SATURDAY, 18 MARCH 2023
TEXT:
Jeremiah 10:12-15
12:
But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and
stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
13:
When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the
ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind
from his storehouses.
14:
Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his
idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them.
15:
They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they
will perish.
16:
He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all
things, including Israel, the people of his inheritance— the Lord Almighty is
his name.
17:
Gather up your belongings to leave the land, you who live under siege.
18:
For this is what the Lord says: “At this time I will hurl out those who live in
this land; I will bring distress on them so that they may be captured.”
19:
Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself,
“This is my sickness, and I must endure it.”
20:
My tent is destroyed; all its ropes are snapped. My children are gone from me
and are no more; no one is left now to pitch my tent or to set up my shelter.
21:
The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not
prosper and all their flock is scattered.
22:
Listen! The report is coming— a great commotion from the land of the north! It
will make the towns of Judah desolate, a haunt of jackals.
23:
Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to
direct their steps.
24:
Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure— not in your anger, or you will
reduce me to nothing.
25:
Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples
who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured
him completely and destroyed his homeland.
TOPIC:
GOD IS ALL - POWERFUL TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL
Today's
text opens with a declaration of God's nature viewed from what He has done. God
cannot be compared to the dumb idols that Judah preferred because He is the
creator of the entire universe and all it contains - including the wood used to
fashion the idols. It, therefore, follows that everything must submit to His
will, failing which His judgement must be released - as it happened with
rebellious Judah.
Jeremiah
realised that this judgement was at hand and so cried out to his people to
gather their belongings in preparation for evacuation. He cried out to God for
mercy: "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for
man to direct his steps. Correct me, Lord, but only with justice - not in
anger, lest you reduce me to nothing" (verses 23-24).
However,
he also knew that nothing could stop the impending Babylonian invasion. So he
cried out to God to pour out His wrath on the invading nation. Like Jeremiah,
we must be willing to acknowledge our dependence on the all - powerful God to
save and deliver us from sin.
QUESTION:
Do you know that God's will has covered you so that you don't go on with life
alone?
PRAYER:
Thank You, Jesus Christ, for including me in Your will. Help me not to wander
away like the people of Jerusalem. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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