Tag: joh14

Overcoming The Jackals!

O people of Israel, these prophets of yours are like jackals digging in the ruins. They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation. They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the LORD. (Ezekiel 13:4–5, NLT)

In today’s reading, God has nothing good to say about Israel’s prophets. He likens them to jackals—vicious opportunists digging among the ruins, preying on God’s people. They have prophesied in the name of the Lord, but their message is not from God. Instead, the message is a scheme of their imagination. They have seen and heard nothing from God. They have told lies, made false predictions, and, according to Ezekiel 13:6, they think they can force God to fulfill their prophecies because they have claimed His name! These prophets have created an illusion of safety and peace when there is none. Of course, God’s people loved hearing what they were hearing—spiritually, the nation was a disaster. 

What a reminder for our day. God has spoken! It’s called the Word of God—the Bible. In these last days, it is crucial to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). To compare what we hear and see around us with the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). Receiving conviction, repenting, and not walking away from the mirror of God’s Word, forgetting what we saw and heard (James 1:22–24). And allowing the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Truth, to lead us into all Truth, which is the Word of God (John 14:26, 16:13, 17:17). The jackals are out on the prowl (2 Peter 2-3), let us not fall prey to their opportunistic ways. 

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 13-15.

The Rechabite Response! 

God has an object lesson for His people in today’s reading. God has Jeremiah invite the Rechabites to the Temple. When they arrive, Jeremiah invites them to drink some wine. The Rechabite response was exactly what the Lord wanted His people to see and hear!

Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.” But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’ We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us… (Jeremiah 35:5–8, ESV)

An Object Lesson in Obedience

The Rechabites are Kenites, the people of Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. In Judges 1:16 and 1 Chronicles 2:25, we find that they became allies with Israel and embraced the ways of the Lord. Over the many generations, these nomadic, tent-dwelling people have exhibited faithfulness, obedience, and soberness by honoring their forefather Jonadab and his command to his family. So, when Jeremiah offered them wine, and they refused in the presence of those at the Temple, this was the sermon that God wanted His people to see. He wanted them to see what obedience looks like, for they had forgotten.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Go and say to the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me. (Jeremiah 35:13, NLT)

The Importance of Obedience

If we remember back to a time in King Saul’s life, the first human king Israel had, we know how much God values obedience. 

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22, KJV)

Yet Judah and Jerusalem have refused to obey; notice the consequences. 

Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. (Jeremiah 35:17, KJV)

The Blessing of Obedience

What a simple yet valuable object lesson. God is looking for obedience in our lives as believers. What is at the root of faithful obedience? What gives life and vitality to obedience? Notice the words of Jesus. If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15, KJV) Of course, Jesus is the ultimate object lesson! If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10, KJV)

Let us love our God and obey His Word, that our joy may be full! These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:11, KJV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 35-37.

The Decline of a Society Without God: Insights from Isaiah!

The Choice

What happens when a people rejects God and the truth? What is their society like? What is their life like? If a nation walks away from the truth, what are they walking towards? Isaiah chapter fifty-nine details the answers to these questions. 

The Downfall Described in Isaiah 59

Notice what happens. God stops listening…v2. Murder goes up, lying, deceit, and corruption take over…v3. No one cares about honesty, lawsuits increase, and evil fills their imaginations…v4. They resort to scheming yet lose much of their productivity, and violence becomes their trademark…v5-6. Murder becomes normalized, their minds are given over to sin, their existence is surrounded by destruction, and misery marks their days…v7. They lose peace and the ability to comprehend what is just and good…v8. Their society has no justice and knows nothing about right living…v9. Like zombies, they cease not to look for answers to their problems, but they are blind to the answers, even in the brightest moments of the day…v10. Their courts oppose righteousness and justice, truth stumbles in their streets and public discourse, honesty is outlawed, and those who renounce evil are attacked…v14-15. This is what happens when a person, or a people, walks away from God and the truth. Wow!

The Call to Embrace Truth

This reminds me of a verse in Proverbs. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23, KJV) There is only the Truth, not many truths. There isn’t my truth and your truth. There is only One who is Truth…Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6, KJV) Let’s avoid “buying into” the lies of this world. “Buy into” the Truth—sell it not! There is joy, peace, and understanding in the Truth!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Isaiah 59-63.