just a message if we do not receive it with faith.

We must believe God and live our lives in light of this we must believe the gospel and in so doing believe God because at is core God is the gospel, the good news is that we can come into relationship with him

Proverbs 15:1–33

God knows everything

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.(Proverbs 15:3, ESV)

God sees and knows everything, good and bad… Not Santa

Spread knowledge of God

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.(Proverbs 15:7, ESV)

Lord help us to use our lives to spread knowledge of you. This is not just useless head knowledge, but should be rooted in experience, the word of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

So let everyone know about God, especially now it’s the Christmas season.

Have a glad heart

A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.(Proverbs 15:13, ESV)

Forgive us Lord where we have grown weary and tired, help us to always have a glad heart

Seek knowledge

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.(Proverbs 15:14, ESV)

The fact you are reading this now is a good indicator that God has put a hunger for understanding and knowledge of him in your heart

Be slow to anger

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.(Proverbs 15:18, ESV)

This is the man we need to be, one who is slow to anger

Get advice

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.(Proverbs 15:22, ESV)

Lord please help us to live this principle out in our lives

Answer well

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!(Proverbs 15:23, ESV)

Answering questions well should bring us joy as we give a reason for the hope we have

Think about your words

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.(Proverbs 15:28, ESV)

Stop and think about how you answer, we need to do this more. Our tone and words matter.

Listen to instruction

Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.(Proverbs 15:32, ESV)

Listening to correction will make us more intelligent, so humble yourself to listen today.

Instruction in Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.(Proverbs 15:33, ESV)

Fearing the Lord is us instructing ourselves in his wisdom

Today’s Reading: Jer 12:1–13:27, Philem 8–25, Prov 14:15–35

Today’s Theme: Profit well

There are lots of good lessons today, one that we find in all three readings is that of profiting well through hard work and toil. When we work hard and in the right spirit we will profit, God wants us to be fruitful.

Paul could make his appeal to Philemon because of the investment he had made in his life.

Jeremiah 12:1–13:27

Don’t grow weary

“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?(Jeremiah 12:5, ESV)

We should remember that all we have to do or contend with could be more difficult so we should not complain. Don’t grow weary with whatever you are going through because it may be preparation for larger battles ahead

Profit well

They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”(Jeremiah 12:13, ESV)

Lord please keep us from this horrible fate, we want to sow well and profit well in your name. Jesus taught us about this all the time letting us know that fruitfulness and abundance is crucial to our lives and the kingdom of God.

God’s electing love

And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land.(Jeremiah 12:15, ESV)

God loves his elect people Israel and shows them compassion. We can take confidence from this because we too are elect, subject to his electing love and compassion

A national warning

But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord.”(Jeremiah 12:17, ESV)

Many nations have gone this way, Lord keep our nation in your grace and mercy

Don’t be a useless loincloth

This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.(Jeremiah 13:10, ESV)

Dear Lord, keep us from stubbornly following our own heart. We don’t want to be like useless loincloths (shorts).

Listen to God

For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.(Jeremiah 13:11, ESV)

Man is in control of his own mind and is guilty before God for not listening or wanting to listen

More than hearing

Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the Lord has spoken.(Jeremiah 13:15, ESV)

It’s more than just hearing, we need to listen too when God speaks

God seeks glory

Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.(Jeremiah 13:16, ESV)

We must give God what he seeks, which is his own glory. God deserves all the glory.

Man’s finite ability

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.(Jeremiah 13:23, ESV)

This is not said in a negative sense, just to point at mans finite ability, he can’t just do whatever he wants

It is possible that God saw ahead and knew the black gods teaching (the heresy that says “black” people are gods) of our day could be spoken to directly from this verse, these black gods are not free to do just anything therefore they are not gods

Philemon 8–25

The following is the introduction to this letter form the ESV bible and is helpful in understanding the characters involved

Philemon is about reconciliation and relationships between Christians. Onesimus (which means “useful”) was a slave of a believer named Philemon in Colossae. Apparently Onesimus had stolen from Philemon and fled. At some time while Paul was under arrest, Onesimus met him and became a Christian. Paul apparently wrote this letter at the same time as Colossians and gave it to Onesimus to carry back to Philemon (see Col. 4:9). Paul appealed to Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his household, but as a brother in the Lord rather than a slave. In Paul’s estimation, Onesimus was far more “useful” (v. 11) now that he was a Christian. Paul even promised to pay whatever debt Onesimus might owe Philemon.

