I’ve been reading through the book of Jeremiah for the last bit, and if I’m honest, I usually only notice how hard his life was. Here he was simply delivering God’s messages, and time and time again he gets imprisoned or flogged…even thrown into a cistern. It’s a crazy story.
This morning while reading more in Jeremiah, I felt a nudge from God…”Look deeper”. I paused and focused my heart and mind again, then continued reading. I was so amazed because as I pressed on in scripture, I heard God speak to me, “Look at how brave Jeremiah was. See how uncompromising he was. He didn’t demand respect or for life to be easy. He gave himself to Me and trusted. His life was hard, but that wasn’t a marker of him doing wrong…it was a marker of him choosing Me.”
Wow. Another gasping moment.
Just an hour before, I had woken up and felt the crushing weight of fear for the future…particularly our financial future. I had laid in bed staring at the ceiling and saying, “I believe for the good things. I refuse to partner with the bad thoughts.” Then I got up and started my morning routine or exercise, bath, and Bible time…as I surrendered to my normal day, I felt the weight lift. I forced my mind to entertain thoughts of our dreams and not our current perceived “stalemate”. I was winning the battle of the mind…perhaps, one of the greatest battles I face every day.
Thoughts. They make or break us. Our mind life consumes us in either a positive or negative way. There’s no avoiding it. We can’t simply get away from it. Our mind is with us all the time. We either decide to take every thought captive, or we don’t. We either decide to command our future by believing God’s best for us, or we don’t. We either perceive ourselves as victims or surrender to the victory we carry through Jesus. It’s so simple really.
Back to Jeremiah…
If anyone had a right to question whether he’d mis-heard God or not, it was Jeremiah. If anyone had the right to question God’s goodness in his life, it was Jeremiah. The weeping prophet.
This reminds me, yet again, that we cannot focus on the world’s standard. Our success is weighed heavenly, not earthly. Earthly success is temporary. Heavenly success is eternal. Giving in to the world today for a temporary pleasure or comfort, is a sorry exchange for something eternal.
Jeremiah had courage. He was questioned by kings, flogged by soldiers, and hated by many, but his heart remained steady…and I have no doubt he has received his heavenly reward. I’m sure he’d tell you it was all worth it, for now he is with God and receiving his heavenly reward.
The hatred of the masses doesn’t indicate wrongdoing. God is our judge. We are accountable to Him.
Oh, that every pastor, prophet, teacher, and evangelist would have the same courage as Jeremiah. Even when he knew what he said would land him back in prison, he stood firm on the word of God.
Let that sink in.
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:4-10
One day King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and had him brought to the third entrance of the Lord’s Temple. “I want to ask you something,” the king said. “And don’t try to hide the truth.” Jeremiah said, “If I tell you the truth, you will kill me. And if I give you advice, you won’t listen to me anyway.” Jeremiah 38:14-15
365 Days in the Presence 