Sat.’s Devo - Heed the Warning

Read: Jeremiah 16:16-18:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 25:6-8 God was sending the fishermen and the hunters to catch his people who refused to stop worshiping idols. They trusted in idols instead of the only real God. Now, He would show them who he is. He would send their enemies to plunder them and those left would be taken captive to a foreign land. *** But, he blesses those who trust in him through all this. They will have food in famine and water in drought. They will always be fruitful. God searches the hearts of people and rewards them accordingly. *** God sent Jeremiah to the gate where the king used first and then to the other gates. He was to warn them to stop opening the gates on the Sabbath for trade. If they would stop and keep the Sabbath holy, then kings and their officials would always ride in and out of the gates. People would come there to worship the Lord from all over Israel. But, if they didn’t heed the warning and continued to do business on the Sabbath, then God would set their gates on fire. *** God sent Jeremiah to the potter’s house and found him throwing pottery on a wheel. When the bowl didn’t turn out right, he just crumpled the clay and began again. That is the same thing God can do with nations. He would destroy Israel and start again. They will be trampled and scattered and the Lord will look the other way because he had warned them over and over and they refused to listen. *** The people wanted to stop Jeremiah from prophecying, so they decided to spread lies about him so people wouldn’t listen to him. Jeremiah called out to the Lord for vengeance. *** In Thessalonians, Paul is saying the same thing to the Church. Live your lives as holy ambassadors of Christ. Love one another and mind your own business. Live respectable lives that honor God. *** Those who die in Christ, live with him and will return with him. When Christ returns, they will reunite with their bodies and we will all rise to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will live with him forever. It will come as a surprise to the evil people and there will be no escaping for them. *** Lord, may we live ready for your coming. May we be doing your will when you return.