October 14- Two Baskets of Figs

October 14, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Jeremiah 23:21- 25:38; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17;
Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 25:15

Jeremiah 23:21-25:38

Apparently there have always been false prophets on the earth who claim to have a prophecy from the Lord.  Our readings in Jeremiah indicate that the Lord allows this to happen and yet He plans to punish the false prophets for leading the people astray.  How do you and I know if someone is a false prophet in our day?  It is relatively easy, if you know your Scriptures.  Any person claiming things that are not Biblical can be deemed a false prophet. The end of chapter 23 confirms that God intends to make false prophets objects of ridicule throughout the ages. 

In chapter 24 Jeremiah is given a vision that pertains to the Jews who have been exiled to Babylon.  In the vision, Jeremiah sees two baskets filled with figs.  One basket contains good figs.  The other is filled with rotten figs. God tells Jeremiah that the good figs represent the exiles sent to Babylon for their own good.  God intends to eventually send those people back to Jerusalem. He wants to eventually replant them in the land. The rotten figs represent King Zedekiah, who is acting as the Babylonian governor over Judah, his officials, all the people left in Jerusalem, and those who went down to Egypt to avoid the captivity. They will be punished.  This vision is a statement that although the captivity is a result of Israel's sin against God, God intends to use the captivity for a good purpose.  Chapter 25 will explain that purpose.

When God established the Mosaic law with regard to the land, He required that the land have a Sabbath rest every seven years.  For 490 years the Jews ignored God's law and did not honor the land's Sabbath rest.  For this reason, Jeremiah learns that the Jews will go into captivity for 70 years.  These represent the Sabbath rests that the land was denied in the peoples' rebellion against God.  God intended for the Sabbath to be a representation and illustration of Jesus Christ, who is our Sabbath rest. This picture was to be properly fulfilled in history.  The Babylonian Captivity meets God's requirements in that it punishes the people for their sins and allows the Promised Land to receive its rest from God.

After this Sabbath rest of the land is complete, the Babylonians will be punished for their harsh treatment of the Jews.  This prophecy really takes us into the future when God will judge the whole world for its sin. We see this illustrated with God's cup of wrath. The Lord will make every nation on earth drink from His cup of wrath over the sins of mankind at the Great Tribulation.  We see Jeremiah's progression of the nations who must drink from the cup.  It starts with Jerusalem and works outward to all people groups on earth. Remember that in the Bible God promises to save a remnant of people from every tribe, nation, and language on earth.  He will also punish people from every tribe, nation, and language on earth.  This prophecy from Jeremiah is about God's punishment of the peoples of the earth.

Verse 32 of chapter 25 indicates that disaster after disaster will befall nation upon nation.  If we fast forward to Chapter 14 of the book of Revelation, we get a glimpse of what Jeremiah was seeing.  There will be great slaughter and mayhem.  No one will wonder if they are part of the Great Tribulation.  There will be no doubt. We see that there will be evil shepherds on the earth who are misleading people in a false church system that has the trappings of religion, but no power from God. These leaders will be shattered like fragile pottery. Here is a picture of God as a fierce lion seeking His prey. This is the Lion of Judah. His anger will consume His enemies.

What do you think of God's spoiler alert about the future?  Do you realize that the Church has no need for this judgment and will not be present for the Great Tribulation?  What a comfort.  Those who love the Lord will be with Him during this mayhem. Do you love the Lord?  Will you be with Him?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

The Thessalonians are worried that they are stuck in the Great Tribulation.  This is because they are experiencing trials and tribulation due to persecution for their faith in Christ.  Today the Apostle Paul explains to them what the Great Tribulation/the Day of the Lord will be like and what must happen before this occurs.  Here is what Paul teaches:

