Why it Matters - Self-Examination

Readings for today: Lamentations 3:37-5:22

One of the blessings of suffering is an opportunity for self-examination. A chance to reflect and consider the ways I may have contributed to the pain I am experiencing. It’s all too easy to blame others when we suffer. I think of a conversation I had recently with a young person who was talking about the trauma they experienced in high school. I have no doubt it was hard. I have no doubt they were bullied at times. I have no doubt they didn’t always get the support they needed. However, as I pointed out to them, they too bear some responsibility for the pain they experienced. They skipped class. They refused to listen to their teachers. They ignored their parents. All these things contributed to what they suffered. The same is often true when I counsel couples who are struggling in their marriage. It is extremely rare that only one spouse is at fault. Usually there is blame to go around. The same was often true when I counseled inmates in prison. Yes, there are variety of social factors that may have contributed to their criminal activity but they also bear responsibility for what they have done.

It’s why I find the honesty in Lamentations refreshing. Jeremiah, the author of the book, doesn’t just blame God. He doesn’t just blame the Babylonians. He doesn’t just blame the kings of his nation. He recognizes all of God’s people are to blame on some level for the ways they contributed to their own destruction. “Why should any living person complain when punished for their sins?” (Lamentations 3:39 NET) He openly acknowledges the rebellion of God’s people against the Lord which is why he calls for self-examination in the midst of all their suffering. “Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hand to the God in heaven.” (Lamentations 3:40-41 NET) Jeremiah knows God is faithful. He knows God is merciful. He knows God is compassionate. Because he knows this about God, he is confident that when he calls on God in prayer, He will answer. “I have called on your name, O Lord, from the deepest pit. You have heard my plea: Do not close your ears to my cry for relief! You came near on the day I called to you; you said, Do not fear! O Lord, you championed my cause, you redeemed my life.” (Lamentations 3:55-58 NET) Jeremiah knows if we repent and turn to God, He will draw us into His loving embrace once again.

Repentance requires honest self-examination. It requires humble acknowledgement of all the ways we have sinned. It requires us to take responsibility for our failures rather than try to shift the blame to someone else. It’s why the discipline of regular self-examination has always been a pillar of the Christian life. I think of the Jesuits who practice the “Daily Examen.” A rigorous process of self-examination where they ruthlessly cut through all the lies we tell ourselves to get to the heart of whether or not their thoughts, words, deeds, and desires have honored God. There are many other methods as well. The point is to remain as honest and humble before God as possible so we can grow in the likeness of Christ even when we are experiencing pain and suffering.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 1-4

Why it Matters - Lament

Readings for today: Lamentations 1:1-3:36

We’ve lost the ability to lament in our culture. The ability to sit in our pain. Embrace hardship and suffering. Honestly grapple with our fears and failures. I remember officiating a funeral years ago. A young woman had been tragically killed in a murder suicide. Hey ex-boyfriend had kidnapped her and taken her to the western slope where he shot her and then turned the gun on himself. She left a six year old son behind. At the funeral, all anyone could talk about was her partying. They made light of her alcoholic and drug-addicted lifestyle. They pretended like she was a wonderful mom when by all accounts, she had neglected her son. As the pastor, it was my job to close the service with words of hope. They were hard to find. I can still see that young boy sitting by his grandmother in the front row. I focused on him. I treated the time as if he and I were the only two people in the room. I told him what happened was a tragedy. I told him it was okay to cry. Okay to feel pain. Okay to grieve. I told him his mom wasn’t perfect and she made some tragic choices in her life and it was okay to feel angry about them. Most of all, I told him it was okay to bring all those emotions to God. To be honest and real with God. To let God know how he was feeling and I told him God would meet him there. I have no idea how much of it stuck. The boy was six years old after all. But the message definitely landed with many others who attended. They were thankful someone had the courage to deal with the reality of what happened rather than pretend. I can’t tell you how many funerals over the years that I’ve officiated at where I’ve had to do something similar. We just don’t know what to do with pain. We don’t know how to honestly grieve. We don’t know how to lament.

The Book of Lamentations is not easy. Mainly because we’re so uncomfortable with the idea of lament. It’s not something we practice. It’s not something we accept in society. We much prefer rage. We much prefer bitterness. We much prefer self-righteousness. We much prefer numbness which is why we seem to have a pill for every pain a person can possibly experience. Jeremiah, however, is not afraid of lament. He is not afraid to get honest and real and raw with God. Listen to his words again from Lamentations 3:1-9 NET, “I am the man who has experienced affliction from the rod of his wrath. He drove me into captivity and made me walk in darkness and not light. He repeatedly attacks me, he turns his hand against me all day long. He has made my mortal skin waste away; he has broken my bones. He has besieged and surrounded me with bitter hardship. He has made me reside in deepest darkness like those who died long ago. He has walled me in so that I cannot get out; he has weighted me down with heavy prison chains. Also, when I cry out desperately for help, he has shut out my prayer. He has blocked every road I take with a wall of hewn stones; he has made every path impassable.” Jeremiah is talking about God. He is talking to God about his pain and suffering and he is not afraid to blame God for making it all happen. He knows God will hear his prayers. He knows God already knows how he feels. And he trusts God even with the depths of his despair. But he doesn’t end there.

