On Aug. 1, 1896: George Samuelson completed his trip across the Atlantic ocean, NY to England, in a row boat.

Reading: Isa. 43-47 Pasture: Isa. 46:9-10

The God of All Wisdom

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isa. 46:10)

The fact that God knows everything whether in the past, the present, or the future, is of great comfort and value to us.

Foreknowledge. God knows all things. Even before the foundation of the world was laid, God knew man would sin and would require a Savior. Thus, the Bible speaks of the sacrifice of Christ being planned before the world began. (see 1Pet. 1:19-20) God knew each one of us before we were born, and established a plan for each of us also. (Eph. 1:4)

Firmness. (...My counsel shall stand…” His counsel, His Word therefore, stands firm always. God is never surprised by anything, and so has preplanned for every eventuality. This does not nullify free will, it simply signifies that God in His wisdom, preplanned for each act of our will, whether it is good or bad.

Future. We can be assured that God’s will is going to be accomplished. Just as His Word proclaims, He will have His will and His way with the sin-sick world. He will be victorious.

Thought: Since we know He will win, we must ensure we are on the winning side!

On Aug. 31, 1954: The Census Bureau was established.

Reading: Ezek. 16 Pasture: Ezek 16: 30

The Weak Heart

“How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious, whorish woman.” (Ezek. 16:30)

The People. The nation of Israel was a wayward people. Secured and sanctified by God, they had corrupted themselves and pursued the idolatry of the nations round about. This is not an isolated incident. Even now, God’s local churches are filled with folks who do the same. They just as quickly turn aside from following the Lord, to following the lusts of the would.

The Promises. When we are saved it is much like the exchange of marriage vows. We ask God to be our Savior and Lord, and He comes into our life and joins with us forever. When we break our promises to Him and turn aside from His way and will, we behave much like an unfaithful and wayward marriage partner. God uses strong language to describe the horror of such betrayal. He calls it, “the work of an imperious, whorish woman.”

The Prospects. What are the prospects for the future? Well, God will have mercy on His own who decide to accept it. For yet a little while, the Lord will allow the unfaithful to return to the initial loving relationship.

Thought: Has your heart been weak? Have you been imperious and whorish concerning the Lord? Return before it is too late.

On Aug. 2, 1375: The 1st roller skating rink opened in London, England.

Reading: Isa. 48-51 Pasture: Isa. 48:22

No Peace for the Wicked

“There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.”

When one chooses to reject Christ as Savior, or reject His leadership and precepts, one remains in the bond of iniquity and wickedness, and peace becomes an unattainable objective.

Christ. The very reason Christ came was to establish peace for mankind. (see Luke 2:14) When we come to know Christ we have peace with God. (Rom. 5:1) Then we can be at peace with ourselves, and consequently be at peace with others.

Conflict. A lost man, or even a saved man who like King Saul chooses to be rebellious and self-willed will never enjoy peace. His life will be filled with conflict with his God, with others, and with himself. Consider that Saul could have known the peace that passes understanding, but chose instead to be self-willed and so endured one conflict after another. He had conflicts with David, with his son Jonathan, and finally, with his God. It is important to note that he lost them all.

Condemnation. For Christ rejecters, eternal condemnation is all that awaits. There will never be peace to these, for they will be filled with eternal regret, eternal woe, and eternal wants that can never be fulfilled. For the save who reject His will, there will always be the awful consideration of ‘what might have been’.

Thought: “Know God, Know peace. No God, no peace.”

On Aug. 3, 1852: 1st intercollegiate rowing race saw Harvard beat Yale by 4 lengths.

Reading: Isa. 52-56 Pasture: Isa. 52: 14-15)

Astonied

“As many were astonied at thee…” (Isa. 52:14a)

The sacrifice of Christ on Calvary was to be so graphic and so horrible as to cause people to be astonied. (astonished)

His Visage. So marred was Jesus to be by the brutal treatment He would receive at Calvary, that He would not even be recognizable as ‘a son of man’ or human being. No one ever suffered as much as Jesus did for you and me.

His Vicariousness. Jesus, it was plainly foretold, would not die for the Jews alone. His blood would sprinkle many nations. He would vicariously pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world. It would, however, only be applied to those who applied to Him for it.