• The Church (true believers) will be gathered together to meet Jesus. Vs. 1 (This was explained in Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians chapter 4).
• The Day of the Lord (which starts with the Great Tribulation) has not come as of the writing of this second letter to the Thessalonians. Paul is reassuring them of this. Vs. 2
• First, there will be a great rebellion against God.  The Greek word for this is apostasia.  This means departure or removal from.  This would indicate that the Rapture must occur before the man of lawlessness is revealed.  Vs. 3
• After the Rapture and an apostasy, which occurs in the remaining false church on earth, a man of lawlessness will be revealed.  This man will bring destruction.  We know him as the Antichrist. Vs. 3
• This man will exalt himself and defy God by tearing down all worship of any kind, other than worship of himself. Vs. 4
• He will position himself in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem and declare himself God. Vs. 4
• He will be revealed when his time comes on earth. Vs. 6
• Lawlessness that will culminate in the Antichrist is already at work in the world system.  Vs. 7
• There is someone who holds back the rebellion of man and the Antichrist on earth.  It is the Holy Spirit, who is removed from the earth when the True Church of Jesus Christ is removed at the Rapture, prior to the Day of the Lord/Great Tribulation. Vs. 7
• The Holy Spirit will step out of the way (at the Rapture) so that the man of lawlessness can be revealed. Vs. 7
• When Jesus comes to earth at His Second Coming, He will consume the Antichrist with the breath of His mouth/the Word of God the sword that comes from His mouth to defeat His enemies (see Revelation). Vs. 8
• The Antichrist does the work of Satan on earth through false miracles, signs, and power. Vs. 9
• He uses wicked deception to fool the people on the earth, who were already doomed for destruction anyway because of the unbelief. Vs. 10
• God sends the deception upon rebellious mankind through this lawless man. Vs. 11
• God then condemns them for their unbelief. Vs. 12

Paul thanks God that the Thessalonians will not experience this because they are first in salvation.  Part of being saved by Christ is avoiding this judgment that comes upon the earth. 

Are you thanking God because you will avoid this judgment?  Grace is a powerful gift.  God's grace saves us from certain destruction.

This is a dramatic story.  We are all part of His story.  Where do you fit in the story?

Psalm 84:1-12

How happy are those who live in your courts. A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!  Can I get an "Amen!" ?

Proverbs 25:15

Patience is a powerful tool.  Use it!

What did you notice as you read, today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 13- Judging The Leaders

October 13, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 22:1-23:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12;
Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 25;11-14


Jeremiah 22:1-23:20

The Bible indicates that God raises up leaders of nations and then holds them accountable for how they rule their nations.  As we have read through the Bible thus far, you have probably picked up on the fact that God is concerned about the poor, the widowed, and the orphaned.  Over and over again God speaks about His concern for those who are in need.  God calls each person of faith to find a way to help others.  God is aware that this world system is tilted towards helping the rich and slanted towards forgetting the extremely poor within society.  Have you noticed that multimillionaires often get away with hardly paying any taxes?  They give large contributions to the politicians and manage to have policies enacted that protect their wealth. These inequities do not go unnoticed by God.  Today, Jeremiah is given specific judgments against the kings in Judah who have been corrupt. 

Because they have violated their covenant with God, the Lord is telling the royal house of David that He intends to destroy the palace and city of Jerusalem.  The first king prophesied against is Jehoakim.  His father was good King Josiah, who found the Book of the Law as a boy king and rid the land of idols.  Unfortunately, his son did not follow his example.  Jehoakim is rebuked by the Lord for building his wealth on the backs of his people. "A beautiful palace does not make a great king."  Jehoakim is called greedy, selfish, and dishonest. In judgment, this king will be killed and buried like a dead donkey. He will be dragged out of the city in disgrace and dumped outside the gate.  No one will even care that he is dead.


The next king prophesied against is Jehoachin, also called Jeconiah.  The Lord simply calls him Coniah because "Je" indicates God and God wants nothing to do with this evil man. God plans to abandon Jehoachin and through Jeremiah, God tells Jehoachin that his life will amount to nothing.  No child of his will ever sit on the throne of David.  It should be noted that Jesus is a son of David through the line of Nathan.  Mary was a descendant of Nathan, not Solomon. Jehoachin is a descendant of King Solomon. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is going to expel this king and his mother from the land.  They will die in the foreign country of Babylon.

Jeremiah is told to speak about the fact that the sheep of Israel have been led astray by bad shepherds, but one day a Good Shepherd will be raised up to lead His people. This shepherd will be a Righteous Branch from the root of King David, who will rule on David's throne in Jerusalem.  He will do what is right and just throughout the land.  His name will be: The Lord is Our Righteousness.  In this future kingdom, the Israelites will no longer remember their rescue from Egypt through the Passover.  They will now focus on the rescue they have experienced from all over the earth to be brought back to the Promised Land of Israel.  This will occur in the end times.  Israel will be gathered back to the land and will endure the Great Tribulation prior to Christ's millennial reign on earth.  Please note that this prophecy of Jeremiah indicates that the Shepherd will gather back a remnant that He leads into the new millennial reign (Jer. 23:3).  This is a Biblical principle.  Remember, the gate is narrow that leads to life and only a few find it (Matt. 7:13-14).

