JEREMIAH 6A
LORD warning of coming judgment verse 1- 5
O you children of Benjamin – gather yourselves to flee out of the
midst of Jerusalem – and blow the trumpet in Tekoa
and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem
for evil appears out of the north
and great destruction
I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman
the shepherds with their flocks shall come to her
they shall pitch their tents against her round about
they shall feed everyone in his place
Prepare you war against her
Arise – and let us go up at noon
Woe to us! – for the day goes away
for the shadows of the evening are stretched out
Arise – and let us go by night – and let us destroy her palaces
LORD wants Jerusalem to be instructed verse 6- 8
For thus has the LORD of hosts said
Hew you down trees – and cast a mount against Jerusalem
this is the city to be visited
she is wholly oppression in the midst of her
As a fountain casts out her waters
SO she casts out her wickedness
violence and spoil is heard in her
before ME continually is grief and wounds
Be you instructed – O Jerusalem – lest MY soul departs from you
lest I make you desolate – a land not inhabited
LORD warns of second wave of enemy verse 9
Thus says the LORD of hosts
They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine
turn back your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets
LORD going to stretch out HIS hand verse 10- 12
To whom shall I speak and give warning – that they may hear?
BEHOLD – their ear is uncircumcised – and they cannot hearken
BEHOLD – the word of the LORD is to them
a reproach – they have no delight in it
THEREFORE I am full of the fury of the LORD
I am weary with holding in
I will pour it out upon the children abroad
and upon the assembly of young men together
for even the husband with the wife shall be taken
the aged with him that is full of days
AND their houses shall be turned unto others
with their fields and wives together
for I will stretch out MY hand upon the inhabitants
of the land – says the LORD
LORD discussed with attitude of people verse 13- 15
For from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is
given to covetousness
and from the prophet even to the priest
every one deals falsely
They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of MY people slightly
saying
Peace – peace – when there is no Peace
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
Nay – they were not at all ashamed – neither could they blush
THEREFORE they shall fall among them that fall
at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down
says the LORD
LORD offers another road verse 16- 17
Thus says the LORD
Stand you in the ways – and see – and ask for the old paths
where is the good way – and walk therein
and you shall find rest for your souls
BUT they said – We will not walk therein
ALSO I set watchmen over you
saying
Hearken to the sound of the trumpet
BUT they said – We will not hearken
LORD not accepting sacrifices verse 18- 20
THEREFORE hear you nations and know – O congregation
what is among them
Hear – O earth – BEHOLD – I will bring evil upon this people
even the fruit of their thoughts
BECAUSE they have not hearkened to MY words
nor to MY law – BUT rejected it
To what purpose comes there to ME incense from Sheba
and the sweet cane from a far country?
your burnt offerings are not acceptable
nor your sacrifices sweet to ME
LORD putting stumbling blocks before people verse 21
THEREFORE thus says the LORD
BEHOLD I will lay stumbling blocks before this people
and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them
the neighbor and his friend shall perish
LORD gives second warning of judgment verse 22- 23
Thus says the LORD
BEHOLD – a people comes from the north country
and a great nation shall be raised
from the sides of the earth
They shall lay hold on bow and spear
they are cruel – and have no mercy
their voice roars like the sea
and they ride upon horses
set in array as men for war against you
O daughter of Zion
LORD informs people to be distressed verse 24- 25
We have heard the fame thereof – our hands wax feeble
anguish has taken hold of us – and pain
as of a woman in travail
Go not forth into the field – nor walk by the way
for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side
LORD labels them “rejected silver” verse 26- 30
O daughter of MY people – gird you with sackcloth
and wallow yourself in ashes – make thee mourning
as for an only son – most bitter lamentation
for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us
I have set you for a tower and a fortress among MY people
that you may know and try their way
They are all grievous revolters – walking with slanders
they are brass and iron – they are all corrupters
The bellows are burned – the lead is consumed of the fire
the founder melt in vain
for the wicked are not plucked away
Reprobate silver shall men call them
because the LORD has rejected them
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold the word of the LORD is to them a reproach; they have no delight in it. (2654 “delight” [chaphets] means to take pleasure or delight in, desire, inclined, to take a high degree of pleasure or mental satisfaction in, to be favorable, or be pleased to do.)
