Fri.’s Devo - The Mercy of God

Read: Lam. 4:1-5:22; Heb. 2:1-18; Ps. 103:1-22; Pr. 26:23 We read again the devastation that went on when Jerusalem was taken over by the Babylonians. Everything that once was beautiful and prosperous was tarnished with devastation and oppression. The nation they depended on to save them could not. They describe death as better than life. This is a picture of a nation that forgot her god. Israel’s god was Jehovah and so was America’s. We pray for the mercy of God. Hebrews warns us that we should strongly pay attention to the things that have been taught to us of the past because if God would punish the angels for rebelling against Him, then He will punish us for the same sin. There is no escape for those who refuse God’s salvation. Even though man is lower than the angels God has put him over the earth and God’s creation. Jesus chose to become a man so that he would destroy the devil and the power of death and take the fear out of death. Jesus became a man so that he could experience what we go through as mere men. Only then could he be our High Priest that is understands our weaknesses and failures. He went through the temptations we go through so he can better represent us to God. Lord, thank you that You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Oil of Gladness

Read: Lam. 2:20-3:66; Hebrews 1:1-14: Ps. 102:1-28; Pr. 26:21-22 One of my favorite scriptures is “The compassion of the Lord never ceases, they are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” But, I never knew the context until today. Jeremiah is saying it at a time where the enemy has come and destroyed his city, the temple, his government and taken away all his friends and family. In the midst of all this Jeremiah says he has hope because the Lord is good to those who wait for him and seek him. May we say the same thing when the time comes. I love Hebrews! I started memorizing the book of Hebrews years ago and got to the 5th chapter. Every time I read it or quote it something new stands out. Today it was the “oil of gladness” in verse 9 that God anointed Jesus with. It is a direct quote from Ps. 45:7. The word “gladness” means “exultation; specially, welcome - exceeding joy”. “Oil” speaks of the Holy Spirit so this anointing is a welcome joy to the whole earth. Jesus came at a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. Things were oppressive and hard for God’s people. From the midst of their oppression and poverty there was a cry in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord. The Messiah came with a message of joy and hope and rest. Jesus will come again with that same promise. Then He will fold up the earth like the garment he wore that was folded in the tomb. Then he will proclaim once again that, “It is finished.” Lord, may we be anointed with that same oil of gladness as we hope for your return.

Wed.’s Devo - The Power of a Changed Life

Read: Lam. 1-2:19; Philemon 1:1-25; Ps. 101:1-8; Pr. 26:20 Lamentations was written by Jeremiah as the Chaldeans came and took over the temple. He describes Israel as a widow who was once the powerful princess. I can’t help but be sad as I think of how this correlates with America. I wonder how long it will be before we will be living Lamentations. I highly recommend every Christian reading “The Harbinger” and “The Mystery of Shemitah” by Joel Rosenberg. I am in the later book right now and it is amazing to read how far our nation has fallen in the past decade. We are living in the day where good is called evil and evil called good. It is important to us to pray for our nation and not be intimidated. We really do have the answer of the universe. It is important to know the history behind Philemon to understand the letter. Philemon lived in Colosse and was wealthy and important. He had been converted under Paul’s ministry. He had owned a slave named Onesimus who ran away from him and fled to Rome where he too was converted to the gospel by Paul. He stayed under Paul’s mentorship until Paul found him mature in the faith. Onesimus wanted to right the wrong he had done to his master, Philemon by running away so he asked Paul to write his master and put in a good word for him. That is the letter of Philemon. Paul praised Onesimus’ faith in Jesus and his love for the body of Christ. He expresses Onesimus’ desire to make amends and pay his debt. He ends with a blessing. It is amazing the power of salvation. It is the power to totally change a life. Lord, help us to remember that with You nothing is impossible. You can change the vilest sinner into another Paul.

Tues.’s Devo - Prophecy Fulfilled

Read: Jer. 51:1--52:34; Titus 3:1-15; Ps. 100:1-5; Pr. 26:18-19 Everything that Jeremiah said would happen happened. King Zedekiah refused to surrender to Babylon when they besieged the city. He was hunted down and taken to Babylon where the last thing he saw before they gouged out his eyes was his sons being killed. Then he spent the rest of his life in a prison in Babylon. Most of the people were either killed or carried captive to Babyon. The poor were left to take care of the land. The temple was stripped of its treasures and torn down. The king of Judah, Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon and imprisoned for 37 years. When Evil-merodack became king of Babylon, king Jehoiachin was released from prison and fed from the king’s table. Titus warns us of things that are not profitable to man. We are to avoid asking stupid questions. I’ve heard all my life that there are no stupid questions but I guess there are. He goes on to tell us to avoid genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law because they are unprofitable and vain. So we should avoid studying for debates on things pertaining to law and condemnation. If we are studying genealogies to find out if we are important or to give us clout then it is not profitable. We are not to use our pedigree to impress or gain power. Our Psalms tells us that we are his people and the sheep of his pasture and that is good enough. Lord, may we be profitable to your kingdom today.