Jeremiah staggers like a drunk man under the vision of the destruction of the priests and the false prophets. Their abuse of power will be judged by God.  Do you feel that our modern day pastors or televangelists who are living in luxury off of the gifts of poor believers will be judged by God?  They will.  And these false religious leaders were judged as well.

Here is the final statement, "The anger of the Lord will not diminish until it has finished all his plans. In the days to come, you will understand all this very clearly."  (Jeremiah 23:20)

You and I live in the day of grace when the offer to all of mankind is to come to Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness for sin.  One day the day of grace will end and the day of judgment will begin.  God is watching.  He is measuring each life.  His mercy, justice, holiness, and sovereignty are constant.  In the end His love dictates that justice must prevail.  The wicked will be punished.  This story in the Old Testament teaches us this truth.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

The second letter to the Thessalonians is designed to address questions that this church had as to whether or not they had missed being included in the Rapture of the Church. The Thessalonians were worried that they were actually stuck being part of the Great Tribulation.  This is because they were enduring great persecution as a church.  Many Christians have felt throughout the ages that they were experiencing the Great Tribulation because of war, famine, persecution, and hardships.  Paul lays out in this letter the teaching that there will be two signs before the start of the Great Tribulation.  The Day of Christ is the day of grace.  We are in the Day of Christ/Day of Grace on earth at this time. Included in the Day of Christ is the Rapture or catching up of the saints to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).  This event precedes the end of the Day of Christ and begins signs for the Day of the Lord.  The Day of Lord is a day that like the Jewish day in Scripture beginning with the Creation in Genesis, is a day that begins with evening.  Remember, the book of Genesis says "there was evening and morning...the first day." The great Day of the Lord begins with the "evening" of the Lord's judgment of the earth during the Great Tribulation, and the Day of the Lord ends with the "morning" of Christ's millennial reign on earth. Darkness precedes the light.  This is what the Apostle Paul will explain to the Thessalonians in this second letter.

At the beginning of this letter Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonians are enduring great persecution. They are being faithful in the hardships they are suffering. Paul states that they are being made worthy to be part of Jesus' upcoming Kingdom through this suffering and that God will judge their persecutors. The evil will receive everlasting destruction and eternal separation from God.

Paul prays that the Lord will be honored by the behavior of the Thessalonians, even in their suffering. This is only possible through God.

Do you realize that God uses your suffering for a variety of purposes, including making you worthy of His future Kingdom on earth?  Remember the Sermon on the Mount and consider Christ's words.

Psalm 83:1-18

The psalmist lists enemies that are plaguing Israel.  As we look back in history we see that God conquered this list of enemies.  He will conquer our foes, too!

Proverbs 25:11-14

"Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket."  Love that!!

What did you learn today?  Please share.

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton 

October 12- A Household Joke

October 12, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 19:1-21:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-28;
Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 25:9-10

Jeremiah 19:1-21:14

One way to discredit a political opponent is to make them a household joke.  This has been a tactic that has worked well in modern American politics.  In the 2008 elections the media attempted to discredit Sarah Palin who was running as the Vice Presidential candidate for the Republican Party.  Saturday Night Live did skits with Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin and many people in popular culture thought that Sarah Palin actually said many of the things that were said in the skits.  The comedy spoofs marginalized the candidate.  She became a household joke.  Recently at the White House Press Club dinner, a comedian ripped into Donald Trump, who at that time was considering running for president of the United States.  It was a test of whether of not Trump could handle the fire of ridicule. Ridicule is one of the sharpest weapons in the arsenal of people who want to diminish those in power.  We see in today's reading that Jeremiah is miserable because he has become a household joke in Judah.

As our reading begins the Lord has Jeremiah buy a clay pot and then has him take the leaders and priests of Jerusalem out to the Potsherd Gate.  This is the gate where broken pottery was discarded. You may not be surprised to learn that Jeremiah has a negative message for this group of important people.  Here is some of what the Lord has to say through him,

"They have filled this place with the blood of innocent children. They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing!"  Jeremiah 19:4-5

We have talked a lot about Baal and Asherah worship.  Baal was the pagan god who supposedly brought rain to the crops.  This agricultural society needed rain in order for the crops to grow and for food to feed the people.  The One True God is angry that the people are turning to false gods in their time of need.  He is even more angry that they would sacrifice their children in the fires of idols.  May I say that in our day and age many people are sacrificing their children on the altar of abortion for economic reasons.  This is equivalent to what is going on here.  Their children were being sacrificed for economic reasons.  This is abhorrent to God.  God is about to judge this behavior from the people of Judah.  God will also judge the nations in our day who sacrifice their children in abortion. 

