email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

October 5, 2018

Jeremiah 26:7-9

The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?” And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

New International Version (NIV)

                 How do we know a message is from God? One pastor of old said, “You will know the messenger speaks for God when the listeners say, ‘Away with this one, he does not deserve to live.’” When first I read this I saw it as hyperbole. Would that ever really happen?

                It happened to Jeremiah. God told him to go to the temple and speak. At the same temple which his friend King Josiah had renovated, where they had rediscovered God’s Word, Jeremiah dared to preach and ask his hearers to listen.   If the worshipers did not listen, the temple they loved would be destroyed and left desolate like their former sanctuary in Shiloh.

                Why did they call for Jeremiah to die? He spoke against his own country and their national house of worship. Jeremiah cared more about God than he did about his own country. This was dangerous preaching. It landed him in stocks and in a muddy cistern. In fact, the only thing more dangerous than saying what God tells us to is not saying what God tells us to do.

                Jesus once said, “Don’t be afraid of those who can kill your body but not your soul. Rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell".   If we speak at all, let us speak the words God gives.

Pray with me:

Father, we thank you that you are speaking, always speaking to us. Give us ears to hear your words. Free us from the frightening prospect of knowing your word and keeping it to ourselves. In the name of the eternal Word we pray. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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