His Victory. The end of the Atonement would be complete victory over death and sin. Jesus would once more be exalted and extolled throughout the earth. How we long for the day when that will shortly be accomplished!

Thought; He suffered for me, that I might go free.

The cross is my hope of glory.

On Aug. 30, 1905: Ty Cobb has his 1st major league ’at bat’.

Reading: Ezek. 13-15 Pasture: Ezek. 13:1-8

False Prophets

“Thus saith the Lord God; woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own sprit, and have seen nothing.” (Ezek. 13:3)

Many Preachers in Ezekiel’s day did not follow the Spirit of God, but followed instead their own spirit. They didn’t preach what God wanted to say, but what they knew people wanted to hear.

Desires. These who proclaim according to desire, do a great disservice to the hearers. What good have we encountered if all we hear is a message that proclaims what someone wants to hear, or the opinion or desires of the mere man who proclaims such? Opinion plus $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbuck’s, and that’s about all.

Description. In vs. 3, God calls these preachers “foolish” These are fools indeed, who think they proclaim their own thoughts and instead are led by the hand to do the bidding of Satan. They are also foolish who believe God will ever let them get away with such a deed as that.

Disgust. God says that He is ‘against them”. (See vs. 8) I would sooner face any danger before I would ever dare face the wrath of Almighty God, if such wrath were directed at me.

Thought: We have many false prophets today who speak the language of political correctness.

On Aug. 29, 1758: The 1st Indian reservation was established.

Reading: Ezek. 9-12 Pasture: Ezek. 11:1-3

A Lack of Leadership

“Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city: Which say, It is not near…” (Ezek. 11:2-3a)

We have never needed good leaders more than now...and we have never seen less good leaders than now.

The Loss of Leaders. Where have all the leaders gone, men like George Washington who knelt in the snow and prayed for his troops? Where are the men like Jefferson, who although a deist, still said, “I tremble when I reflect that God is just, and that his justice can not sleep forever.”

The Lack of Leadership. Instead, we have leaders just like these in Ezekiel’s time, who deny that judgment is coming. Their message is one of, “Don’t worry, we have everything under control.” The problem is, they themselves are out of control!

The Lord, our Leader. We must commit ourselves to follow the principles and precepts of God’s Word. After all, the solution to our problems will not be found in the lying lips of politicians, but only in the truth of God’s Word.

Thought: Not in the White House, but in God’s House is the solution to be found.

On Aug. 4, 1777: Retired British cavalry officer Philip Astley established the 1st circus.

Reading: Isa. 57-59 Pasture: Isa. 57:19

The Fruit of the Lips

“I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.” (Isa. 57:19)

As a garden can bring forth weeds, so our lips can utter perverse things. However, with a little work a garden can be a productive thing, and so can the words of our lips.

Powerful. Words are powerful things. Just think, with words you can choose to do evil and destroy the reputation and character of someone, or you can choose to do good and edify them, choosing to be a blessing and not a burden. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Thus goes the old saying, but it is not true. The truth is, words can hurt! However, they can also help.

Profession. The most important words to ever come out of our lips is our profession of faith in Christ. This is, of course, how we establish a relationship with God in the first place. (see Rom. 10:10 and Rom. 10:13) After we have been saved, sharing what happened to us is the greatest soul-winning tool we have. Remember again how Paul continually testified, “I was on the road to Damascus…”

Praise. The fruit of our lips should continually be offered in the form of praise to our God. (see Heb. 13:15) Praise and thankfulness to God is the natural and sweet fruit of our salvation.

Thought: We are not saved merely to grow, but also to bear fruit!

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On Aug. 5, 1861: The US levied its 1st income tax. (3% on incomes over $800)

Reading: Isa. 60-63 Pasture: Isa. 60:1-3

Arise and Shine

“And the Gentiles shall come to they light, and kings to the brightness of they rising.” (Isa. 60:3)

Darkness is spreading quickly all over our world, but the light can and will, continue to pierce the darkness.

The Savior. This passage describes first and foremost, the Messiah who was to come to Israel. As John would prophesy, He would be the Light. (John 1:4-8) The command goes forth from the eternal throne of God the Father for the Messiah of men to, “Arise, shine: for thy light is come.”