Jeremiah smashes the clay jar that the Lord has told him to buy and declares that God is going to smash the people of Judah and Jerusalem beyond all hope of repair.  Judgment. God mentions that people go on their flat-roofed homes and burn incense to their star gods.  Do you consult horoscopes to determine your future?  That is similar to what these people were doing.

We learn that the priest in the Temple has Jeremiah arrested for publicly telling people that they are going to be judged with disaster from God. Jeremiah is whipped and put in the stocks.  Public humiliation is part of his lifestyle as a prophet.  Jeremiah is very depressed after he is released.  He is angry and depressed.  What Jeremiah describes almost sounds like what we would call Turrets Syndrome.  He says that he has become a household joke because his words burst forth violently with phrases like "Violence and Destruction!!!" He says that he shouts this. This has caused people to mock him. But Jeremiah admits that he cannot stop the behavior.  God's words burn in his heart like a fire until he spews them out of his mouth.  Lies and rumors about Jeremiah's demise are swirling around Jerusalem.

Jeremiah finds comfort in the fact that the Lord is like a great warrior next to him.  God is protecting Jeremiah.  God is delivering Jeremiah from his oppressors, but this does not stop Jeremiah from wishing he was never born.  Very similar to Job's misery and depression, Jeremiah moans for the scenario of dying in his mother's womb. He feels that his entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.  Here we have another picture of God allowing someone to be in a wilderness situation.  Jeremiah is in the desert emotionally.  He is weak, but God is strong.  He is poor in spirit.  Jesus promises in his Sermon on the Mount that the poor in spirit will inherit eternal life.

Jeremiah plainly tells King Zedekiah that Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is going to invade Jerusalem and cart away all of the riches collected by King David and King Solomon.  Remember that years ago King Hezekiah showed the delegation from Babylon all of Judah's storehouses of treasure when they came to see him after his recovery from a life threatening illness.  God had the prophet Isaiah prophesy at that time that Babylon would come and take the kingdom into captivity in the future.  Now God is fulfilling that prophecy.  Jeremiah gives the royal family one last chance to repent of their dishonesty and lack of faith.

Is God calling you to repent?  Are you experiencing a wilderness in your life?  God is strong when we are weak.  Do you feel that our nation has corporate sins like abortion that God will judge one day?

1 Thessalonians 5:-28

Paul calls the Thessalonians to be alert and sober.  Drunkenness and partying were part of the Greek culture in which the Thessalonians lived.  Paul is encouraging them to live differently.  Keeping in mind that the next phase of God's program for mankind would include Christ returning to earth to receive his Church, Paul wants the Thessalonians to live like people of the light.

Paul uses a military analogy, encouraging the Thessalonians to wear the body armor of faith and love and the helmet of salvation. This protects both our hearts and our minds. Our hearts must be covered in faith and love, and our minds are protected by the knowledge that we are saved from our sins. These truths make us able to fight against temptation and evil. We see this same illustration in Ephesians 6.

With this in mind, the believers in the church are to encourage one another.  We are to honor those who have become leaders in the church and live in peace with one another. The leaders are there to warn people who were lazy, encourage those who are timid in the faith, take care of the weak, and practice patience with everyone.

Wow.  That is a great list.  Are you able to work on these behaviors and attitudes? Do you encourage lazy people in the church to work, rather than take hand outs from people?  Do you help those who are truly weak through illness that has come upon them?  How about those who are weak emotionally?

We will be able to be used by the Lord if we do not stifle the Holy Spirit in our lives by evil behavior. God is the one who can keep us blameless until the day of the Lord's coming occurs.


Remember behavior matters.  Also, faith is seen in your obedience.

Psalm 82:1-8

God presides over heaven's courts.  Do you realize this?  One day justice will prevail.  We want God to rise up and judge because He rules the nations.

Proverbs 25:9-10

Be discreet when you have a disagreement with your neighbor.  Do not gossip about your problems with them. It could ruin your reputation, if you do gossip.

What are you learning as you read?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 11- Muddy Paths Of Sin

October 11, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 16:16-18:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3;
Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 25:6-8

They have stumbled off the ancient highways of good, and they walk the muddy paths of sin.
 ~Jeremiah 18:15

Jeremiah 16:16-18:23

Sometimes, as I read the book of Jeremiah, I feel as if I am watching a parent with a rebellious teen.  Most parents of rebellious teenagers spend many hours and much of their thought- life figuring out how to show the teen the error of their ways.  Every conversation turns into an opportunity to address the rebellion.  A laundry list of mistakes and their consequences haunt the relationship.  Turmoil and sorrow are mixed with disgust and anger from both sides.  Basically it gets tiring and uninspiring.  But a loving parent will stick with the situation and keep pressing in an attempt to get the teenager to repent.  God is still spelling out the reasons why He must punish Israel.  They are the rebellious teen.  God is the loving and relentless parent.  Jeremiah is the sad and persecuted prophet who speaks for God and we are the exhausted audience.

