Tues.’s Devo - God’s Promises

Read: Jeremiah 23:21-25:38; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 25:15 God had a word of rebuke for the false prophets who made up their prophecies and dreams claiming they were God’s dreams and prophecies. They caused the people to sin even more instead of turning them back to the Lord. *** King Nebuchadnezzar had exiled Jehoiachin to Babylon. Jehoiachin had been placed on the throne by the king of Babylon when his father died. He only reigned 3 months and ten days. Those days were marked with evil so the king of Babylon changed his mind about him and carried him off to Babylon. Jehoiachin was only 18 years old at the time. Three months later Jerusalem fell and Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah was appointed to succeed him. *** Jehoiachin was placed in the royal prison in Babylon. At 18, Jehoiachin had five sons! When Nebuchadnezzar died and was replaced by Evil-Meridach. This new king showed special favor to Jehoiachin and had him taken from prison and moved to the royal palace. Jehoiachin’s oldest son was Shealtiel who became the father of Zerubbable. Zerubbable became one of the leaders who came back to Jerusalem and helped lay the foundation for the Temple. *** Back to our story… Once Jehoiachin left for Babylon, Jeremiah was given a vision of two baskets of figs. One basket had ripe figs and the other was filled with rotten figs. The good figs represented the people God sent to Babylon. God would watch over them and change their hearts and bring them back. The bad figs represent the ones left in Jerusalem and those sent to Egypt who would be a curse. Disaster would follow them wherever they went. *** Jeremiah began prophesying in the 13th year of Josiah’s reign and was still giving them words now, but they had not listened to them or heeded his warnings. They refused to give up their idols so their happy life would end. Their land would become a wasteland for 70 years. Then, God would punish Babylon like he punished all the other nations by them. Judgment would come to the whole earth because of God’s anger. *** In Thessalonians, Paul told them that the Lord would not return until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness was revealed. He would sit in the Temple and claim to be God. But, not to worry, the Lord Jesus will destroy him with his breath and with his coming. *** This man will have supernatural power to do signs and miracles but it will be a counterfeit of God’s miracles. He will use his power to deceive those who are destined for destruction. But, we have been destined for salvation and we will be saved. We will stand firm in our faith. *** Lord, may you comfort us and give us hope and strength in everything we do and say.

Mon.’s Devo- The Last Kings of Judah

Read: Jeremiah 22:1-23:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 25:11-14 Josiah had been the last good king who honored the Lord. After him was his 4th son, Jehoahaz who reigned 3 months, then Josiah’s 2nd son, Jehoiakim, who reigned 11 years. Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin reigned after him for 3 months and 10 days and lastly, Josiah’s 3rd son, Zedekiah ruled. He ruled 11 years. It was Zedekiah who Jeremiah was addressing in today’s reading. He advised Zedekiah to be just to his people and to treat them kindly. If he didn’t then his palace would become a pile of rubble. *** Jeremiah saw the disaster that Jerusalem would become. God told him not to weep for Josiah or his son, Jehoahaz. Josiah was dead and Jehoahaz had been taken captive by Babylon. (In other words, God told Jeremiah to stop mourning what was and what could have been - he was to live in the present and the future.) It would not go well for Jehoiakim who built wonderful buildings with forced labor only to have them destroyed. The people would not mourn his death. God would turn his son, Jehoiachin over to the Babylonians. *** God was not happy with the shepherds of Israel who were suppose to care for their sheep, but instead deserted them and set them up for destruction. The leaders would be judged, but the people would return to their land where they would prosper and increase in number. *** Then Jeremiah addressed the false prophets who did not speak for the Lord. They spoke evil and abused their power. They were ungodly and wicked who did despicable acts in the Temple of the Lord. The Lord blamed them for the wickedness that had filled the land. They had not gotten their prophecies from the Lord. *** The Church in Thessalonians had questions about the second coming of Christ and about death. Paul tried to answer those questions in his first letter to them, then learned that some had quit working to wait for Christ’s return. He quickly wrote this second letter to straighten things out. *** Paul begins by commending them on their faith and love they maintained through their persecutions and encourages them to keep going. Jesus will return one day and judge all their enemies and all who believe in him will give him glory and praise. He prayed that God would continue to help them live their lives worthy of his calling. *** Lord, may our lives honor you. Thank you for your grace that allows us to live for you.

