Tues.’s Devo - Judging the Nations and the Church

Read: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7; 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 26:6-8 Jeremiah saw that the people were so bent on going to Egypt so they could worship their Queen of Heaven. He told them to go ahead and carry out their promises to her and worship her. But, they could no longer claim her and the Lord as their God. God didn’t want them to utter his name. Only a handful of them would survive what was coming. Egypt would be taken by the Babylonians and destroyed. *** Baruch had been Jeremiah’s scribe and risked his life to do so. Jeremiah told him that he was so worried about his nation, but his worry was in vain. Nothing would save them, but God would save Baruch wherever he went as a reward to him for helping Jeremiah get out the words that God had spoken. *** Chapter 46 was a prophecy against Egypt given to Jeremiah in Jehoiakim’s fourth year. They would prepare for battle, but run in disgrace and fear when the Babylonians attacked. They would be defeated beside the Euphrates River. Their mightiest warriors would run into each other and fall down together because the Lord would be fighting against them. He told the citizens of Egypt to pack up and get ready to go into exile. *** Amon would also be punished. Their god of Thebes would be punished along with all the gods of Egypt and all the rulers who trusted in them. While they were exiled to Babylon, their land would recover from the ravages of war. God would also bring the Israelites back to Israel to a life of peace and quiet. Then God would completely destroy the nations which exiled them. *** The Philistines would also be destroyed along with their allies from Tyre, Sidon and Crete. Gaza, Ashkelon and those along the Mediterranean coast would sit in mourning as God destroyed them for their sins. *** Paul told Timothy to run away from all youthful lusts and run toward righteous. As a servant of the Lord, he must learn how to deal with difficult people. Instead of quarreling with them, he needed to love and gently instruct them in the truth. *** Paul describes what it will be like in our days - the last days. People will love themselves and their money. They will be proud and scoff at God. They will dishonor their parents and be entitled. Nothing will be sacred to them. They will have no self-control and hate what is good. They will betray their friends and love pleasure more than God. If this isn’t a perfect description of our day, I don’t know what is. *** There are two churches in the last day - the true church of God’s redeemed and the apostate church. There are two women in the church - the Bride of Christ and Jezebel. There are those who love the truth and those who will be deceived. The way to stay on the right path is to stay humble, belong to a group of believers, stay in the Word and under submission to God. *** Lord, help us to navigate our faith through these last days of your final victory. May we do all the things that Paul instructed Timothy to do with love. Thank you that we are never alone.