Mon.’s Devo - Jeremiah’s Visions

Read: Jeremiah 1:1-2:30; Philippians 4:1-23: Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 24:17-20 Jeremiah was just an ordinary priest who came from Anathoth’s line who had been disposed during Solomon’s time. Anathoth was from Eli’s line who God cursed. Jeremiah was a picture of how God chooses the base and lowly to put his Spirit in and use for his glory. Jeremiah was called as a young priest and felt he was unworthy because of his age but God made it clear that He had made Jeremiah and he was not to think of himself as too young. God would put his words in his mouth and he would be with him to help him deliver them. His words would pull down nations and destroy them and build nations and plant them. God gave Jeremiah the vision of a rod of an almond tree. That was a picture of the rod of Aaron. God had caused Aaron’s rod to bloom and produce almonds over night to prove that God had called Aaron to be the high priest. This was Jeremiahs reminder that he also was chosen by God. Next, he saw a vision of a seething pot facing the north. God told him that it was evil that would come from the north. It would come against Jerusalem and the city of Judah. It would come because of the wickedness of his people. They had burned incense to other gods and worshipped the things they made with their own hands. They would fight his people but Jeremiah would not be taken. God sent Jeremiah to remind the people of when they worshipped him in the wilderness. He asked them what their offense was against him. God had done nothing but help them. He brought them into their promised land that was a good land, but they defiled the land. The priests didn’t know God or teach the people his law. The prophets prophesied by Baal. He was pleading with them to turn back to the Lord and listen to him. They had exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols which was a shock to the creatures in heaven. Now they would become slaves once again by their own choosing. They had tried making alliances with Egypt but it didn’t do them any good. It was God that had broken them out of the slavery of Egypt and now they wanted to go back. Some of the people argued that they hadn’t worshipped Baal but God told them to look at their country. It was covered with idols and the people ran after foreign gods. God told them they were like a thief who is sorry only when it gets caught. They chiseled gods from wood and called it their father and chiseled gods from stone and called it their mother. God had sent them prophets to tell them the error of their way but they killed them. In Philippians, Paul appealed to one of the leaders to meet with two of the women in the church, Euodia and Syntyche. They must have been deaconesses who Paul thought a lot of who had a disagreement. Paul gave them lots of advise to live on. He told them to rejoice always and not to worry about anything but to pray about what concerns them. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will have his peace to guard your hearts and minds. Remembering what God has done in the past builds up your faith to believe him for what you need. Peace also comes when you fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, right and pure, lovely and worthy of praise. Paul was their example. He rejoiced when he had nothing and when he had everything he needed. He learned that he could do anything through Christ. Paul commended the church in Philippi because they had been the first church to support him financially and he was grateful to them. He wanted them to know that they would be rewarded for their kindness. The God who had supplied all his needs would do the same for them. He ended his letter praying for the grace of God to be with their spirit. Lord, may we walk in your spirit being always thankful and joyful.