We begin today with God declaring that He sees every sin that Israel is committing.  Perhaps they have forgotten the God who created this universe. He knows all.  You cannot hide your sin from Him.  The thought of being able to deceive God is ridiculous. One thing enrages God is that rebellious Israel/Judah goes under every green tree to worship the goddess Asherah and participate in immoral sex as part of Asherah worship.  He's not happy about this. God warns that the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (vs. 9).  Who can really know it?  God can, that's who!

Jeremiah inserts some cries and laments for God to help him as he is persecuted.  There are plots against his life.  It is hard.  God has Jeremiah in a wilderness situation.  God cares for those who are in the wilderness.  He will care for Jeremiah.  That does not mean that this situation will be easy for Jeremiah.

God points out another rebellion.  The Israelites are buying and selling at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.  Remember that God instituted the Sabbath rest as a picture/illustration of the rest that we find in Christ. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Observing the Sabbath shows faith in the future Messiah.  They are to show faith by observing this law.  They are failing to show faith in Christ.

God explains that He is like a potter and we are like clay.  We are not steel, which is hard to shape.  We are malleable and are formed by the intimate touch of the Divine Artist.  Interestingly, when you actually look at the chemical composition of a human being, we are made of the same elements as clay.  God is being accurate in this description. God goes on to point out that He is in control of raising up nations and tearing them down. He is able to change His mind if a certain kingdom or nation repents of their sins.  God can prevent their demise if they repent.

In the final section of this passage Jeremiah explains that the people of Judah are spreading lies about him. They are plotting to kill him.  Jeremiah entreats God to punish his (Jeremiah's) enemies.

If God were to speak of his relationship with you would He call you a rebellious teen or an obedient child?

1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3

It should be no surprise after reading our passage in Jeremiah today that the Apostle Paul entreats the Thessalonians to refrain from sexual sin.  Part of showing faith in God is respecting the proper boundaries for sexual behavior.  Intimacy is designed to illustrate the intimacy we have with God.  It is designed to be enjoyed in the proper context, which is marriage.  Paul had to teach the pagan Gentiles, who had become believers, to begin to think differently about sex. To sleep with another Christian brother's wife was to reject not that brother, but God.

Paul encourages the Thessalonians to live a quiet life, working with their hands.  There was a problem with the Thessalonians goofing off and not working.  They had a tendency to be freeloaders.  Paul points out that this is not desirable behavior.

Next, Paul addresses a question about what happens to Christians who have died believing in Christ prior to His return to earth. This teaching is designed to prevent sorrow at the death of a believer. Here is the teaching:

• The first point is that when Jesus returns, He will be bringing with Him all of the Christians who have died before His coming.  Vs. 14  At this point, the Christians who have died and are with Jesus do not have their glorified bodies.
• The Lord will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call like that of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.  The commanding shout is like the shout that brought forth Lazarus.  The voice of an archangel is like the pronouncements when Christ was born the first time He came to earth. Remember, the trumpet call is always the start of God's movement on earth in some way. Vs. 16
• The dead in Christ will have their earthly bodies raised at this time to meet their souls/spirits. Vs. 16
• Those who are on the earth at His coming and are still alive will be caught up in the air to meet Him.  The word "caught up" in the Greek language is the word harpazo which means "rapture." These saints, who are alive at His coming, will not experience death, but will be transformed into their glorified bodies. Vs. 17
• This concept of being "caught up" to be with the Lord prior to His judgment of the earth is to be a comfort and encouragement to believers. Vs. 18

Please note that Christ does not come back to earth to set up His kingdom at this time.  Further explanation of this event will be thoroughly discussed when we study the book of Revelation. Paul is describing a time when the believers, who are alive at this time, are caught up to meet Christ in the air.  Dead bodies of believers who have died during the Church age are raised to meet Christ in the air. When Paul speaks of the imminent return of Christ he is not saying the immediate return of Christ.  He is indicating that the next phase of God's story will include believers being reunited with Christ prior to the judgment that will come upon the earth in the end times.