The Salvation. When people come to a saving knowledge and acceptance of Christ, they do in reality, come to the light. The song writer described it so well many years ago, “Praise the Lord, I saw the light.”

The Saints. Another application of this passage can have special meaning for those of us who have ’come to the light.’ It is our turn to arise and shine, and let the gentiles (unbelievers) see the light of Christ shining in our attitudes, our actions, and our appearance. This is not an option, but a command. Jesus said in Matt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Thought: Like a man with a candle, wherever we go, our light goes with us.

On Aug. 28, 1884: The 1st known photograph of a tornado was made near Howard, SD.

Reading: Ezek. 5-8 Pasture: Ezek. 6:8-10

I Will Leave a Remnant

“Yet will I leave a remnant that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.” (Ezek. 6:8)

God spared a remnant of His people during the captivity, He spared a remnant when Israel was dispersed after the crucifixion, and He will spare a remnant at the 2nd coming.

Retreat. God always tempers His judgment with mercy and provides a way of escape. This avenue of retreat from the face of destruction is provided by Him and found in Him.

Remembrance. It is when His people are spared during times of great stress and trouble that they remember the days of old. They remember the days when they served God, and they remember the days when they were blessed by God.

Realization. This is when God’s people come to the place where they are willing to repent and return to the Lord with their whole hearts. Today, our nation and our world face a rapidly spreading darkness. It is a spiritual darkness. Nation after nation declare themselves to be totally secular; and homosexuality and abortion have become legalized sin.

Thought: Judgment is once again coming; not for retribution, but for the benefit of the remnant.

On Aug. 27, 1961: Francis the Talking Mule was the mystery guest on “What’s My Line”.

Reading: Ezek. 1-4 Pasture: Ezek. 3:17-21

Our Task

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman….” (Ezek. 3:17a)

Like Ezekiel to the Jews, God has made us and commissioned us, to be His witnesses.

To the Wicked. There are, in reality, many wicked people in our world today. There are those woefully ignorant of God’s commands. Our job is to teach them. There are those who are willfully ignorant of God’s will also; our job is to reach them.

To The Watchmen. Each of us is in the same position as a lifeguard. We must attempt to rescue those in danger. If we neglect to do so, we will be guilty for the lives that have been forfeited to sin.

To the Work. Our work then, is to warn those all around us. Whether in Church, at work, at school, or at play; whether friends, foes, neighbors, or incidental contacts, they must listen and live, or deny and die.

Thought: Our task is simply to tell.

Others lives are worth us guarding them.

On Aug. 6, 1890: Cy Young pitched and won his 1st game of baseball.

Reading: Isa. 64-66 Pasture: Isa. 65:17-25

A New Life

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind…”

Although we see our world crumbling, a new day and a new world is on its way.

Politically. Things certainly are crumbling around us politically. On the one hand we see corruption of most of our government officials. On the other, foreign governments and religious systems (such as ISIS) want to destroy us.

Propriety. All around us we experience decay. Our society has certainly undergone moral decay. Our society is also experiencing social disintegration. Not only are our families being destroyed, we don’t even know how to define a family any more, and not even what constitutes a marriage!

Promise. If we compare this passage with Rev. 21 & 22 we see the promise of God is for new heavens and a new earth where we can live peaceable and productive lives, the way we were intended to live.

Thought: For those whose spirit is born anew, we look forward to anew life.

Jesus says, “Behold, I make all things new.”

On Aug. 7, 1782: George Washington created the Order of the Purple Heart.

Reading: Jer. 1-3 Pasture: Jer. 1:1-7

The Touch of His Hand

“Whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” (Jer. 1:7b)

Whether we think we can or whether we think we can’t, if the Lord touches us, we can!

The Touch of our Creator. (Vs. 1-4) It was the touch of the Lord that caused us to be created in the first place. To think life happens accidentally is supremely ignorant. When we consider every body system we have, we must conclude that we were ‘formed in the belly’ by the intelligent and compassionate touch of the Master’s Hand.

The Touch of His Consecration. (Vs. 5-6) He has personally called each of us to His service. We may have another occupation to support our families, but He has called each of us to be His witnesses and to testify to others on His behalf.

The Touch of His Command. (vs. 7) Going to see who He wants us to see, and saying what He wants us to say is not optional. God doesn’t call us to be considerers, He calls us to obey His commands.