Sun.’s Devo - Hope in the Midst of Despair

Read: Jeremiah 19:1-21:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-28; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 25:9-10 Jeremiah was told by God to buy a clay jar and take it and some of the leaders of Jerusalem to the garbage dump in the valley of Ben-Hinnom which means “drugged.” This was where they sacrificed their children to Baal and worshipped all kinds of false gods. He was to tell them that because they had worshipped other gods here, he would slaughter them here. It would become a monument to their stupidity. *** Jeremiah was then to smash the pot he had brought as a picture of how they would be shattered with no hope of being put back together. He said that bodies would be buried in this valley until their was no more room for them. He compared the whole city to this place because they worshipped other gods in their own houses. *** When Jeremiah finished there, he took his message and gave it in front of the Temple to the people there. *** The priest in charge of the Temple was Pashhur. When he heard what Jeremiah had said, he arrested him, had him whipped and put in stocks at the Benjamin Gate of the Temple. He released him the next day and Jeremiah told him that God was changing his name to “The Man Who Lives in Terror” because God was going to make him and his friends to terrified when they witnessed all the slaughter the enemy was bringing. All of Jerusalem’s treasures would be taken away to Babylon along with him and the people. Pashhur and his friends would all die in Babylon because they prophesied peace when God was saying war. *** Jeremiah poured out his complaint to the Lord. He told him how they tried to shut him up but then God’s words would burn inside him till he spoke them. They even called him “The Man Who Lives in Terror.” They kept waiting for Jeremiah to make a mistake so they could trap him. But God was his defender who kept him safe even though his life was full of trouble, sorrow and shame. *** King Zedekiah sent Pashhur to Jeremiah to beg Jeremiah to pray for them for help. King Nebuchadnezzar had begun to attack Judah and they were beginning to get antsy. Jeremiah told them to tell King Zedekiah that not only would God not help them, but he would fight against them. They could forget waiting for a miracle from God. They had had plenty of warning and could have avoided this if they had repented. He told them to only way to save their lives was to surrender to the Babylonians. If they stayed in Jerusalem they would be consumed by war, famine or disease. *** He told Zedekiah and his family to give justice to the people and help those who had been robbed. If they didn’t, they would not be saved. God would fight against them and burn up everything around them. *** In Thessalonians, Paul had just told them that Jesus would come like a thief in the night to the wicked, but the ones who knew the Lord, they would not be surprised. Believers don’t walk around in the dark but walk in the light so they see what is coming. *** Paul told us to honor our leaders and live at peace with one another. Always have hope and live in the state of thanksgiving. He warns us not to scoff at prophecy but to test everything. The God of peace will make us holy in our spirit, soul and body. *** Lords may we hold on to what is good and have great discernment. We look forward to the great things that you have promised.

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.

Fri.’s Devo- The Coming Judgment

Read: Jeremiah 14:11-16:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 25:1-5 God told Jeremiah to give up on the people and stop praying for them. God had determined to bring war, famine and disease on them. Jeremiah reported to God that their prophets were telling them the opposite. God said he didn’t send them or tell them that news and what they were saying was foolish lies. They would die by the war, famine and disease. Their own wickedness would be poured out on them. *** God told Jeremiah to tell them what he sees: bodies in the field killed in war, and bodies in the streets who died of starvation. God was the only one who could help them, but he was not responding. *** God said even Moses or Samuel would not be able to pray them out of the trouble they were in. God had destined some to death, some to war, some to famine and some to captivity. They were reaping the sins of Manasseh who led the nation into the worship of horrible idols. Israel would become a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth. *** God was weary of giving them more chances and them not taking them. He would take away the children first, then the men and lastly the mothers. But, God promised to take care of Jeremiah. His enemies would end up asking him to pray for them when they were in distress. *** Jeremiah pleaded for his own life reminding God of his faithfulness. God promised him that if he continued to serve him and speak his words to the people, he would not be conquered, but God would protect and rescue him from the cruel hands of wicked men. God also told him not to get married or have children in Jerusalem. When people started dying he was not to go to their funerals or show sadness. He was not to go to their parties or have meals with them. This was not a time of joy, but a time to mourn their sins. *** When the people ask why all these terrible things have happened to them, he was to tell them they had abandoned the Lord even greater than their ancestors did. They are being thrown out of the land God gave them and sent to foreign land where they can worship their gods all they want to. But, a time will come when God will bring them back to their land. *** In Thessalonians, Paul tells how he toiled to earn a living so he wouldn’t have to ask them for financial support. He loved and treated them as a father would love his own family. He taught them how to live their lives worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice. *** Paul knows that they were suffering at the hands of their own people. These were the same people who crucified Christ. When Paul heard of their persecutions he sent Timothy to find out how they were doing. He reported back to Paul that their love and faith was strong. This made Paul so happy and relieved. It brought him new strength to learn how they were growing and thriving in the midst of hard times. *** Lord may our love for you and others overflow that others might come to your salvation. May we be an example of how to trust God in the midst of our trials and tribulations. Thank you for strength and power to endure.

