From: October 7, 2024
“Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jeremiah 9:1 ESV).
The LORD had revealed the coming destruction of Jerusalem to the prophet Jeremiah. He had called Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah of God’s coming judgment. Yet, such a calling and such foreknowledge was nearly more than Jeremiah could bear. He was heart broken over his people’s sin and rebellion. His sorrow was so deep that he wished for an unlimited supply of tears that he “might weep day and night” for his people.
Yet, among his people, he was the only one weeping. The people continued going about their day to day tasks, as if no warning had been given. They scoffed at Jeremiah’s preaching and gathered to themselves false prophets who were saying, “‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace” (Jer. 8:11). To them, Jeremiah was just a gloomy, weeping prophet with nothing good to say.
However, there was one other who wept with Jeremiah. For Jeremiah’s tears came from the same source as his message, namely, the Lord. For the Lord was heartbroken over His people’s rebellion, which He called adultery because of their idolatrous ways. Jeremiah was surely feeling God’s grief just as he heard God’s words of wrath.
I wonder, who feels God’s grief for their people today? Who is weeping as Jeremiah did for the people of our cities, our nation, and our world to turn from their wicked ways, and turn to God through faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are overwhelmed by the sin and turmoil we see in our world today. We are overcome by the pain and suffering that surrounds us. We are tempted to withdraw and hide from it, hoping it doesn’t knock at our door. Yet You have called us to live as Your hands and feet in this world. You have moved us to pray and weep for the cities to which You have sent us. Strengthen us as You did Jeremiah to be faithful. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 7, 2023
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13 NLT).
Paul told the believers in Colossae to put off their old ways of thinking and behaving and to put on their new life in Christ. He spoke of these old and new ways as if they were articles of clothing. Among the new articles of spiritual clothing that believers received was forgiveness. Since they had received forgiveness from the Lord, they were to put it on and forgive others, just as the Lord had forgiven them.
Now as believers, we are able to put on the forgiveness of Christ, drawing on His mercy and grace to forgive. We put off hatred and revenge and put on love and forgiveness. No longer seeing ourselves as offended victims, but forgiven vessels, charged with God’s ministry of reconciliation. We are able to always forgive because we have been forgiven of all things. According to this new identity in Christ, we are able to forgive just as the Lord has forgiven us.
Where in your mind’s closet are you harboring the filthy clothing of unforgiveness? Towards whom are you hanging on to an offense? Put off your old resentments and put on God’s forgiveness today.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so thankful that You have forgiven us according to Your love and mercy. Because of Your great love, You have not only forgiven us, You have adopted us into Your family by Your grace. Now, we have been given the mind of Christ, so we are able to forgive others just as You have forgiven us. Help us to draw on Your love and forgiveness this day and to carry out Your ministry of reconciliation in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 7, 2022
DOES THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE YOUR HEART?
Paul said that we are to let the peace of Christ “rule.” The Greek word translated “rule” is “brabeuetō.” It literally means to “umpire, arbitrate, to let make the call.” When difficult circumstances come that bring anxiety, we are to let the peace of Christ act as our umpire, determining what’s in or out of bounds in our thinking. In this way, Christ filters how we respond to life’s challenges, so that we always walk in His peace.
This peace of Christ is available to us when we put on Christ, “clothing” (Col. 3:12) ourselves with His spiritual attributes, chief among which is love. When we begin to worry and fret, we can look to the peace of Christ as an umpire to help us examine our souls to see whether we are walking in the Spirit of Christ or in the flesh. For this peace is the mark of walking in the Spirit.
Remember what Jesus said when His disciples were worried and afraid that their boat would sink when a terrible storm came upon them? Jesus, who had been asleep in the stern of the boat, awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39).
Have you learned to let the peace of Christ say, “Peace! Be still!” to your stormy heart?
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the Spirit of Christ which always abides in us to rule over our hearts. We do not want to respond to the difficulties of this life in our own fleshly manner, but with the constant, over-ruling peace of Christ. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 7, 2016
Human wisdom, strength and riches are the criteria by which we judge success, they are the attributes we boast of and depend upon. Indeed, it is these three that shape societal pecking order. Yet, God warned that such fleshly boasts would not save Israel from the coming judgment. The three gods of human accomplishment would fail them. The most valuable boast (if one is to boast) is that we “understand and know” the Lord. This is the “boast” that saves. It is the currency that gives both entrance and status within the new and coming kingdom of heaven. For true and lasting wisdom, strength and riches are found in knowing God through Jesus Christ, His Son (Eph. 1:15-23). Let the one who boasts boast in Christ!
From: October 7, 2015
Paul said that we are to let the peace of God “rule.” The Greek word for rule is βραβευέτω, brabeuetō. It literally means to “umpire, arbitrate, to let make the call.” When our circumstances appear to overwhelm us, we are to let the peace, the shalom, of Christ act as our umpire, determining what’s in or out of bounds. Letting the peace of Christ umpire our hearts, we don’t let circumstances, nor fleshly emotion rule, we let Christ rule.