“ To make the music sweet and grand,

One needs only the touch, of the Master’s hand.”

On Aug. 26, 1907: Houdini escaped from chains underwater at Aquatic Park in 57 seconds.

Reading: Lam. 3-5 Pasture: Lam. 3:54-59

Jesus for the Defense

“O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life…” (Lam. 3:58)

We have no cause for worry. God is our advocate, and God plus anyone equals a clear and strong majority.

Asking. (vs. 54-55) If you know the Lord as your Savior, you have experienced it. Your troubles were more than you could bear. The weight of sin and guilt was much too heavy and you felt yourself sinking straight into hell. Then, you called on the name of the Lord, and everything changed, didn’t it?

Advocate. (vs. 56-58) This is because Jesus Christ is our advocate. He is our attorney for the defense. How grateful we should be that He pleads our cause. How grateful we should be that He has performed our conversion. All we have and are is only because of Him, and His great love for us.

Abandonment. (vs. 59) Now, with utter abandonment we can cast ourselves on the mercy of the great Judge of all the earth. Not only is He our advocate, but He is the Judge and Jury as well. How wonderful, the utter confidence we can display through Him.

Thought: A man who attempts to conduct his own defense, has a fool for a client.

Jesus is the best advocate we can have.

On Aug. 25, 1804: Alice Meynell became the 1st woman jockey in England.

Reading: Lam. 1-2 Pasture: Lam. 2:16

The Day Our Enemies Looked For

“All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day we looked for: we have found, we have seen it.” Lam. 2:16

I hate and hesitate to say it, but this day described by Jeremiah for Israel is one soon to be experienced by us.

The Day of our Folly. Our folly as a nation is manifest. We have turned away as a nation from God, whose mighty hand founded and sustained us. The words of our founding fathers exhorting us to national days of repentance and prayer are no longer. Even the day of Thanksgiving, decreed by the President, now is a mere holiday from work and an opportunity to feast for many.

The Day of our Fall. Already, the strength of America is greatly lessened. Our President assures us we don’t need a large navy anymore. We don’t need a large army. He assures us we don’t need anything but ourselves. Soon, America will fall, for you have God’s Word on it. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”(Ps. 9:17)

The Day Looked For. For years now, radical Islam has proclaimed America the “Great Satan” and has looked for our fall. They will rejoice at that day, and it saddens me to say it seems to be hastening on.

Thought: The inverted flag is not disrespectful, it is a distress signal.

On Aug. 8, 1844: Following the death of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young was chosen head of the Mormon Church.

Reading: Jer. 4-6 Pasture: Jer.6:16-19

A Secular Nation

“Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.”

(Jer. 6:17)

A nation that refuses to listen to the God of the Bible is a foolish nation indeed, for they will miss the blessings of God.

Repetition. Over and over again, just as in the time described in our text, God has sent watchmen (Preachers) to America, warning that we need to turn to the Lord. Early in our history, that warning was heeded and our nation flourished. Now the warning is being repeated again, but few seem to be listening.

Refusal. Our President has openly proclaimed many times, “We are no longer a Christian nation.” He is the first President in my memory to say such a thing openly. Where is the denial of such a statement? Where is the outrage? It seems that the nation as a whole has embraced this statement and sentiment wholeheartedly. By doing so, our nation has refused the blessings of God.

Realization. Our nation has to realize that we can’t have the blessings of God when we deny Him and His leadership. “Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord.” (Ps. 33:12) What then of the nation who openly rejects God’s leadership and proclaims themselves to be a secular nation?

Thought: “If we ever forget we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” Ronald Reagan

On Aug. 9, 1803: The 1st horses arrived in Hawaii.

Reading: Jer. 7-9 Pasture: Jer. 9:13-15

Bringing On Judgment

“Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.” (Jer. 9:15)

The Consideration. Just how far can mankind push God before He answers in judgment? This is a good question, and it won’t be long before we find out the answer as Israel did.

The Conduct. (vs.13) Israel simply set aside the law of God. Oh, they still believed in the rule of law, but they adopted the practices of other nations as superior to the law given them by God. As our nation immerses itself in globalism, (world courts, international alliances, and etc.) we are beginning to do the same thing.