Paul encourages the Thessalonian believers to comfort and encourage one another with this concept of Christ's return for the Church before the earthly judgment of the Great Tribulation.  He wants this to be part of their conversation of faith. 

Is this part of your conversation of faith? Is this one of the things that makes you glad that you have been given the gift of faith in Christ?

Psalm 81:1-16

Here we have a psalm that shows what God will do if we will only follow Him.  He will free our hands from heavy tasks (like carrying our own sins) and relieve our shoulders of their burdens. He would feed us with the best food and satisfy us with honey from a rock.  That would help my sweet tooth!

We have to open our mouths wide to receive His good gifts.

Proverbs 25:6-8

Be a patient person.  Then, you won't make a fool of yourself.

What did you see as you read today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 10- As Uncertain As A Seasonal Brook

October 10, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 14:11-16:15; 1 Thessalonians 2;9-3:13;
Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 25:1-5

Jeremiah 14:11-16:15

When my children were little there was brook in a park near our home, where we would go on sunny afternoons.  The kids would pretend and play in the water, while I read a book on the shore.  Oh, what nice memories!  Sometimes in the Spring,we would have to be careful, because the creek would swell quickly with water if it had rained.  This brook was unpredictable in the Sprain.  Today, Jeremiah is complaining to God about his life situation.  He's wishing that he had never been born.  Have you ever been so discouraged and depressed that you wish that you were never born?

As our reading begins, God tells Jeremiah to stop praying for the people of Judah.  He is fed up with them and their punishment is coming.  The false prophets and prideful crowds will be punished with their own wickedness being poured out upon them.

Jeremiah is crying, again. His precious people are going to be destroyed.  His heart is reflecting God's heart.  Did you know that God's heart breaks when He has to discipline you?  If you have children, you know how difficult training and discipline can be.  It is exhausting and heartbreaking, especially if you have a really rebellious child.  God has a really rebellious child in the nation of Israel.  By the way, He has a really rebellious child in all of mankind, too.

Jeremiah questions whether God really hates Jerusalem and Judah so much as to allow this kind of suffering.  Do you feel God hates you when He allows trials in your life?  Jeremiah attempts to confess for the people. He pleads with God for forgiveness.

God responds in chapter 15 that even if Moses and Samuel were pleading for this group, He would not relent. Here is God's response in verse 2,

"Those who are destined for death, to death; those who are destined for war, to war; those who are destined for famine, to famine; those who are destined for captivity, to captivity."

God describes that He will send four kinds of destroyers-the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, the vultures to devour, and the wild animals to finish up what is left.  Here, we get a taste of what judgment looks like.  This is a motivator for humans to humble themselves and accept the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  God is serious about punishing sin. This is His raised, clenched fist.

Jeremiah is at his wits end.  He is having to stand alone with these negative messages.  He is sick of the sin of his people.  He wishes he was never born and he is tired of the suffering.  He accuses God of being unpredictable, as unpredictable as a Spring brook, but God responds to Jeremiah's complaints by encouraging Jeremiah to return to God so that God can restore him.

In chapter 16, Jeremiah is told by God that he should not marry or have children.  This is because it is a terrible time in Jerusalem.  Children born will die of disease, war, or famine.  Jeremiah has more reasons to be the weeping prophet.  His life is completely consumed by the people, the area, and the time in which he has been called to live.  His life is being lived during a period of God's story that is filled with strife.  Jeremiah is to stand apart from the crowd and not participate in their delusional feasts and parties.

God once again reminds Jeremiah that this rebellion will not last forever.  God will restore the Jews back to the land in the distant future.  One day, God's promises will be fulfilled and His chosen people will love and obey Him (vs. 15).

Does God seem whimsical to you?  Do you feel He is unpredictable?  He holds the future in His hands.  Even when the trials come, God is in control.

1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

We learn from this letter how Paul conducted his ministry.  When he went into a community, he kept on working as a tent maker.  It must have been quite challenging to work all day and then preach and teach all night.  Paul sends Timothy back to Thessalonica after he has left the city to make sure that the church is still meeting and people are still being faithful to what they have been taught. 

Timothy relays to Paul that they are still faithful and are even enduring suffering for the sake of Christ.  Those who believe in Jesus are being persecuted by their own countrymen.  Paul reminds them that this persecution follows a long tradition, with the prophets of God being killed by the Jews, and Jesus being killed by his own countrymen. Paul is also suffering. 

Paul admonishes them to love one another and to let their love overflow. As their spiritual father, Paul pleads with them to live lives worthy of their calling.

Are you living your life like one called by God?  Do you endure your trials with humility?  Do you cultivate love?