DEVOTION: Here we have the people of God who have no pleasure in hearing the Word of God spoken to them. The LORD wanted to them but they have not listened in the past and didn’t want to listen in the present.
HE was sending an enemy to judge them for their actions against HIM. They were doing everything HE had commanded them not to do. They didn’t want to obey the Ten Commandments. They didn’t want to listen to the prophets HE sent to them. They were doing everything in their power to displease HIM and yet thought that HE would protect them for an enemy that was coming without even thinking of repenting.
Too often even today we have people who say that they are believers but their actions don’t seem to match their statement of belief in HIM and HIS Word. God wants us to be obedient to HIM on a regular basis. HE knows that we are sinners saved by grace and that we need to confess our sins daily to stay in tune with HIM but the children of Israel didn’t seem to care about HIM or HIS commandments.
Even today we find that there are people who claim faith but their actions speak louder than words. None of us are sinless even after we become believers but those who are genuine believers will keep short accounts with God and HE knows those who are genuine and those who are just saying the words.
CHALLENGE: The Bible gives genuine believers plenty of warning regarding how to keep close to the LORD. IF we listen to the warnings, we will keep short accounts with HIM and then expect HIS blessing on our life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely. (1214 “covetousness” [batsa] means greedy, gain by unrighteous violence, illegal profit, ill-gotten gain, or plunder.)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel were far from the LORD. The LORD sent many messages of warning to them but they didn’t want to listen to HIM. The only thing that they seemed interested in is building up their own personal wealth. It didn’t matter who they hurt as long as they received the money.
This was not just a problem with the rich but also with those who we would consider poor. All classes of people were looking out for number one.
The standard the LORD had set for HIS people was that they were to help one another. Those who were poor were to be helped by the rich. The rich were to be concerned for the needs of their brothers and sisters in the LORD.
To add to the problem was that the spiritual leaders of the nation were to be the ones warning them to act according to the standard of the LORD. This was not happening. They were dealing falsely with the people as well.
There was no place that was not corrupted by the actions of those who were supposed to be working together to bring glory to the LORD. HE wanted them to enter into HIS rest. HE wanted them to follow the path HE had set before them in HIS Word.
Today we face the same problems. There is nothing new under the sun. God has given us instructions through HIS Son, Jesus Christ, as to what our relation should be with one another. If we study the “one another” passages in the Word of God we will find how we are to act toward each other.
This is not happening because even those in our world who are followers of Christ are too busy trying to make a living, please their family and survive. The LORD is put on the back burner.
CHALLENGE: Take the LORD off the back burner and be a giving individual for the LORD. Look out to help those around you. Even the poor can help the rich with the right attitude.
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: 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. (3637 “blush” [kalam] means to wound, to taunt or insult, ashamed, be confounded, be put to confusion, hurt, or shame)
DEVOTION: The LORD warns of a coming army from the north. The children of Benjamin had joined the children of Judah to form the Southern Kingdom of Israel.
The Northern Kingdom has gone into captivity. The Southern was about to go into captivity in Babylon because of their sin. The people would not listen to the LORD but turned a deaf ear toward HIM.
The LORD was weary of their excuses. They were covetous. Their religious leaders were giving false sermons. They were saying that Peace was coming. They were grievous revolters against the LORD.
This verse informs us that while they were worshiping false gods and confronted by the LORD it didn’t cause them any shame at all. They were happy with their false worship. They were happy with the way things were going. They were happy with their current wealth. They had a false sense of joy. Judgment was coming.
Today we have people who call themselves Christians who are more concerned with the bottom line than in their relationship with the LORD. Today we have many worshiping the gods of this world instead of the LORD of the Bible. Judgment is coming.
Warnings are here already. Are we paying attention to the warnings??? Will we be surprised when judgment hits???? The children of Judah and Benjamin were. They thought they were never going to be judged because the LORD continued to send prophets to warn them. They didn’t realize that HE was long-suffering but it didn’t last as long as they thought.