The Compromise. (vs.14) Baalim was the compromise with false religion Israel engaged in. It is the plurality of religions all mixed into the practices of God’s people. Today also, we see the world pushing against what they term as the ‘hateful exclusionism’ of Christianity, and pushing for all encompassing ecumenical worship.

Thought: The patience of the Lord is limited. I believe we are close to finding out just how limited it is.

On Aug. 24, 1869: The waffle iron was invented.

Reading: Jer. 51-52 Pasture: Jer. 52:28-30

The Captives

“This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive…” (Jer. 52:28a)

Some people have the idea that a great and numerous population was carried to Babylon. As you see here, God spared only a remnant, as He always does.

The Rescued. One might almost call them people whom God had rescued. After all, they had been spared from a city where a fearsome famine had destroyed many. Now, although they were going into captivity, 4,600 Jews were at least to be nourished once again.(see vs, 30.) Here is another example of how God always tempers His judgment with mercy.

The Rest. What happened to all the other Jews? A few of the poorest sort were left to care for the land. (see vs.16) However, most of them died, either at the hands of the Babylonians, or in the terrible famine in the besieged city. At one time, Judah had boasted an army of close to a million men. Now, only a pitiful fraction of the people was left.

The Remainder. Of those taken into captivity, only a small portion of those would be willing some seventy years later, to return to the land and rebuild Jerusalem.

Thought: If you are discouraged because there are so few sincere Christians in the world today, take heart. It is always thus, that God does His most awesome work through the weakness and numerical insufficiency of man.

On Aug. 23, 1904: Tire chains for automobiles were patented.

Reading: Jer. 49-50 Pasture: Jer. 50:31-32

The Proud Shall Stumble and Fall

“And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up.” (Jer. 50:32a)

It is certain that God resists the most proud. Have you ever asked yourself why?

The Proud Won’t Listen to Him. If a person is too proud, then he cannot endure anyone giving an opinion or decision contrary to his own will. He wants to sit on the throne of his own life; a place only God was intended to occupy. God has to bring such a person down or nothing can be done with him or for him.

The Proud Won’t Lend a Hand. Here again, we see a terrible fault with people who are too proud. Keeping their eyes above everyone else, they never see the needs of another person. The rich are often, but not exclusively, this way. Oftentimes a rich person will ascribe his wealth to his own efforts. “I did it myself, let others do the same!”

The Proud Won’t Learn Humility. Two fleas were arguing once over who owned the dog they lived on. One proudly maintained, “I was here first!” The other said, “But I have the best and biggest family.” How silly they felt when the dog scratched itself, and got taken to the Vet. Then no one lived on the dog.

Thought: When we get proud, that’s when God must take us down a peg, for humility is the key to success.

On Aug. 10, 1743: The earliest Prize fighting rules were formulated.

Reading: Jer. 10-12 Pasture: Jer. 11:16-17

A Green Olive Tree

“The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.” (Jer. 11:16)

Why does God allow the branches of His olive tree to be broken? Why does He allow bad things to happen to good people?

To Prove Them. God, of course, knowing all things, knows what we will do in any given situation. However, He proves us to show how we will respond to ourselves as an admonition, and to others as a testimony.

To Provoke Them. God’s people, like Jonah of old, sometimes have to be pushed a little bit. Sometimes they need s poke to make them go in the right direction. A little difficulty in life helps us at times, to be willing to do our duty.

To Punish Them. We can’t ignore the obvious answer. Sometimes God’s people disobey and have to be punished. God planted Israel as a people and they chose to rebel and disobey. God then took the olive tree He had blessed and punished it to the point where the people regretted their foolishness and returned to Him.

Thought: Provoke God to anger, and you’re liable to get more than you bargained for.

Better go God’s direction and be safe.

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On Aug. 11, 1919: The Green Bay Packers football club was founded.

Reading: Jer. 13-15 Pasture: Jer. 13:1-17

Jeremiah’s Belt

“Thus saith the Lord, after this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. (Jer.13:9)

When people get too proud to listen to God, then they are too proud!

The Wickedness. (vs.10) God saw the wickedness of Israel was great indeed. He commanded Jeremiah to use a linen belt, dirty and long buried to exemplify the nation. Dirty, torn, and weakened, the belt was as good for nothing as the nation now was.

The Warning. (vs.15-16) If only the people would listen to the Lord and give Him glory once again, then the Redeemer would have mercy upon them. However, they had better do it quickly, for the darkness of judgment was descending upon them quickly.

The Weeping. (vs. 17) If they would refuse to hear, then God would weep in secret places for the one thing that caused them to ignore God; their pride.

Thought: Pride is often mankind’s own worst enemy.

One who is too proud,

Is oft by judgment cowed.

On Aug. 22, 1864: The 1st Geneva Convention, governing the rules of war, was signed by 12 nations.

Reading: Jer. 45-48 Pasture: Jer. 48:10a

Doing It Deceitfully

“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully…” (Jer. 48:10a)

When God wants something done, He wants it done according to His specific directions.

Whole-heartedly. God never allows His children to be deceitful by giving only a partial effort toward His work. If we don’t do what we do with our whole heart, why then should we try at all? If you are a teacher, teach the best you can. If you are a singer, do likewise. What ever we do for God deserves our best efforts.

Purposefully. Do you expect God to bless you efforts? If we do anything for God and are convinced that nothing will come of our efforts, how can we expect God to bless that? God has a purpose for all He commands us to do. Let’s expect Him to fulfill that purpose as we obediently do His bidding.

Completely. “A task half-done, is a task not done.” This old saying is just as true and relevant in God’s work as anywhere else. Are you giving your best to the Master? If not, don’t expect Him to bless your efforts. Instead, expect just what our text names.

Thought: If we don’t do our best for God, why try at all?

God needs volunteers to do His work His way.

On Aug. 21, 1878: The American Bar Association was organized at Sarasota, New York.

Reading: Jer. 42-44 Pasture: Jer. 43:1-4

We Don’t Agree!

“Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the Lord our God hath not sent thee tosay, God not into Egypt to sojourn there.” (Jer. 43:2)

What happens when someone doesn’t agree with the man of God?

The Accomplishment. As we see here, God’s Will is accomplished anyway. Jeremiah had done what God told him to do. In preaching the Word, Jeremiah had related God’s command. If they obeyed, then all would be well. If they disobeyed, then they would have to suffer the consequences. By not agreeing with what the prophet said did not change the message one iota.

The Accusation. (vs.2) Born of pride, an accusation against the message of God always accuses the man of God of either ignorance of God’s Word or with out and out lying.

The Action. (vs.4) If a Preacher is preaching the true Word of God, then to disobey his message is to disobey God. All God’s people have the right to read the Bible for themselves. However, if they disagree with the Preacher, they had better be sure they are right!

Thought: If you rise up and disagree with the man of God, you had better be right!

On Aug. 12, 1935: Babe Ruth played his final game at Fenway Park before 41,766 fans.

Reading: Jer. 16-18 Pasture: Jer. 16:1-4

The Duty of Deprivation

“Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.” (Jer. 16:2)

Sometimes we feel a little deprived when we can’t have or do as others. Are we indeed deprived, or are we rather protected?

The Refusal. (vs. 1-2) Jeremiah was refused a family like everyone else had. Now, he was a normal man and wanted a family too, I am sure. However, as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ to come, and as a prophet of God in the midst of such a rebellious people, it was not to be.

The Reason. (vs. 3-4) God was not being cruel to Jeremiah. No indeed, He was protecting his prophet, for the family he might have had would die along with everyone else in the terrible famines and judgments to come. God, looking down into the future, spared His prophet such overwhelming sorrow. However, even if we never know God’s reason for not allowing us to have what we want, we need to respect His decision.

The Realization. God doesn’t want us not to enjoy life. When He says “no”, it is for a good reason. That reason is for betterment; either ours, or someone else’s.

Thought: “Others may, you can not.”

God doesn’t want His children to be spoiled and stubborn, so He must at times, tell us “no.”

On Aug. 13, 1907: The 1st taxicab appeared in New York City.

Reading: Jer. 19-22 Pasture: Jer. 21:4-8

The Way Before Us

“And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I have set before you the way of life, and the way of death.” (Jer. 21:8)

We all have choices, but when it comes to accepting or rejecting God’s Word, the choices are exceedingly serious.