Psalm 80:1-19

"You have fed us with sorrow and made us drinks tears by the bucketfuls."  Have you ever felt this way?

Proverbs 25:1-5

Removing the dross from silver makes it ready to be used by the King.  Trials remove the dross.  Is this happening in your life?  Maybe God is preparing you to be used.

What are you learning?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 9- The Linen Belt

October 9, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 12:1-14:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-28;
Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 24:30-34

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, 
as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you.  
~C.S. Lewis

Jeremiah 12:1-14:10

When I was a young girl, my mother bought me a deep blue velvet dress.  It was my favorite dress and for a long time, I insisted on wearing it everyday. She would try to coax me into wearing something clean and fresh, but I would refuse. I was probably four years old. I don't know what ever happened to that little dress, but if it was in my possession right now, it would be deteriorating and showing signs of wearing out.  Today, God uses a deteriorating linen belt to show Jeremiah that He intends to wear out the pride of Judah.

As our reading begins, Jeremiah comes before the Lord to plead a case for justice.  He wants to know why the wicked seem to prosper on earth. They don't love God and yet they seem so happy. Jeremiah wishes that God would slaughter the hypocrites.  God warns Jeremiah that even his family has turned against him.  God also divulges that He intends to punish the hypocrites and rebels.

There is an interesting turn in verses 14-17 of chapter 12 where God explains that He will punish Judah, then punish the godless nation that He used to punish Judah, and then He will eventually draw Israel back to Himself and also draw people from all of the godless nations to Himself.  This is a peek into the future with God restoring His fellowship with all people groups on the earth.  Remember, this story is the story of a Creator reconciling Himself with His creation through His Son.

In chapter 13, God uses an illustration to teach a principle.  He tells Jeremiah to buy a linen belt and wear it.  He then tells Jeremiah to put the belt between some rocks on the shore of the Euphrates River.  Later, after some time has passed, Jeremiah is told to go retrieve the belt.  When he gets it, the belt is useless.  It is decayed and mildewed. God uses this physical picture to tell Jeremiah that He is going to rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem by having them go into captivity. 

God does not abide with pride.  This is a good lesson for you and me to learn.  We will see that this is a lesson that Job learns.  God is the person to be honored.  He is to be glorified.  Because of their pride and rebellion against God, Judah (the Southern Kingdom) is going to be humbled through captivity.  Are there situations in your life where God has had to humble you through life circumstances in order to get you to turn back to Him.  He is willing to let you suffer for a time in order to restore a relationship with you. 

Does pride rule your life or are you willing to be humble?  Does God have to wear you out to wear down your pride? What is the linen belt in your life that God is going to wear down?

1 Thessalonians 1:1-28

This is the first epistle written by the Apostle Paul in either 52 or 53 AD.  You will note that in his epistles to the Gentile churches, Paul is trying to make sure that these new believers have a good grasp of who Jesus Christ is.  This particular letter is filled with information about Christ's second coming.  Does it surprise you that people who have just become Christians are being taught doctrine about the end times?  Many churches today never teach about future events, as if the congregation cannot handle these deeper issues.  That is not how the Apostle Paul felt.  He wanted all pertinent information available to people who had trusted in the work of Christ. We will be looking at these teachings as we read the two wonderful letters to the people in Thessalonica.

This church was smack in the center of the Roman Empire.  It was fifty miles west of Philippi.  It was first called Therma, because there are hot springs in the area. This church was established on Paul's second missionary journey. Paul first went to Philippi and from there went to Thessalonica to form a church.  He was with them for approximately one month according to Acts 17. The letters to the Thessalonians are in response to questions that arose after Paul left to go to other cities.

One theme that runs through these letters is that Christ's return is imminent.  When certain Thessalonians died prior to Christ's return, questions arose as to their eternal destiny.  These questions are addressed in the epistles to the Thessalonians.

Paul mentions in his greeting that he and his companions pray for them and they think about how they are continually anticipating the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 2). Paul confirms that God chose them to be his people.  Remember, this is a Jewish man (from God's chosen people group) telling a group of Gentiles that they are God's chosen people, too. When the Thessalonians became Christians, it caused a great uproar and persecution broke out.  Paul was run out of town, as a result.  Paul mentions the suffering they (the Thessalonian church people) have endured and commends them for suffering for Christ. Their suffering is a testimony to all of Greece. Paul mentions that their faith in Christ's second coming is a witness to the world.

