Wed.’s Devo The Soldier, the Athlete and the Farmer

Read: Jeremiah 42:1-44:23; 2 Timothy 2:1-21; Psalms 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 26:3-5
Johanan rescued the people from Ishmael who wanted to take them to the Assyrians. Johnan wanted to take them to Egypt but first he and his officials met with Jeremiah to hear what he would say. Jeremiah reported that they were to stay in the land of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar would not be mad at them but extend compassion toward them and God would bless them in their land. If they chose to go to Egypt they would die of the sword, plague or famine because the Babylonians would attack them there and have no mercy. The Egyptians wouldn’t like them either and they would be hated and persecuted.
Johanan heard the word and didn’t believe it. He chose to lead all the people to Egypt where they ended up worshipping the gods of the Egyptians. They blamed all their troubles and hardships on Jeremiah and the fact that he made them stop worshipping their idols. Jeremiah explained that all their troubles were because they worshiped other idols and turned from the living God.
In reading the Old Testament were realize how important it is to have godly leaders because the way the leaders go is the way the nation will go. That is why we need to be praying every day for our leaders and their decisions.
Paul reemphasized this very concept. He used the examples of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. A soldier is going to wholeheartedly obey his officer, so it is important that the officer be good and wise. The athlete will only win if he obeys the rules. A farmer is worthy of being the first to enjoy the harvest from his own crops that he has worked so hard for. We as soldiers, runners of our race and sowers of the Word have one leader and that is Jesus who is the head of the Church. If we endure hardship as a soldier we will have the favor of God. As an athlete, if we obey the Word of God we will win the victor’s crown. If we work hard in the field like a farmer, we will reap a harvest of souls.
Lord, may we endure the trials of this earthly life in honor of You and may we run our race in obedience and may we plant good seed that will grow into a great harvest for the Kingdom.