Primary Source

An Eternal King Promised

Jeremiah 27:1-22

Reflection: Primary Source

What “voices” are you listening to each day?

In what way do you struggle with worry and fear?

Think of three ways you can dwell on God’s promises-instead of what you fear-today?

This reflection made me think about all of the technology that we are inundated with today. You can find the most vulgar and disgusting images imaginable on the internet. The world is so different than it was when I was a child. I am concerned for my daughters and what the future holds for them. We are constantly bombarded with images of destruction and desolation around the world and sometimes in our own neighborhoods. These images often remove us from the reality of our own live s and cause us to see more bad in the world than good. It seems like an uphill battle that we may never win. But when I read the title of today’s reflection :Primary Source,  it gave me some perspective.  What we are reading and experiencing in our world today is a form of plagiarism. This is not the life that God intended for us. We are not here to worry about all of the evil in the world because to do so insinuates that God is not the author and finisher of our faith. Why should I commit myself to reading and studying the word of God and then spend the remainder of the day worrying about what bad thing will happen next? I trust him to do everything that he promised. We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in his Holy Word, he never failed me yet.   We can’t turn around so we may as well trust him. I’m changing the voices that I listen to. Rather than CNN I’m tuning in to the gospel Channel. When I hear something negative on the radio, I turn on my gospel playlist on Pandora. Don’t like what I’m reading in the paper? I go to Hebrews 2:2 where I can “fix  my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (NIV).” The negative images and bad news make good headlines, but there are just as many people doing good. Yes, I know that in these uncertain times I will continue to struggle with the negativity of the world, but I know that if I change the station, I can dwell on the word of God and his promises.

Related Readings

2 Kings 24:8-17

Psalms 27:1-3; 94:19

Philippians 4:4-9

Many Kings Fall

Many Kings Fall

Jeremiah 1-17

Reflection: Inside Out

What “Enemies of the Soul” (busyness etc) cause you to sometimes forget to take time with God  ?

How much time do you spend daily in prayer and Bible Study, preparing your heart for today?

What are some practical ways you can become more balanced in your life? 

“Help me God to slow down, to be silent, to do Your will, not mine.” -Marian Wright Edelman

I had heard parts of the book Jeremiah, but had never sat down and read the book through. Well I read the first chapters this morning and it was an eye opener. I woke up at 4am and couldn’t go back to sleep. I watched some of the Australian open and began to think about all of the things I could do if I just got out of bed. I do this sometimes but I usually try to clear my mind to go back to sleep. Well, today I did something different. I just got up. I hadn’t planned it, but here I was at 4:47 out of bed. I knew that I couldn’t do all of the things that needed done before getting ready for work but I thought surely I can spend some time in my bible and perhaps that will prepare me for the rest of the things that I have to do. Well, this passage of Jeremiah was just what I needed. Here I am with my busy self, running from here to there taking care of everyone’s needs that some days I don’t even take the time to read my bible. Have I really gotten that busy? The book of Jeremiah starts as a scolding. The honeymoon is over. I had to do some soul searching on this one. Why do we, I, sometimes turn away from God? He has given us everything. And not only do we turn away; we justify. We come up with all of the excuses of why we can’t come back. Yes, I’m going to say it: The church is greedy, the pastor is shady, people are too bougie, they so ghetto, They want me to do what? With basketball, soccer, PTO, family, blah blah blah… I just don’t have the time. We will stay at a job we hate, return time and time again to a fruitless relationship that we should have left a long time ago, forgive our trifling family, bail our kids out of trouble for the umpteenth time, but we don’t have time for GOD? The one who put everything on pause to 1. Create us, 2. Save us, 3. Give his only begotten son so that we may have eternal life? I could go on but you get it. He has done everything and given everything. And what do we do in return? Defile his land, break his laws, and worship false idols, cheat, steal, and lie, adulter. We have given up our birthright on one end and our inheritance on the other. We just need to stop it. But you know what? In the end God is Patient, Righteous and Faithful. I take this passage of Jeremiah as a warning. The God who has given us everything can surely take it away. But, even in our selfishness, he remains faithful. And so should we.

Related Readings

Psalms 5: 1-3

Proverbs 31:30

Romans 12:1-2

Ephesians 4:21-24

1 Peter 3:3-6