Being a person of pure motives is important to Paul.  He reminds the church that he did not pretend to be their friend so that they would give money to his ministry. Instead, he nurtured them like a mother nurtures her children. Not only did he give them Good News about Christ coming for the Gentile people of the world, he gave them a message that guarantees them eternal life!

Are you knowledgeable about the second coming of Christ?  Could you describe future events to a new believer?  Do you know ministries for Christ that just seem to be about finding ways to get your money?

Psalm 79:1-13

Here is a cry to God when enemies are being used to wear the pride out of you.  Here is the cry that God was trying to produce through the suffering!

Proverbs 24:30-34

Poverty pounces on lazy people.  Watch what happens with a little folding of the hands...

What did you notice as you read today?  Did you learn anything?  Please share.

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 8- A God That Cannot Speak Or Walk Is Not To Be Feared

October 8, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 10:1-11:23; Colossians 3:18-4:18;
Psalm 78:56-72; Proverbs 24:28-29

Jeremiah 10:1-11:23

Have you ever pondered how strange it is that people are willing to take a tree, carve it into an image, cover it with gold or silver and then worship the idol as if it truly had power?  Today God confronts Judah for being so stupid that they would try to figure out the future from a piece of carved wood.  He points out through Jeremiah that the wood has to be hammered and fastened just to stay in an upright position.  It cannot even stand up on its own, and yet people are willing to worship it. How can  people be so foolish to set their hearts on something that is not alive?  This shows the depravity of the human heart.  Our hearts are susceptible to deceit.  We can fool ourselves into believing nonsense. 

Today's passage contains God's own argument about why He, alone, is to be worshiped.  He is not dead.  He can speak and move throughout the universe that He created.  He has power and authority over all things.  This is the kind of God that Israel should respect and follow.  But, alas, they do not. 

Jeremiah prophesies that because of their foolish ways, Judah will be taken under siege.  Death and destruction await these people, and they will be taken into captivity by a mighty army.

God advises Jeremiah to stop weeping over these people.  Remember, Jeremiah is a prophet who carries a handkerchief, rather than a hammer.  His words are difficult, but he gives tough medicine with a tender heart.  God tells Jeremiah that their punishment is justified.  There is no need to weep. God also tells Jeremiah that some men from the town of Anathoth are plotting to kill him because of his prophesies.  Jeremiah is shocked by this and cries out to God to protect him from his enemies.

God comforts Jeremiah and promises to destroy these plotters.

Are you tempted to rely on things that are not alive to give you comfort and happiness?  What are your idols?

Colossians 1:1-17

Very similar to the letter to the Ephesian church, Paul instructs believers in Colosse on how to conduct their lives in a manner that will please God and reflect faith in Christ. Paul focuses on the family.  From  the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, the family unit provides the primary social construct for mankind.  It is where God represents His qualities through social interaction between a man and a woman. 

The Bible teaches that marriage between a man and a woman represents a physical representation of Christ and His Bride, the Church.  Paul reminds us that within this representation, the man represents Christ and is to love his bride sacrificially.  The wife represents the Church, who is obligated to submit to Christ.  Children are the fruit of the marriage.  They are to obey their parents.  This allows our lives to be living representations of God on earth.  This glorifies our Creator.

Our work attitude also reflects our faith in God.  We are to work cheerfully, as if we were working directly for the Lord. Paul reminds us that our attitudes matter.  God intends to reward behavior and attitudes.  They do not save us, but they do make a difference in eternity.  This life on earth is a training ground for a life in eternity, where we work and are assigned jobs according to how we lived our life of faith on earth.  Your behavior matters!!

How in the world are we supposed to be cheerful when our world is fallen and broken?  Paul encourages believers to pray with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Gratitude is a game changer for  any person. Our speech should be seasoned with wisdom. Conversations with non-believers should be gracious and effective.

Other fellow Christian workers are in Rome with the Apostle Paul including Dr. Luke, the author of Luke and the book of Acts.  Paul concludes this letter by asking them to share the letter with the church that meets in Laodicea.  Paul ministered and established the doctrines of Christ's church through his epistles to the churches he had established on his missionary trips.

Do you cherish and read these letters in order to grasp how to conduct your life in a manner that pleases God?  Do you have a teachable heart?

Psalm 78:56-72

This is a psalm about God punishing Israel for disobedience, but then providing a king in Israel.  This foreshadows God providing King Jesus to the world.

Proverbs 24:28-29

Do not be deceitful and backbiting to neighbors.  That is ungodly behavior.  Mean girls mentality does not fly with God. If you are trying to plot to get revenge on someone who has hurt you, you need to stop and repent.

What did you notice as you read today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton