Fri.’s Devo - Our Authority

Read: Lamentations 4:1-5:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 26:23 The prophet laments the lack of respect for their wealth. The children are their greatest wealth - he compared them to gold. They were begging in the streets with no one to feed or take care of them. Everyone was starving and had turned barbaric. Murder was rampant as some had turned to canabalism to survive. *** The people had also lost respect for their priests and leaders. They had been told their allies would come to their rescue, but no one came. They had put their hope in their king, but he didn’t come through either. Jerusalem’s punishment would one day end, and Edom’s would begin. Jerusalem would be left empty, but God would restore his people back to him. His kingdom endures forever and can not be torn down. God’s reign continues from generation to generation. *** In Hebrews, God speaks about the angels a lot. They were the ones who announced Jesus birth, and yet some of them violated God’s laws and came to earth to marry women. They were punished and are still locked up in prison. Angels are a little higher than man, but God chose man to have authority over the earth. *** Jesus came to earth to show us how a man can use his authority to bring salvation. He died to break the power of death and set us free. Now we no longer fear death. His suffering and testing was an example to help us through our suffering and tests. Lord, thank you for coming to earth to be our example of how we should live and what our authority should look like. May we step out in faith and use this authority to tear down strongholds and build up your kingdom here on earth.

Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Faithfulness -

Read: Lamentations 3:1-66; Hebrews 1:1-14; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 26:21-22 The writer gives a gory picture of of what it is like when the blessing of God leaves a nation. The road is very crooked and bitter. *** He dares to have hope when he remembers that God is faithful and his mercies never end, but are fresh every morning. God doesn’t take pleasure in disciplining his children, but we have to wait out our time of correction and be repentant. *** They were being disciplined for having no respect of life, depriving people of their rights and twisting justice. They had no right to complain about their sentence. *** The prophet of God cries out for God to avenge him of the persecution he has faced to be faithful. *** In Hebrews, the writer explains how God spoke in the past through his prophets but now has spoken through his son, Jesus. He shines forth God’s glory and is the very character of God. Everything obeys his command. When he had done what he came to do, which was save us from sin, he sat down next to God. All the angels worship and serve him. They are sent to care for all the people who are called to salvation. *** Lord, we pray for mercy and forgiveness for our land. You have torn us down, now please build us up again to be your glory on the earth. Thank you for your faithfulness and care.

Wed.’s Devo - Lamentations

Read: Lamentations 1:1-2:22; Philemon 1:1-25; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 26:20 Most scholars believe Lamentations was written by Jeremiah. It is believed it was written during and after the time Nebuchadnezzar was besieging Jerusalem and the people in the city were starving to death. One of the themes of Jeremiah was that their situation was the result of their rebellion against God. They saw the Babylonians being the hand of God punishing them for their sins, which were many. *** The prophet mourns the fall of Jerusalem who was once a great and respected city in the nations. The people have been taken into captivity and her sins have finally caught up with her. No nation comes to her rescue. Her Temple has been desecrated and everything of worth has been carted off. The people are left with nothing and their strength is gone. Her kings and queens have been exiled to a foreign land and her law has ceased to exist. Her false prophets are now proven to be liars. But God’s prophets had warned of this moment over and over. Their sins invited this chaos. *** Paul and Timothy joined to write a letter to Philemon. They are asking Philemon to be kind to Onesimus who was Philemon’s run-away slave. He found Christ through Paul and Timothy’s ministry and has matured into a leader in the church. He reminds Philemon that Onesimus is no longer a slave to him, but a brother in Christ. *** Paul emphasizes the love he has for Onesimus and sends him back as if he is sending himself. He wants Philemon to treat him like he would treat Paul if he was coming to visit. *** This is a great picture of how we receive a person who was mean to us in the past, but is now a believer in Christ. We must see them as new creatures, not the same person. *** Lord, may we be merciful like you are merciful. May we forgive and allow people to change. Give us your eyes to see what you see.

Tue.’s Devo - Jerusalem’s End -

Read: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34; Titus 3:1-15; Psalm 100: 1-5; Proverbs 26:18-19 Jeremiah prophecied Babylon’s destruction in the forth year of Zedekiah’s reign over Jerusalem. He sent that prophecy through Seraiah, a staff officer who was taken to Babylon with King Zedekiah. Jeremiah told Seraiah to read the words he had written. Then he was to tie the scroll to a rock and throw it into the Euphrates River as a sign that like this scroll, Babylon would sink and never rise again. *** Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. He ruled 11 years and did evil in God’s eyes. He rebelled against the king of Babylon which caused them to come and besiege Jerusalem. When he famine became so great in Jerusalem, Zedekiah and his officers tried to escape by nightfall through a breach in the wall. Zedekiah was captured and abandoned by his men. Nebuchadnezzar sentenced him and made him watch as he killed his sons and officers. Then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes. One of his official went back to Jerusalem and burned down the Temple and the royal palace. He took the people who pledged their allegiance to Babylon with him and only left the poorest to keep the land. They eventually carried away 4,600 captives as well as anything of worth. *** When Nebuchadnezzar died, Evil-merodach ruled Babylon. He released Jehoiachin from prison and gave him a high position in his kingdom. He ate at the king’s table for the rest of his life. *** In Titus, Paul told them to submit to their government officials, but also to do what was good. We don’t submit to evil even if it is a law. He spoke of slavery to sin which is worse than physical slavery. Jesus washed us from this slavery to sin and gave is a new life. Paul warned them against quarreling about doctrine which usually led to false doctrines like gnosticism. *** Paul encouraged them to help the men he was going to send them with anything they might need. Paul was trying to teach them to think of others above themselves. *** Lord, may we give freely of our time and resources as you have so freely given to us. Thank you for setting us free to live righteously for you.

