Thurs.’s Devo - Faithful Till The End

Read: Jeremiah 48:1-49:22; 2 Timothy 4:1-22; Psalms 95:1-96:13; Proverbs 26:9-12
God pronounced judgment on Moab whose god was Chemosh. Chemosh was the destroyer and subduer and was represented by a fish. Moab had had rest from her beginning so God referred to her as a bottle of wine that he never been shaken so her wine had just settled and never been stirred to change. It still tasted and smelled the same as when it was first put in its bottle.
God brings unrest and usually unwanted change in our lives to shift us from complacency to a new place. He wants to stir our wine so we can get rid of the old and replace it with the new. To put the new wine in, he has to have new wineskins, so God has to change us on the outside too. Sometimes that looks like a new job or a new place to live or a new church. Sometimes we have to live in a limbo of uncertainty for a while till the new arrives and that is the time for greater faith and patience.
God pronounced judgment on the Ammonites and their God Molech. Molech was a consuming, destoying god that purified by fire so he required the sacrificing of children in the fire. He became Chemosh to the Moabites so they worshipped the same god with different names. God directly addressed Molech and told him that he was going into exile along with his priests and officials.
Lastly, we read of God’s judgment on Edom. God had no mercy for Edom’s pride and savagery. Only the widows and orphans would get God’s compassion.
At the end, God promisesd to restore the fortunes of both the Moabites and the Ammonites, but he didn’t promise to do that for the Edomites.
Paul knew his calling and lived his life for one purpose. He was to preach the Word and always be ready to give a reason for the faith he stood for no matter how he was feeling that day. He was to encourage other Christians in their walk by correcting, rebuking and encouraging them with great patience and careful instruction. Paul did this whether he had support of other fellow workers or was being persecuted by those who didn’t embrace his teaching. Paul was faithful to his calling to the end.
Lord, may we be like Paul and persevere in our calling till you call us home.