Thurs.’s Devo - Return and Repent

Read: Jeremiah 12:1-14:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 24:30-34 Jeremiah reminds God of his justice then asks why he has allowed the evil people to prosper so. Even nature has been affected by the sin in the land. *** God responded that even those in Jeremiah’s family had turned against him. He tells Jeremiah not to trust them, no matter what they say. This is how the Lord feels about his children. He has abandoned them to their enemies because they have become enemies to him. *** God promised to uproot them from their land, but he would not give it to others because he will one day bring them back to their land. *** God instructed Jeremiah to buy a linen cloth and wear it for a time, then bury it in a hole by the Euphrates. After a while, God told him to go dig it up. It was rotted and ruined. This was what God had done. He had planted his people by the Euphrates to prosper and be a witness to the world that He was the only God. Instead, they had become idolators and had gone after all the worthless gods of the land and forsaken the only true God. They were now worthless. God will make them drunk and confused. They will turn on one another and have no unity to stand. *** They will be taken into exile, then they will cry out to the Lord. But, it will be too late. They loved to wander from God so he would no longer accept them as his people. *** Paul had a dream (Acts 16:9-12) where a man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing on the shore pleading with them to come to Macedonia and help them. He was the angel over Macedonia. Paul responded by going there and preaching, bringing them the Good News. He met Lydia who was saved when she heard the gospel and her whole household came to the Lord. Then they cast out the spirit of divination out of a young girl which upset her masters so much that they beat Paul and Silas and had them arrested. When the authorities learned that they were Roman citizens, they apologized and begged them to leave their city. *** Paul and Silas went 90 miles down the road to Thessalonica where they established the second major church in Europe. Many Greeks came to the Lord and came to this church. Believers suffered persecution for their faith which made them stronger and caused their testimony to spread far and wide. *** Lord, may all the trials in our lives make us more determined to follow you closely. Thank you for always being with us and being our advocate. Thank you for the hope we see in new converts and their hunger for truth. May we lead many others to you.

Wed.’s Devo - Idols Verses God

Read: Jeremiah 10:1-11:23; Colossians 3:18-4:18; Psalm 78:56-72; Proverbs 24:28-29 Jeremiah compares their idols made of wood by human hands who can’t walk by themselves or have any power, to the Lord who made the heavens and the earth. There is no comparison. They tried to beautify their wooden idols with overlays of silver, decorated them with all precious gems and dressed them in purple robes as if that would make them more effective. Jeremiah said their craftsmen would be disgraced as frauds. *** Jeremiah told the people of Israel to pack their bags because they were about to be thrown out of their land. Their children would be taken from them and they would never see them again. He cried out for God to avenge them and pour out his wrath on their enemies. *** God responded by telling Jeremiah to remind the people of Judah of the terms of their covenant. He had promised them when he brought them out of Egypt that if they did not obey and listene to him, then they would reap the curses. If they obeyed, then the blessings would fall on them. They turned to idols instead and had more gods than they had towns. They turned to Baal and not God who could help them. *** God warned Jeremiah that there was a group of men from Anathoth who wanted him dead so he couldn’t prophecy against them anymore. He was not to worry because God would kill them all and none of their off-spring would survive. *** Paul reminds us in Colossians to love our spouses, obey and honor our parents, and work as we are working for the Lord. If we are put over people then we should be fair and kind to those who work for us. *** We should live in prayer and always be thankful. We should make the most of every opportunity we have to be a witness for Christ. Many of Paul’s followers sent their greeting to the church in Colossi. *** Lord, may we live in obedience to you and your laws. May your blessings be upon your people. May we walk in your ways, being a pleasing sacrifice to you.