Biblical lament doesn’t just plumb the depths of pain and suffering, it also offers hope. After we’ve honestly grappled with all that has happened to us. After we’ve wrestled honestly with why it has happened and our part in bringing it about. Our hearts turn to hope. Not in us. Not in a turn of fortune. Not in a second chance. But hope in God. “The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him. The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.” (Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭27‬ ‭NET‬‬) Lament always turns us back to hope and that’s why it’s a critical spiritual discipline. It lifts our eyes heavenward even in the midst of our pain. It reminds us God is still good, still on the throne, and still in the business of deliverance.

Readings for tomorrow: Lamentations 3:37-5:22

Why it Matters - Suffering

Readings for today: Jeremiah 51, Psalms 137

Today’s reading is a gut-wrenching one. It is a song sung from the perspective of those recently exiled to Babylon. Force-marched over 900 miles, they arrive at the Euphrates. Held captive and enslaved, they have lost all hope. They had just witnessed the destruction of their entire way of life. They come to the waters of Babylon and they sit and they weep. Their cries fill the air. They share their memories of better days when they walked the streets of Zion. They are so heartbroken, they long to hang up their instruments and sing no more but their captors force them. Adding insult to injury, they mock them saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” Sing us one of the songs of deliverance. Tell us stories about the God who abandoned you in your hour of greatest need. It is an incredibly heartbreaking scene. 

It reminds me of so many conversations I’ve had with different people from around the world who’ve undergone similar suffering. North Korean refugees. Survivors of genocide in Rwanda. Victims of starvation in South Sudan. Those who escaped child slavery in the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. The persecuted in Ethiopia or China. Their stories bring tears to your eyes. Their raw emotion is moving. And perhaps the most amazing part about it all is their miraculous capacity to forgive.

Psalm 137 doesn’t end with forgiveness. Quite the opposite. It ends with a terrible request, “O daughter Babylon, soon to be devastated! How blessed will be the one who repays you for what you dished out to us! How blessed will be the one who grabs your babies and smashes them on a rock!” (Psalms‬ ‭137‬:‭8‬-‭9‬‬ NET) It is horrifying and yet it is as honest and real as it gets. By including it in the canon of Scripture, God is not promising to answer such prayers as much as letting us know He listens to them. No matter how dark our prayers become. No matter how angry we get. Even if we lace our prayers with profanity and frustration. God hears them. God welcomes them. God is a big boy and can handle all we can throw at Him. He is not afraid to get down into the muck and mire. He’s not afraid to dig through the manure pile that our lives can become. He is with us in the midst of the deepest heartaches and terrible tragedies. It doesn’t matter whether we find ourselves in Jerusalem or Babylon. At home or in exile. Feeling blessed or cursed. God is there. We can talk to Him. We can share our deepest thoughts and emotions with Him. We don’t need to be ashamed. We don’t need to hide. He is our Father and He understands our fears. 

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Champion

Readings for today: Jeremiah 49-50

There is nothing like knowing God is on your side. With God as your champion, you can endure every hardship. You can overcome every obstacle. You can persevere through every trial. With God as your champion, the battle is already won. The power of sin is already broken. The defeat of evil has already been accomplished. With God as your champion, no weapon that is formed against you can stand. No scheme of the enemy can prevail. No attack against you will succeed. God is your strength. God is your redeemer. God is your protector. God is the strong warrior who stands at your side.

Consider all Jeremiah has gone through in his life. He has been to the mountaintop and he has lived in the valley of deep shadow and despair. He has been imprisoned. He has been beaten. He has been ostracized by society. He has been persecuted in so many ways. But as he watches his beloved city fall and his beloved people get carried off into exile, he is preserved. God protects him. God keeps him safe. Not only that but God gives him a promise. One day, the Babylonians will fall. One day, they too will be overcome. One day, the Lord will bring His judgment against them and deliver His people yet again. Why? God is faithful. He is faithful to His promises. He is faithful to His covenant. He loves Israel with an everlasting love. And He loves us the same.