The Right Way. As always, the choices God gives us consist of two different paths. If we choose the right way, that is the path of obedience to Him. He will bless and prosper you on that path. He will guide and illuminate your way. You will be healthier and happier when you walk the path God has appointed, but strangely enough, many people don’t take that path.

The Wrong. Way. No indeed, many choose the path of self-will. Trusting in false religion or no religion, they go down the path of life in wrong direction. However, strange as it may seem, they are convinced that it is everyone else who is going in the wrong direction. Smugly, they look down on “Christians” who live a life of obedience and imagine themselves as the only real fulfilled individuals.

The Rebel’s Way. As I said, these choices are serious. The way of the rebel ends only in punishment, while the way of the obedient is blessed.

Thought: What waits at the end of your path? If this is it, you’re on the wrong way.

On Aug. 20, 1896: The dial telephone was patented.

Reading: Jer. 39-41 Pasture: Jer. 40:1-3

A Lesson Learned The Hard Way

“Now the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.” (Jer. 40:3)

We can learn our lessons the hard way, by experience, or the easy way, by simple faith and obedience. Here was a lesson learned the hard way.

Instructed. The Babylonians had not happened by chance to attack Israel, and they knew it! Here the captain of the king’s guard freed Jeremiah from prison and recited for the preacher what God had done. God had chosen Babylon to punish Israel.

Insurrection. In the first place, the captain told Jeremiah he was aware that Israel had sinned. There were countless examples of God’s people disobeying the Lord and doing what they were specifically told not to do, such as following false gods and the religion of people round about them.

Iniquity. In addition, we see in vs. 3 that Israel had also “not obeyed his voice”. This seems to indicate that the captain knew there were sins of omission as well as sins of commission present in God’s people. Both are rebellion, and both had to be punished.

Thought: I wonder how many of God’s people wished they had listened, only after it was too late!

On Aug. 19, 1909: 1st race was held at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway.

Reading: Jer. 36-38 Pasture: Jer. 37:5-15

The Accusation

“Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not unto him.”

(Jer. 37:14a)

Jeremiah was accused of being a traitor because he prophesied the Babylonians would conquer Israel. In these last days, the world may well look on those who preach of coming judgment as treason also.

Traitor. Since he prophesied capture and captivity, Jeremiah was branded as a traitor. He loved his country, he feared for it and preached repentance that they might not experience captivity. Likewise, those who reject the late Presidential notion that America is no longer a “Christian nation” are looked on as disloyal by many. Yet, we must be loyal first to God and His Word.

True. God was true to God, and so must we be. Our nation was founded on God’s Word and will not continue long if that belief is forsaken. Such a stand is opposite that of popular political correctness, but is still the correct stand to take.

Trouble. Rejecting the message and hatred transferred to the messenger is what Jeremiah experienced. This is also what those who will live Godly will likewise experience in these last days.

Thought; Without being true to God, one cannot be true to a nation He has founded.

On Aug. 14, 1756: The French captured Fort Oswego, NY.

Reading: Jer. 23-25 Pasture: Jer. 23:29

The Hammer of God’s Word

“Is not my word like as a fire? Saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29)

When there is little or nothing we can do to help folks, rest assured that the hammer of the Word of God can.

It Can Break Up Stubbornness. Even the one who will not hear us, the one who will not heed, the one who will not listen to reason, can still be reached through the Word. I have seen the stubborn man brought low by the preaching of God’s Word because when it is wielded it rings with authority of the Creator, and shatters the stubbornness and pride of man.

It Can Break Up Sin. I have also seen those steeped in sinful addictions and habits set free by the preaching of God’s Word. When freedom is proclaimed, slavery can no longer be enforced.

It Can Break the Strength of Satan. The written Word prophesied it, the living Word will perform it. One day, and that day is sooner than you think, Satan will be brought low by the power of the Word of God. One command is all it will take, and even Satan will bow the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Thought: Learn to wield the hammer of God’s Word well and make sure to hit the right target!

On Aug. 15, 1935: Wiley Post and Will Rogers were killed in a plane crash in Alaska.

Reading: Jer. 26-27 Pasture: Jer. 27:1-22

The Sign of the Yoke

“Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live; wherefore should this city be laid waste?” (Jer. 27:17)

The yoke that Jeremiah wore was a sign of bondage and servitude that God commanded Israel to endure.