For loves sake

yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—(Philemon 9, ESV)

Love should be our motivation as brothers and sisters in the Lord.
We should be able to appeal to each other for Loves sake.

Refresh someone’s heart

Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.(Philemon 20, ESV)

Ask the Holy Spirit how you can refresh someone’s heart in the Lord today.

Proverbs 14:15–35

Don’t be gullible

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.(Proverbs 14:15, ESV)

We must not be simple, we need to look into things ourselves. For example we can’t just take someone else’s word for it because we all have a responsibility to read and study the bible ourselves.

Don’t be reckless

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.(Proverbs 14:16, ESV)

Being either reckless or careless is foolish. It is wise for us to be careful, measured and consider what we say, where we go and what we do.

Don’t have a short temper

A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.(Proverbs 14:17, ESV)

A quick temper is bad because it causes you to act foolishly

Be generous

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.(Proverbs 14:21, ESV)

We are called to generosity, we were saved by Gods generosity

The is profit in toil

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.(Proverbs 14:23, ESV)

Rolling up our selves and working hard will always profit us

Don’t envy

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.(Proverbs 14:30, ESV)

Envy will make you ill and even age quickly through poor health

Righteousness exalts a nation

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.(Proverbs 14:34, ESV)

We need righteousness in our nation. Lets pray fro righteousness in our nation today

Today’s Reading: Jer 10:1–11:23, Philem 1–7, Prov 14:1–14

Today’s Theme: The One, Unique God

Today we read about the greatness of our God, he is One in unity as the Trinity and in essence and is unique in his being because no other being can be compared to him. The King of all creation who alone knows and tests the heart and mind.

We also learn valuable lessons including that we should refresh the saints as we share in our walk of faith with each other.

Jeremiah 10:1–11:23

The One, Unique God is King

There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.(Jeremiah 10:6–7, ESV)

God is completely unique, he is the only Being in his class. There are no other god’s that share the attributes of the Trinity. No one else has the Aseity (Self sufficient existence) of eternal being, all other beings are creatures meaning they were created.

This one and only God is the great and mighty King of the nations. We worship his truly awesome majesty today.

The Eternal King

But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.(Jeremiah 10:10, ESV)

Our claim is completely exclusive, Our God is the only true God. God is the everlasting king, other kings come and go but God is king forever, he is the ultimate sovereign and always will be. No one can replace him, challenge him or compete with him

The Scientific Creation

It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.(Jeremiah 10:12, ESV)

Amazing that God used power, wisdom and understanding in creation that shows us that it was not magical but beautifully scientific, mathematical and technical by God’s supernatural power

Worthless idols

They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.(Jeremiah 10:15, ESV)

This is true of ALL idols. The ones who perish is the very idea of the idols and the demonic spirit behind the idol.

Stupid shepherd

For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the Lord; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.(Jeremiah 10:21, ESV)

Lord thank you we don’t have stupid Pastors. A stupid shepherd is one that does not seek the Lord

Say Amen to God

For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice.(Jeremiah 11:7, ESV)

We are not called to think about it or mull it over, we are simply called to obey, to say amen to God’s word

Don’t refuse to hear

They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.(Jeremiah 11:10, ESV)

Those who do not hear, it is because of their stubborn disobedience which is conscious rebellion against God, humanity’s biggest problem with Gods commands is that we hate him and so will not listen to him. We need a heart transplant.