How do I know the God of Israel stands at my side? Jesus Christ. He literally came to earth to be with me. To show me the lengths He is willing to go to save me. Like Jeremiah, Jesus spoke the truth. Like Jeremiah, Jesus was beaten. Jesus was betrayed. Jesus was imprisoned. But unlike Jeremiah, Jesus was not saved. He went to His death in accordance with God’s perfect plan. He laid down His life in order that we might be redeemed. Listen again to how Jeremiah describes it and rejoice in God’s faithfulness to you and to His people…

“The Lord who rules over all says, “The people of Israel are oppressed. So too are the people of Judah. All those who took them captive are holding them prisoners. They refuse to set them free. But the one who will rescue them is strong. He is known as the Lord who rules over all. He will strongly champion their cause. As a result he will bring peace and rest to the earth, but trouble and turmoil to the people who inhabit Babylonia.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭50‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 51, Psalms 137

Why it Matters - Blessed

Readings for today: Jeremiah 45-48

Sometimes I wonder why God is interested in my life. Of all the billions of people who live or who have ever lived on this earth, why in the world would God take time for me? I’m not all that important. I’m not all that significant. My life is pretty mundane as a general rule. I get up. Brush my teeth. Take a shower. Go to work. Come home. Eat dinner. Spend time with my family. Watch a show or read a good book. God has a cosmos to run. He has a universe to rule. He’s got nations to raise up and take down. Why would He take an interest in me?

Then I read this Word today for Baruch in Jeremiah 45. In the middle of one of the major prophetic books of the Bible which details the future empires and nations, God takes time out to address Baruch. Jeremiah’s scribe. His secretary. A man who barely makes a blip on the radar screen. We don’t know much about Baruch other than he was devoted to Jeremiah. He served as his scribe. His disciple. His faithful friend. He sticks with Jeremiah through thick and thin. Through all the ups and downs. He must have loved Jeremiah very much to share in his sufferings. According to Josephus, an ancient Jewish historian, Baruch was a member of the Jewish aristocracy. A chamberlain in King Zedekiah’s court. He was clearly a courageous man as he often acted as Jeremiah’s messenger and mouthpiece. He risked all kinds of danger to make known the Word of God. And God recognized his efforts.

“The Lord God of Israel has a message for you, Baruch. ‘You have said, “I feel so hopeless! For the Lord has added sorrow to my suffering. I am worn out from groaning. I can’t find any rest.”’ The Lord told Jeremiah, “Tell Baruch, ‘The Lord says, “I am about to tear down what I have built and to uproot what I have planted. I will do this throughout the whole earth. Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for such things. For I, the Lord, affirm that I am about to bring disaster on all humanity. But I will allow you to escape with your life wherever you go.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭45‬:‭2‬-‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬‬‬) Baruch clearly went through times of depression. Times of deep discouragement. I am sure he despaired as he looked around at what was happening to his country. But God was faithful. He let Baruch know how and why these things would come to pass but also promised to preserve his life. No matter where Baruch went, God would be with him. He would protect him and provide for him. He would be blessed. (By the way, Baruch literally means “blessed” in Hebrew.)

What about you? How are you feeling as you survey the landscape of our nation today? What emotions rise up in your heart as you watch the news or scroll through social media? Have you found yourself - like Baruch - crying out to God saying, “These are bad times for me! It’s one thing after another. God is piling on the pain. I’m worn out and there’s no end in sight.” I know my own feelings of despair as I consider the mountain of gospel work that must be done in my church family, in my community, in our nation, and around the world. It is daunting to say the least! I believe God is breaking down what He has built and plucking up what He has planted in order to draw the world to Himself. In the midst of all that is happening, do I trust God to be faithful? To protect and preserve my life for as long as He wills? Do I trust God to be with me as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death? Am I willing to put the work in to be a blessing even if that means confronting the powers and principalities of our own world just as Baruch confronted the powers and principalities in his?

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 49-50

Why it Matters - Comfort

Readings for today: Obadiah 1, Psalms 82-83

When my oldest daughter was in high school, her swim coach constantly told her she needed to “get comfortable being uncomfortable.” Her point was that swimming was not easy. It engaged every muscle in the body. The water provided resistance at every point. And if my daughter was going to swim the 500 (!!!), she would need to become comfortable feeling exhausted and pushing through. Leaving everything in the pool. As a former athlete myself, I loved it. I loved watching my daughter fight her way to every finish line and she still swims competitively to this day.

