Thurs.’s Devo - Nations Against Nations

Read: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7; 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17; Psalm 94:1-23; Provers 26:6-8
Jeremiah saw that the exiles to Egypt were bent on worshipping idols so he told them to just keep doing it. In the end, they would see whose word stood - his or theirs. God would bring disaster on them and very few of them would escape with their lives. He gave them a sign so they would know that he was telling the truth. The sign was that the Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt would be turned over to his enemies just like Zedekiah had been turned over to Nebuchadnezzar.
He had a word for his friend and supporter, Baruch. He would see the disaster fall on his people but he would escape.
His word to Egypt was to get ready for battle. They had been defeated by Babylon but Babylon was returning to fight Egypt, and Egypt would not win, again. They would be taken into exile, but like Judah, they would one day return. The Philistines and the cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Tyre and Sidon would also be destroyed by the Chaldeans. They will plow them down like a woodsman cutting down trees.
Paul gives us a good description of what Judah had become - lovers of themselves, money, fame, disobedient to their elders, ungrateful, unholy and with out love. They were especially lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. That is also a good description of the world we live in. It will become worse as the end draws near, but where sin abounds, grace abounds more.
Paul addressed the believers telling them that they know the truth and won’t be deceived by the world. Paul’s life was characterized by faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings. He tells us that if we want to live for Christ these things should characterize our lives too.
He ends with one of my favorite scriptures: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is used for for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” When he referred to “all Scripture” he was referring to the Old Testament law and the prophets. That was the only scripture they had at the time. That is where we get doctrine, we just have to know how to seek it out. Romans 7:14 tells us that the law is spiritual. It takes spiritual eyes to read the law and understand how to apply it to our lives.
Lord, help us to walk in the Spirit and see with our spiritual eyes what you are doing on the earth. Bless your people with strength and power to stand in the evil days.