Do Listen and Learn. (vs. 1-8) When God gives us a command, sometimes that command in not according to our desires. This was certainly true of servitude to Babylon, but nevertheless, Israel was so commanded. If they had listened, they would have learned that God’s blessings are reserved for the obedient.

Don’t Listen to Lies. (vs. 9-10) There have always been and will always be gainsayers of God’s Word. It is up to us to reject them and their fleshly messages and cleave to the Bible. Don’t listen to lies, cleave instead to the truth.

Do Listen and Live. (vs. 11-22) To resist the Word and thus the Will of God is deadly indeed. Why not listen and live? This is true both spiritually and physically. Remember, both Rom. 6:23 and John 3:16 are both in the Bible!

Thought; God commands us to be obedient and teach others to be obedient also.

What God labels as dangerous, is!

On Aug. 18, 1227: Genghis Khan died.

Reading: Jer. 33-35 Pasture: Jer. 34:8-11

Proclaim Liberty

“This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after that the King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them.” (Jer. 34:8)

God always wants His people to proclaim the liberty that is available through Him.

The King. (vs. 11) Zedekiah did what he was supposed to do in proclaiming liberty to all, but as there always is, there were people who disobeyed his edict and caused the bonds of slavery to once again be tightened. God forbid those who would tempt one freed from sin’s bondage to once again be entangled in its grip.

Our Country. We are supposed to have freedom in our country, aren’t we? The 1st Amendment to the Constitution guarantees it. However, many precepts in God’s Word such as anti-homosexuality, anti-abortion, and etc., is being labeled as ‘hate speech’. Today, there is more freedom in a third-world country such as Kenya, to preach such principles than we have here. What happened to the liberty of Christianity?

The Control. People have a basic desire to control others. Let us resist such a desire and rather exercise ourselves to proclaim liberty to all through Christ.

Thought: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

We have liberty from the penalty of sin and from the power of sin.

On .Aug. 17, 1858: The 1st bank in Hawaii opened.

Reading: Jer. 31-32 Pasture: Jer. 32:6-9

The Field of Faith

“And I bought the field of Hananeel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.” (Jer. 32:9)

God told Jeremiah that one day freedom would return to Israel, and Jeremiah acted accordingly. So should we.

The Babylonians. The Babylonian army occupied Israel at this time. Anathoth, Jeremiah’s ancestral home, was close to Jerusalem and was in the middle of the occupation.

The Belief. Even while the prophet was yet in prison, God promised freedom would come and that Jeremiah would be offered an opportunity to buy a field right in the middle of the army of occupation. Such an act would be foolish indeed, if freedom didn’t come. Jeremiah believed God and bought the field.

The Bargain. It is interesting that Jeremiah only had to pay seventeen shekels for the field. If we compare this price with say, the price Abraham had to pay for the field in Gen. 23:16, we will see he got a bargain indeed. Abraham had to pay 400 shekels.

Thought: We always receive great value when we act in faith.

Trust in God’s Word builds bridges for us.

On Aug. 16, 1977: Elvis Presley died at age 42.

Reading: Jer. 28-30 Pasture: Jer. 28:1-17

Happy Days are Here Again!

“Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah, the Lord hath not sent thee, but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.” (Jer. 28:15)

When a new leadership comes into power, people rejoice. “Now”, they say, “things will be different.” “Now things will go our way!” Well, may be so, may be not.

The Rejoicing. (vs. 1-4) How glad the people must have been to hear the word of Hananiah. He prophesied exactly what they wanted to hear. Their desire was to do as they wanted without consequence. Hananiah told them that was what they could do.

The Rebuttals. (vs. 5-9) Jeremiahgave a rebuttal and tried to caution the people. He also wanted Israel to prosper and be free, but he cautioned that only the truth would win out. Hananiah gave a rebuttal and tried to quiet the preacher, and instill confidence in the people. Perhaps he thought that with enough confidence, they could still defeat the enemy. However, it was not to be.

The Reality. (vs. 12-19) Seeking power and popularity, Hanahiah found instead God’s unwavering will and also found his personal destruction. Today, a change in the White House will avail nothing. We need a change in hearts.

Thought: Don’t put the spotlight on man, put it on God where it belongs.