We continue to be sinners even after we become followers of the LORD but we should be able to be ashamed of our sin and confess it to the LORD and HE will forgive and restore our fellowship with HIM.
CHALLENGE: Understand that judgment is going to begin at the house of the LORD and then move out to those who are outside of Christ. We should be working for HIS glory today!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people— The fruit of their thoughts, because they have not heeded My words nor My law, but rejected it. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). 7451 רַע, רַע [raʿ /rah/] – evil, distress, adversity)
DEVOTION: Recently I was down in Kentucky for the birth of my granddaughter and it was a period of time of waiting for the labor to begin and the birth process to begin. While we were waiting for that precious gift to be born we enjoyed the fellowship of believers and the beauty of the fall weather. What gorgeous days with the temperatures in the seventies and not a cloud in the sky. As we sat on the porch we commented on the wonder of the day. As we give God the glory for the work of His hands and the beauty of His creation do we consider that He also is the righteous judge and Sovereign ruler over the world? He can withhold or administer calamity as he desires. If we choose to not listen and apply the truths that God has given us in his word then we should not be surprised when difficulties arise or afflictions occur. God knows the thoughts and the intents that we are living our lives by. We may be able to fool others but we will never deceive God.
CHALLENGE: Not every difficulty or sorrow is a result of disciplinary or corrective action by the Lord. There are times when the Lord allows sorrow and suffering to occur even though there is no sin or wrong doing in our lives. When adverse times come, take a moment to ask the Lord where you stand with Him. He will reveal if there is something that needs remediation and forgiveness. Trust Him and enjoy His special gifts as well as those moments when adversity is allowed in your life. He knows what is best for you!
(Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Incense from Sheba verse 20
Burnt offerings verse 20
Sacrifices verse 20
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 10, 19
Law verse 19
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 6, 9– 12, 15, 16,
21, 22, 30
LORD of hosts verse 6, 9
Fury of the LORD verse 11
Judgment of the LORD verse 11, 12
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Nations verse 18
Great nation from north verse 22- 25
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil verse 1, 19
Wickedness verse 7, 29
Violence verse 7
Uncircumcised ears verse 10
Word of God a reproach verse 10
No delight in Word of God verse 10
Covetousness verse 13
Deals falsely verse 13
Unfaithful priests verse 13
False prophets verse 13
False peace verse 14
False message verse 14
Not ashamed of sin verse 15
Abomination verse 15
Not walk in way of the LORD verse 16
Not hearken verse 17, 19
Fruit of their thoughts = evil verse 19
Rejected law verse 19
False sacrifices verse 20
Revolters verse 28
Slanders verse 28
Corrupters verse 28
Reprobate verse 30
Rejected of the LORD verse 30
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Instruction verse 8
Delight in the Word of the LORD verse 10
Warning verse 10
Walk in old paths verse 16
Good way verse 16
Rest verse 16
Watchmen verse 17
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Children of Benjamin verse 1
Jerusalem verse 1, 6, 8
Tekoa verse 1
Bethhaccerem verse 1
Zion verse 2, 23
Remnant of Israel verse 9
Congregation verse 18
Stumblingblock verse 21
God’s people verse 26
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
6:21 The disaster that was coming is described as “obstacles” that God was going to bring upon all the people, over which they would stumble and perish. (Huey, F. B. (1993). Jeremiah, Lamentations (Vol. 16, p. 101). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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20–21. Since an appeal to past experience has proved fruitless, the cosmos is now to see the vindication of divine righteousness. Sheba in south-western Arabia (modern Yemen) was noted in antiquity for its incense (cf. 7:1). The sweet cane was probably imported from India. Ritual performances divorced from a proper moral attitude are worthless in God’s sight, a view shared by other pre-exilic prophets (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22; Isa. 1:11; Mic. 6:8, etc.). The obstacles confronting the people are of their own making, and when retribution comes they cannot blame God (cf. Jas 1:13–15). (Harrison, R. K. (1973). Jeremiah and Lamentations: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 21, p. 86). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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God delivers the verdict (vv. 16–23). Are the people guilty? Yes! Do they deserve this punishment? Yes! In fact, God called the Gentiles and the earth to bear witness that He had done all He could to spare them this judgment (Jer. 6:18–19). They would not walk on His path, and they would not listen to His prophets. Nevertheless, they continued to bring Him their hypocritical worship! (See Isa. 1:11–14; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6–8.) God gave them the right way, but they rejected it. There could be no escape. The Babylonian army would be a formidable obstacle to anybody trying to flee the wrath of God. The daughter of Zion could not escape. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Decisive (p. 38). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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6:21 stumbling blocks. Cf. Is 8:14; Mt 21:44; 1Pe 2:8. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Je 6:21). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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It is to “that which was from the beginning” God ever directs His people in times of failure. Man is continually running after something new, and thus away from God, for He is of old, from everlasting. Evolution there is none in the truth for the dispensation. It is always evil to turn from it. There is no restoration apart from turning back to it. There is no room for development outside the Book.