Mon.’s Devo - The Present and the End

Read: Jer. 51:1-53: Titus 2:1-15; Ps. 99:1-9: Pr. 26:17 Israel was sentenced to 70 years in Babylon, and when the time came to deliver them came God turned the whole world against Babylon. The Babylonians and the Chaldeans were used by God to judge Israel for her sin but it is now time to judge them for theirs. Verse 49 sums it up, “As Babylon has cause the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.” This is a picture of the Great Judgment. Babylon stands for the world’s system and one day it will fall. Titus gives us practical living advise. We are not good to obey a law. We are good so that the grace of God will look appealing to the world. Our obedience to those in authority over us adorns us with the doctrine of God which is to love our neighbor as ourself. This was the second commandment Jesus gave us. If we deny ourselves of worldly desires then we are an example of the first commandment Jesus gave us which was to love the Lord with all our hearts. These are the only commandments Jesus gave us because if we do these, we fulfill all the others. Lord, may we fulfill Your commandments today. May our everyday walk with you prepare us for the end.

Sun.’s Devo - The Secrets of the Cities

Read: Jer. 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Ps. 97:1-98:9; Pr. 26:13-16 All the cities in the Old Testament mean something to us in the New. God is bringing judgment on Heshbon which means “reasoning”, Ai - “a heap of ruins”, Rabbah - “great”, Teman - “southward” (i.e. the Devil’s territory), Dedan - “their love”, Esau - “his doings”, Bozrah - “a fold”, Damascus - “silent is the sackcloth weaver”, Hamath - “walled”, Arpad - “spread out”, Kedar - “darkness”, and Hazor - “village”, Elam - “eternal”. So what does this all mean to us since it says that it will happen again in the last days? God is going to judge man’s carnal reasoning and all the things they thought were important that were nothing but a heap of ruins- relics of the past. He will bring their greatness to nothing, the things they love and their ways will be judged. Their “fold” or nation will be filled with death and mourning. This judgment will fall on those who think they are secure in a walled nation, those that are spread out, those in villages, and those in darkness. God says in verse 38 that He will set his throne in “eternity” and destroy the kings and princes of darkness. In chapter 50, God judges those in Babylon (confusion) and the Chaldeans - the astrologers. The astrologers of today are the New Agers, the eastern religions and basically everyone who tries to seek spiritual powers through means other than Christ. God wages war against the gods of the Babylonians (Bel- their lord, Merodach- confusion). But as for Israel, she will be brought back to her land and enjoy fruitfulness and growth once again. Her sins will be forgiven. They are told to wage war on Merathaim (bitterness) and Pekod (punishment) and the proud. When we come out of a time of discipline we need to guard against being bitter towards those God chose to use to discipline us. We also need to guard against thinking we were being punished instead of disciplined. The devil punishes, God disciplines in love. When God gets ready to bring Israel out of bondage there is nothing that can stop him. He is our strong Redeemer. Lord, may we hold fast the faithful word and teach sound doctrine.

Sat.’s Devo - Seeking His Kingdom First

Read Jer. 48:1-49:22; 2 Tim. 4:1-22; Ps. 95:1-96:13; Pr. 26:9-12 Jeremiah continues to prophecy judgment and doom on the children of Moab and Ammon. Moab and Ammon were Lots sons who were born out of Lots incest with his own daughters. They have become enemies of God so they were to be displaced and killed. The hope is at the end of chapter 48 when God promises to bring them back in the latter days. In Timothy we are admonish to be present in and out of season. To me that means to be ready on the spur of the moment, not just when you are expecting it. It is easy to be ready at church but sometimes God has divine appointments for you in the line at Walmart or with your waiter at the restaurant. We are to always be ready to testify of the hope that is in us. Verse 8 says that there is a crown of righteousness waiting for those who love his appearing. If we are longing to see Jesus more than we are to live out our lives then we are seeking His kingdom more than this earthly kingdom. God will reward that kind of heart. Lord, You are great, and greatly to be praised!