Mon.’s Devo - Babylon is Falling

Read: Jeremiah 51:1-53; Titus 2:1-15; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 26:17 Babylon’s destroyers were the Medes and the Persians. They came from every side and surprised them. God poured out his vengeance on Babylon for what they had done to the whole earth and especially to his people. They had desecrated the Temple of the Lord, and defrauded the earth with their worthless idols who had no power. Babylon would be destroyed and left desolate. *** Babylon’s main god was Bel which was the Aramaic name of Baal. He would be punished for all the people sacrificed to him. Jeremiah warned the people to get out of Babylon long before it was destroyed. The people of Israel were disgraced because their Temple was destroyed, but Jeremiah said that the temples of Babylon would fall also. He encouraged them to return to the Lord. *** Paul’s goal was to teach his followers how to live godly lives and in a way that would please the Lord. He gave instruction to the older men, the older women, the young men and the slaves, teaching them how to honor the Lord in their specific circumstances. Paul encouraged Titus to teach the people these things. *** Lord, as we see Babylon falling in our day, help us to have your perspective. Life up our eyes above all the rubble that we may we see your glorious plan for the future.

Sun.’s Devo - The Fall of Babylon

Read: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16 Today we read of prophecies to Damascus, Kedar, Elam, and Babylon. *** Damascus was the capital of Syria and was known for its orchard and gardens. It was such a beautiful place, but a place where much cruelty had been done against Israel. God was foretelling its destruction. *** The message against Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor were against the ancestors of Ishmael. They were nomads who dwelt in black-haired tents to symbolize their separation from God. Their city Hazor would be taken over by wild animals. *** Elam was known for its archers. Elam was part of Persia but situated close to Judea. The people of Elam had helped Nebuchadnezzar against Judea; hence its punishment. God promised to destroy its king and officials but set his throne there. God promised to restore the fortunes of Elam. *** God declared that Babylon would fall and her gods utterly disgraced. No one would live there again. God would lead his people home that had been taken captive in Babylone. God was raising an army in the north to capture Babylon and they who ruled the world would become the least of nations - a dry and desolate land. *** The ones attacking Babylon will do to her what she had done to others. *** Israel would return to her homeland. God would forgive her sins. God would appoint a leader who He chooses, Cyrus, and he will do what God tells him to do. Cyrus would set the people of God free. *** Today, we begin reading the letter Paul wrote to Titus. Titus was a Greek who was believed to be a convert of Paul’s ministry. Paul and Titus had gone to Crete together and decided that Titus should stay and care for the new church. Paul had not heard from him in a while and was getting restless so he wrote this letter. *** One of Titus’ jobs was to appoint worthy elders for the church. He gave a description of the qualities these men would possess. Paul warned him against the false teachers who taught you had to be circumcised to be a believer. (Titus was not.) He encouraged Titus to remain pure in his heart and not be affected by the false teachers. *** There will always be false teachers who have evil motives. We have to know what the Word says and listen to the Holy Spirit who gives us discernment. No one man has the whole truth. God has dispersed his truth to many so we won’t honor any man above God. *** Lord, may we be all the things Paul gave as qualifications of elders. Paul’s goal was to teach people how to live as God’s people. May we witness what it means to be your child.

Sat.’s Devo - The Judgments of Moab, Ammon and Edom

Read: Jeremiah 48:1-49:22; 2 Timothy 4:1-22; PSalm 95:1-96:13; Proverbs 26:9-12 God gave Jeremiah a prophecy about Moab. He listed all its major cities and described their humiliation as they fell. Moab had never experienced exile in its history before, but had always lived in peace. They were about to have their lives turned upside down. They would be totally destroyed - no longer a nation. Moab had worshipped Chemosh, the fish god also known as “the destroyer.” Solomom had brought that worship to Israel. But, God promised to restore the fortunes of Moab in the days to come. *** Next, God had a message to the Ammorites. They worshipped Molech. Molech was the idol with the head of a calf. They would lay their infants in his hands over a fire and sacrifice them to Molech. Manasseh brought this worship to Israel. God would restore their fortunes one day also. The Ammonites had grabbed the land of Gad when they were taken into exile by the Babylonians. They had cheered the fall of Jerusalem. *** Both the Moabites and the Ammonites originated from Lot’s incestuous relationships with his daughters. *** Next to be judged was Edom which came from Esau who sold his birthright and was tricked out of his blessing by his brother Jacob. They had refused to let their relatives pass through their land when they were coming out of Egypt. Edom would be wiped off the map, but God promised to protect their orphans and widows. *** Edom would be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. God promised to take them from their land and place someone else to rule their land. *** In Timothy’s second letter from Paul, Paul urged Timothy to correct, rebuke and encourage the people with patience. The time was coming when they wouldn’t listen to sound doctrine and would look for teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear. They would reject the truth and go after myths. *** Paul was nearing death and wanted Timothy to come visit him before he passed. He was alone with Luke and asked Timothy to bring Mark when he came. He also asked him to bring him his coat he left at Troas and his books and his papers he had written. Paul sent greetings to all that worked with Timothy. Paul had fought the good fight and was finishing his race. *** Lord, I pray that we will go out like Paul, confident that we have lived our lives to the best of our strength and god-given ability.