The message rejected, the nations are called on to acknowledge the justness of Jehovah’s dealings with so rebellious a people (vers. 18–21), and the chapter closes with the judgment reaffirmed: “Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.” (Ironside, H. A. (1906). Notes on the prophecy and Lamentations of Jeremiah (p. 46). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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6:19–20 Judah had sown the wind and would now reap the whirlwind. The Bible is clear that people will reap what they sow (Prov 22:8; Hos 8:7; 10:12; Gal 6:7–8). Jerusalem’s inhabitants were going to receive the “fruit of their schemes”—disaster—because they refused to listen to God’s words (cf. Jas 1:15).
God did not want their costly offerings of incense (Sheba was a center of trade in incense and spices in southwest Arabia) or sweet calamus (an ingredient used in the holy anointing oil, Exod 30:23–25), nor did he accept their sacrifices. God was not rejecting the sacrificial system he had instituted at Mount Sinai. The offerings, however costly or good in themselves, were meaningless because they came from a wicked and disobedient people. They could not be substituted for obedience. All rituals and superficial acts of “righteousness” are useless if one’s relationship with God is wrong. Rather than opposing the sacrificial system, verses like 1 Sam 15:22; Ps 40:6–8; Isa 1:11–14; Hos 6:6; Amos 5:21–24; Mic 6:6–8 raise the question, “What was the purpose of sacrifice?” Sacrifices and offerings were not a means to buy God’s favor but to reveal an attitude of submissiveness to God in all areas of life.
6:21 The disaster that was coming is described as “obstacles” that God was going to bring upon all the people, over which they would stumble and perish. (Huey, F. B. (1993). Jeremiah, Lamentations (Vol. 16, p. 101). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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Ver. 21. Therefore thus saith the Lord, &c.] Because of their immorality and hypocrisy, their contempt of his word, and confidence in legal rites and ceremonies: behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people; by which may be meant the judgments of God upon them, raising up enemies against them, and suffering them to invade their land; particularly the Assyrians, as the following words shew. Moreover, the prophecies of the false prophets, and the doctrines which they were permitted to spread among the people, were snares and stumbling-blocks unto them, they being given up to believe their lies, and to be hardened by them; nay, even true doctrines, the doctrines of justification and salvation by Christ, yea, Christ himself, were a rock of offence, and a stumbling-stone to these people, Isa. 8:14; Rom. 9:32, 33; 1 Pet. 2:7, 8 and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; or, by them; the latter following the examples of the former; and so it denotes, that as the corruption was general, the punishment would be: and the neighbour and his friend shall perish; in the same calamity, being involved in the guilt of the same iniquity, in which they encouraged and hardened one another. The Septuagint and Arabic versions by stumbling-blocks understand an infirmity or disease, which should come upon the people, and make a general desolation among them. Kimchi interprets the whole of the wickedness of fathers and children, neighbours and friends, and such as were in trade and partnership, and of their delight in mischief; that though they were aware of the stumbling-blocks, yet would not give each other warning of them. The whole, according to the accents, should be rendered thus, and they shall fall upon them, the fathers and the sons together, the neighbour and his friend, and they shall perish; falling and perishing are said of them all. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, pp. 439–440). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Luke 3
Jesus begins His own ministry after John baptizes Him.