Discipline for the beloved

What right has my beloved in my house, when she has done many vile deeds? Can even sacrificial flesh avert your doom? Can you then exult?(Jeremiah 11:15, ESV)

Even though they are beloved, they must be punished and disciplined. We know we are God’s children when he disciplines us

Commit your cause to God

But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.(Jeremiah 11:20, ESV)

Thank you Lord that you are just and we can leave all our causes with you because you are the God who tests hearts and minds

Philemon 1–7

Famous love

because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,(Philemon 5, ESV)

The love and faith we have for the Lord should be heard of by others, it should be evident

Effective faith

and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.(Philemon 6, ESV)

As we share our faith with our brethren in Christ we pray like Paul prayed for Philemon that it would be effective in making those we share with aware of every good thing that is inside them for the sake of Christ.

As Pastor has been encouraging us the glory that is within for the sake of Christ

Refresh the saints

For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.(Philemon 7, ESV)

Do you refresh the hearts of the saints? How do you do this? Lord please help us to do this.

This is the reason for the thanks that Paul has been giving, because this is a man who refreshes the saints. Tomorrow we will hear Paul make his appeal.

Proverbs 14:1–14

Wise Women

The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.(Proverbs 14:1, ESV)

Praise God today for all the wise women building their house and keeping the home to the glory of God and the joy of the whole family.

People of understanding

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.(Proverbs 14:6, ESV)

Lord help us to be a people of understanding where knowledge is no hard thing, it should be natural for us.

We are alone

The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.(Proverbs 14:10, ESV)

In a sense we are all alone, no one else knows our hearts, only we do (and God)

What is right?

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.(Proverbs 14:12, ESV)

There are so may things inside and outside of the church that feel or seem right but actually lead to death, this is why we need to ask the Lord to guide us everyday

Today’s Reading: Jer 7:30–9:26, Col 3:18–4:18, Prov 13:1–25

Today’s Theme: Seasoned with Salt

One of the main themes today is the depraved nature of man in his sin and backsliding. We also look at the importance of our words and conduct. In the NT reading we are told to season our words with salt.

We are called to be able to give a reason for our hope and to walk and talk in a way that is compatible with the Gospel. By being deliberate in seasoning our words and lives in this way we will naturally guard against deliberate sin and backsliding.

In a sense the effort we make in seasoning / preparing ourselves acts as a preservative to us just like salt.

Jeremiah 7:30–9:26

Progressive Backsliding

Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.(Jeremiah 8:5, ESV)

Perpetual backsliding seem to indicate a complete falling away and that it is something that happens over a period of time rather than in one faithless act.

Backsliding is often a slow burn so stem the tide now, plug the holes and lets humble ourselves before we get swept away in progressive sliding back from God.

Stubborn ignorance

I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle.(Jeremiah 8:6, ESV)

Lord keep us form this folly. We need to be humble enough to accept correction and instruction. If we always think “but what did I do” then it is possible we are walking in pride.

Like the passage says those who do not accept that they have done wrong and can not be instructed are like horses running headlong to their own death.

Without wisdom

The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them?(Jeremiah 8:9, ESV)

This is true of all those who reject Gods word, they are without wisdom. True wisdom comes from God and is revealed best in his word.

False peace

They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.(Jeremiah 8:11, ESV)

An epidemic of the health, wealth and prosperity Gospel. One of the major problems with this and other perversions of the Gospel like universalism is that they give the people a false sense of peace with God.

The only one who gives true peach with God is his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said I leave my peace with you and it is not like the world’s peace.

The call of the Gospel is not just to a one time decision for salvation but to a life of repentance and to live at peace with God and man. We are not saved to be spoilt brats with bad behaviour and high demands.

Brazen sin

Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the Lord.(Jeremiah 8:12, ESV)

Lord keep us form the callous brazenness of rebellion and debauchery

Mourn for the lost

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded; I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?(Jeremiah 8:20–22, ESV)

We should mourn for the lost like Jeremiah and for the wayward church, thank God that Jesus is the balm in Gilead

May truth and justice reign

They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the Lord.(Jeremiah 9:3, ESV)

In some ways this sounds like our country too, so we need Gods mercy over every nation where falsehood has taken hold in the government, pray that truth and justice will reign

Conscious depravity

Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.(Jeremiah 9:5, ESV)

The consciousness of our depravity is apparent in this verse, we are not just victims of sin we are the perpetrators of sin. Without Christ we are all assigned under God’s wrath because of our concious, deliberate, wilful, rebellious sin.

Our culture would have people believe they are guilty of nothing and everything is either another person, society, demons, curses or something else’s fault. We need to accept the guilt that is rightfully ours for our sin and in light of that seek God for mercy, forgiveness and transformation.

Don’t refuse to know the Lord

Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the Lord.(Jeremiah 9:6, ESV)

The conscious choice of man in refusing The Lord is made clear here. We need to realise that our sin is not some momentary slip from conventional standards, it is open rebellion against the king of heaven.

Called to obedience

And the Lord says: “Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it, but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.(Jeremiah 9:13–14, ESV)

This is why judgement came, because of disobedience. We are called to obedience to God’s ways and word, this is not legalism as some would assert, this is just new life in Christ, why would we not want to obey God, if we are in a loving relationship with him and our nature has be transformed by the Holy Spirit?

The privilege of knowing the Lord

but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”(Jeremiah 9:24, ESV)

How privileged I am to know you Lord. Lets boast and rejoice in that today.

Be circumcised in your heart

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh—(Jeremiah 9:25, ESV)

Even from the OT the Jews were taught that circumcision was really a matter of the heart. This is why the bible says a true son of Abraham is one who believes Gods promises and is circumcised in their heart.

Colossians 3:18–4:18

Don’t be harsh

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.(Colossians 3:19, ESV)

Lord help us as husbands to not be harsh to our wives but to love them

Don’t provoke your children

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.(Colossians 3:21, ESV)

Lord help us to encourage our children and not challenge and set them up against other children for example but instruct and nurture them in the truth.

Provoking our children can come in so many forms including neglecting them, ignoring them, being too harsh with them, leaving them to their own ways, being too soft on them etc.

Work heartily

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,(Colossians 3:23, ESV)

This is really important when doing any task at work or church, we should do it sincerely and heartily unto the Lord

Your are serving Christ

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.(Colossians 3:24, ESV)

Lord help us to remember and not lose sight of this. We should be encouraged by the truth that all our serving WILL be rewarded.

Be watchful and thankful

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.(Colossians 4:2, ESV)

This is the attitude we should have when we pray, we should be watchful by being alert to the prompting of the Spirit and thankful in faith that God has already answered

Use time wisely

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.(Colossians 4:5, ESV)

Time is a precious and fleeting thing, we should make the best use of it

The way we talk matters

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.(Colossians 4:6, ESV)

We are all called to watch the way we talk. We should ensure the very words we use and the tone we talk with is in keeping with the Holy Spirit.

As Christians we can’t just blurt out whatever comes to mind, we need to season our words, think about and prepare in our hearts what we will say as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

We should not use derogatory language, crass jesting or thoughtless words, instead we are called to apologetics which is the measured, mature and reasonable response to those who have questions about the hope we have in Christ.

Taking time to meditate and study will help us all in this call to “know how to answer each person”

Struggle for the saints

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.(Colossians 4:12, ESV)

As well as having a heartfelt desire to see God’s people grow through teaching, fellowship etc this should be accompanied with this sort of struggling / fighting in prayer for them to that end

Proverbs 13:1–25

Guard your mouth

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.(Proverbs 13:3, ESV)

Lord help us to guard our mouth and to be less talkative

Choose diligence

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.(Proverbs 13:4, ESV)

The choice is diligence or sluggishness, I chose diligence

Gather little by little

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.(Proverbs 13:11, ESV)

Lord help us to apply this principle to our finances

Hope in God

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.(Proverbs 13:12, ESV)

God will fulfil the desires which are inline with his word and Spirit so place your hope in God because he NEVER fails.