INSIGHT
The unique contribution of each of the four Gospels is very important to our understanding of the life of Christ. In the gospel of Matthew, the genealogy takes Jesus’ ancestry back to Abraham. That is because Matthew’s gospel is written by a Jew to Jews and emphasizes distinctly Jewish matters. However, Luke is a Gentile, writing to Gentiles, who emphasizes matters that are of concern to a broader audience.
From Matthew we learn that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, and we see the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham. From Luke, we learn that Jesus is the Son of God, and we see the fulfillment of God’s promises to those of us who are not descendants of Abraham.
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THE CHARACTER OF THE CHRISTIAN
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:16
We must consider what our Lord has to say about the Christian. Here is the character of the Christian. The first thing I notice is a negative .He says in John 17:6, “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world.” Now that is the first thing He says about the Christian. He is not of this world. In verses 6-19 Jesus repeats that four times. In addition to verse 6, He says in verse 9, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me”; again in verse 14, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world”; and then in verse 16, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” Our Lord goes on repeating that phrase because He wants to impress it upon us.
The first thing that is true about the Christian is that he does not belong to this world. In the light of this, it is vital that we should ask ourselves the question, am I of the world or am I not? That is the fundamental distinction that runs through the Bible from beginning to end. There are only two groups of people in the world today—those who are of the world and those who belong to Christ. In the last analysis there is no other division or distinction that has the slightest importance or relevance. That is why most of us are defeated by life in this world—we recognize other distinctions that are quite unimportant. But when we all come to die, does it make the slightest difference which political party we belong to? Does it matter whether we are rich or poor, learned or otherwise? There is only one fundamental distinction, and that is whether we belong to the world or to Christ.
A Thought to Ponder: The Christian does not belong to this world. (From Safe in the World, pp. 22-24, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Messages from the Messiah’s Life: The Temptation of the Messiah
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)
The 40 days our Lord Jesus spent fasting in the desert being “tempted of the devil” (Luke 4:2) are a precise example for us. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7), resisting “stedfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9). Satan would never tempt us the same way he tempted Jesus, but Christ’s response is exactly the way we should counter the Adversary’s effort to seduce us. Each challenge was overcome by quoting the Scriptures—“the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3).
Turn stone into bread? “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Here, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, when God reminded Israel that “every word” must be obeyed or the gift of manna would breed “worms” (Exodus 16:20).
Throw yourself down and test the angels? “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Luke 4:12). Here, Jesus quoted Moses’ response when the Israelites “tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:7).
Worship the archangel who rebelled against the Creator merely to gain a shortcut to power? “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). Perhaps such an opportunity might exist, but “what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Our faith (Romans 10:17) and our sword (Ephesians 6:17) are the Word of God that we are to use against the Enemy. But remember: “When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season” (Luke 4:13).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Humor Me
We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord. 2 CORINTHIANS 4:5
It’s always dangerous to make assumptions. I am reminded of the businesswoman who found herself with an extra hour of airport down time. She bought a magazine, a coffee and a small package of cookies, preparing to pass the time as best she could in the crowded waiting area.
Absorbed in her reading, she reached over and picked up a cookie to nibble on. To her great surprise, a stranger two seats over reached into the same packet and began eating the second cookie. Stunned, she tried to ignore it. Only after 20 more quiet minutes did she reach in to take the third cookie.
The stranger took the fourth. Then he picked up the near-empty package and sarcastically asked, “Would you like the last one?” Infuriated, she marched off in a huff to the airline gate, reached into her bag for her boarding pass . . . and found her unopened package of cookies! Her anger had been based on a
wrong assumption.
Some assumptions are much more dangerous than that. It occurs to me, for example, that one of you may never have actually taken the step of faith to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. You may have the wrong assumption that your good works will get you into heaven. You can change that at this moment. Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, died on a cross to pay the divine penalty for your sins and was raised to life to
defeat death forever, is as near as your next breath. He offers eternal life to you in His open hands.
If you are not sure you are a follower of Christ, if you’ve never received His gift of salvation, would you confess your sins to Him right now and, through faith in Him, receive His forgiveness and ask Him to become your Lord and Master? (Moments with YOU by Dennis & Barbara Rainey)
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