Accomplish tasks

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.(Proverbs 13:19, ESV)

This is why accomplishing a task feels so good, it is sweet to the soul

Walk with the wise

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.(Proverbs 13:20, ESV)

Wisdom rubs of so stick around wise people

Today’s Reading: Jer 6:1–7:29, Col 3:1–17, Prov 12:1–28

Today’s Theme: Desire God’s Word

Today we see a strong theme about us desiring the word of God. We also see a very important theme about us putting off the old man and putting on the new man in Christ. This goes hand in hand with he first theme because we need to desire the word and then apply and live it.

Today’s reading is rich and full of lessons about applying the word, looking to the ancient paths, watching our words, working hard, being diligent and so much more.

Jeremiah 6:1–7:29

Take pleasure in the word

To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.(Jeremiah 6:10, ESV)

This is in indicator if we are off, do we take pleasure in God’s word? Ask yourself that question today.

This is why the Lord tells us to be careful how we hear, how are your hearing God’s word, do you always hear it as a negative thing? Is reading the bible like a chore? If this is true then something is wrong with your heart, you should be hungry for and delight in the word of God.

Are there other things that have taken the place of the bible? Are you full up with other things and so have no appetite.?

Receive the word with joy today.

False healing

They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.(Jeremiah 6:14, ESV)

Lord we don’t want to be people who heal wounds lightly by coming with soft, lying words to comfort the sinner.

In this we understand the fire of God’s ministers as they bring the truth to God’s people, teaching, rebuking and prophesying with all authority according to the truth of the bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Know shame

Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord.(Jeremiah 6:15, ESV)

This is a horrible condition, Lord help us to always have the ability to experience reasonable shame… It keeps us safe and sane.

None of us should be so bullish that we are never ashamed, we really must be sensitive enough to know shame for our own good and the good of those around us.

The ancient paths

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’(Jeremiah 6:16, ESV)

Lord this is a key principle, we must not neglect those who have gone on before or weary ourselves reinventing the wheel. We can stand on the work of the Apostles, Church Fathers, Reformers, Puritans and all the saints of the past who have won many battles for the sake of the kingdom.

For example the old councils of the church done all the legwork for us already around crucial doctrines like the divinity of Christ, the hypostatic union (The God-Man), the definition of the Trinity, the elements of salvation and so much more

Finding and walking in the ancient paths will bring rest to our souls. We reaffirm the truth established in the battles won in the church’s 2000 year history. Even reading the work of those who have gone on before like Charles Spurgeon is so refreshing to the soul.

Listen to the watchmen

I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’(Jeremiah 6:17, ESV)

Help us to pay attention to the watchmen in our day and heed his warning. Pay attention to the words of our Pastors.

Amend your ways

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.(Jeremiah 7:3, ESV)

God is always calling us to repentance, we must amend our conduct and actions

Personal responsibility

Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’(Jeremiah 7:4, ESV)

We must not have false confidence in institutions like the church but each of us must repent and amend our ways before God personally

Conditional promises

then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.(Jeremiah 7:7, ESV)

The dwelling in the land is conditional in this passage on the repentance of the people and we know after the Babylonian captivity the people did repent and God did restore them to the land as promised.

We need to realise that nearly all the promises of God’s word are conditional, we need to meet God’s conditions to qualify for the promise, the condition could be something as simple as humbling ourselves in repentance

Deceptive words

“Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.(Jeremiah 7:8, ESV)

No matter how much we believe in deceptive words from either the church or secular word they will not benefit us in anyway because they are false and have no power

The Temple, just a shadow

therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, and in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh.(Jeremiah 7:14, ESV)

God did not tie himself perpetually to the temple which is why there is not one today, it was a shadow of the real temple fulfilled in Jesus

Stop praying

“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.(Jeremiah 7:16, ESV)

We need to know when we should stop praying for a person or situation. This is why we must be led by the Holy Spirit.

Queen of Heaven

The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.(Jeremiah 7:18, ESV)

The spirit behind the Marian worship of Roman Catholicism. This is heresy, there is no where in the bible teaching us to worship Mary. Mary herself was a believer and worshiped God alone

Obedience born of love

But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’(Jeremiah 7:23, ESV)

God’s call is to obedience not sacrifice and sacrament but heartfelt obedience born out of love and relationship.

Listen to God

But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.(Jeremiah 7:24, ESV)

Lord we don’t want to be like that and be stubborn going backward instead of forward, please help us to listen to your voice.

When we stubbornly disobey God we are going backwards. We can only progress by listening to and obeying God

Colossians 3:1–17

The prosperity gospel destroyed

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.(Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Surely this blows away the prosperity gospel. We are called to set our minds on the things of the spirit and eternity not on the temporary things of this world

Kill sin

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.(Colossians 3:5–6, ESV)

We must consciously put these passions to death today. Be killing sin or sin be killing you.

Active sanctification

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices(Colossians 3:9, ESV)

We are called to active sanctification which means it is always turned on, we are always walking in it. One way we work this out is by being honest with each other

The new self

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.(Colossians 3:10, ESV)

In Christ, we can be what God intended us to be. When we put of the old self with its practices we put on the new self in two senses

1. We embrace the virtues of life as Christians, as disciples of Jesus Christ making our behaviour conform to godliness
2. Jesus as the new Adam is the leader of the new humanity, which we are corporately a part of, we have been recreated in Christ with new a new nature, new desires and governed by new laws. We put on Christ.

A good way to think of this is taking of an old dirty jacket and then putting on a new one

The new humanity

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.(Colossians 3:11, ESV)

The new humanity in Christ, we are one new man

The tone of our lives

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,(Colossians 3:12, ESV)

This is the tone our lives should have as Christians with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience

Forgive

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.(Colossians 3:13, ESV)

We must forgive each other as we too have been forgiven, taking slight or offence as an opportunity to be like the Lord.

Love

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.(Colossians 3:14, ESV)

The love of God binds our new nature, behaviour and tone together in perfect harmony

Let the word dwell richly in you

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.(Colossians 3:16, ESV)

This is a case for loving Gods word, studying it and teaching and sharing it in everyday Christian fellowship together. The word can not dwell in you richly if you don’t love it and take it in.

Be thankful

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.(Colossians 3:17, ESV)

Everything we do we must do unto the Lord with thankful, joyful hearts

Proverbs 12:1–28

Don’t be stupid

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.(Proverbs 12:1, ESV)

Sometimes we can be stupid… Lord help us to love discipline and knowledge given by elders (even elders who are dead, through the books they have left etc)

Excellent wife

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.(Proverbs 12:4, ESV)

There are two calls here, one is to wives that they should desire to be an excellent wife to their husbands. The second is that husbands should give God thanks for their excellent wife

Good sense

A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is despised.(Proverbs 12:8, ESV)

We ought to have good sense, sometimes simply called common sense.

Don’t play the man

Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.(Proverbs 12:9, ESV)

I see so many men doing this and the wife and children suffer for their delusions of grandeur, help men to avoid this immature pitfall. We are called to be good stewards and live within our means

Care for animals

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.(Proverbs 12:10, ESV)

We should care for our pets and wildlife too. We should be good stewards of God’s creation

Work is good

From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.(Proverbs 12:14, ESV)

We must have a healthy theology of work. You will reap what you have planted.

Ignore insults

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.(Proverbs 12:16, ESV)

More insults will come in life, Lord help us to ignore them

Don’t be rash

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(Proverbs 12:18, ESV)

Lord forgive us when our words have been rash, may our tongue bring healing

Be diligent

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.(Proverbs 12:24, ESV)

We are called to diligence.