Human beings seem to crave comfort. We like comfort food. We like comfortable beds. We keep our homes at a comfortable temperature. All of that depends on where one lives, of course, and the access to the right resources. But even in societies that are not wealthy, there is still a desire for comfort. The same was true in the ancient world. Listen to the words of the prophet Obadiah as he describes Edom and her pride. “Your presumptuous heart has deceived you – you who reside in the safety of the rocky cliffs, whose home is high in the mountains. You think to yourself, ‘No one can bring me down to the ground!’ Even if you were to soar high like an eagle, even if you were to make your nest among the stars, I can bring you down even from there!” says the Lord.” (Obadiah‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NET‬‬) Edom stood by as her ancient ancestral neighbor fell. You may remember that Esau and Jacob were brothers. Edom and Israel were their direct descendants. So when Edom rejoices over Jerusalem’s destruction and even participates in the looting, God is offended by the betrayal. Edom falsely believed she was safe and secure. She believed her geography would protect her. She believed her mountainous terrain was impregnable. Perhaps she even thought she could take advantage of Judah’s misfortune by expanding her territory. But the judgment of God was approaching and what they had done to Judah would be done to them. Their destruction would be so complete, they would disappear from history.

Presumption. Comfort. Taking God’s grace and blessings for granted. Assuming life will always be up and to the right. These are common temptations we can fall into if we are not careful. God has a greater goal for our lives than our personal comfort. He has a greater purpose for our lives than safety and security. God isn’t interested in making us happy so much as making us like Jesus. And that requires denying oneself and picking up a cross. The very definition of discomfort! So get comfortable being uncomfortable especially if you want to follow Jesus!

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 45-48

Why it Matters - Hope

Readings for today: Jeremiah 41-44

There is nothing worse than losing hope. It depletes our strength. It saps us of all motivation. It drives us to despair. I have sat with so many over the years who’ve lost hope. It could be a medical condition like cancer or Alzheimer’s or ALS. It could be a business loss or a job loss or some other financial disaster. It could be a broken marriage or a broken relationship with a child or parent. It could be a general feeling of hopelessness when one looks at the world around them. Human beings don’t deal with the loss of hope well. We tend to turn to self-destructive behaviors.

Another thing I’ve found is that hope is only as good as the object on which it rests. The reality is what a lot of people call hope is actually nothing more than wishful thinking. I think of the parents who spend thousands of dollars “hoping” their kid gets a scholarship to play sports in college even though only about 7% of high school athletes actually achieve this distinction. I think of the businessman or woman who leverages all they have, “hoping” to score the big deal or hit on the latest “get rich quick” scheme. I think of the many people I know who “hope” they’ve been good enough for God to let them into heaven. It’s all a roll of the dice and that’s not hope. Not in the biblical sense at least.

Jeremiah understood the difference between hope and wishful thinking which is why he called God’s people to place their hope in the Lord. He knew going to Egypt was a roll of the dice. He knew there was little chance they could stand against the power of Babylon. Furthermore, the Lord had revealed the future to him. He knew what would happen if the people fled to Egypt. Babylon would pursue them there and Nebuchadnezzar would set up his throne in the very place where they sought refuge. As always, the people had a choice. Place their hope in God or trust their own instincts for self-preservation. Listen to how God puts it to them yet again in our passage today. It’s a remarkable statement of mercy and grace to a people who had done nothing to deserve it. “If you will just stay in this land, I will build you up. I will not tear you down. I will firmly plant you. I will not uproot you. For I am filled with sorrow because of the disaster that I have brought on you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him because I will be with you to save you and to rescue you from his power. I, the Lord, affirm it! I will have compassion on you so that he in turn will have mercy on you and allow you to return to your land.’” (Jeremiah‬ ‭42‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬)

I am with you to save you. I am with you to rescue you. I will grant you compassion. I will ensure your return to the Promised Land. As crazy as it sounds, this is not wishful thinking because it comes as a declaration from God Himself. A statement of fact about the future. And God is always true to His promises. I love how Romans 4:21 describes faith as “being fully convinced God is able to do what He’s promised.” This is the faith that was credited to Abraham as righteousness and it is the faith that is credited to us as well if we place our hope in God.

Readings for tomorrow: Obadiah 1, Psalms 82, 83

Why it Matters - The End

Readings for today: 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36:1-21, Jeremiah 52

There does come an end to God’s patience. A point at which God simply withdraws His protective hand and turns us over to the consequences for our sinful decisions. I’ve seen it happen over and over again in people’s lives. They come to me at the end of their rope. Their life in tatters. The cascading consequences of their decisions an overwhelming flood. They are finally broken. They’ve hit rock bottom. God has brought them to the end of themselves and their resources and they have nowhere left to turn. As I listen to their stories, I often see where God gave them opportunity after opportunity to turn from their sin. To make godly decisions. To make good choices. Instead, they kept trying to do things their own way. It never works out. Our sin always catches up to us. It creates anxiety and fear. It creates addiction and compulsive behaviors. It results in all kinds of brokenness and heartbreak and pain.

What happens to us individually can also happen to us corporately. The end of the southern kingdom of Judah is a perfect illustration. For generations, God allowed the sins of His people to stack up. He offered them mercy and showed them kindness but they repaid Him with rebellion. They refused to listen to His commands. They refused to worship God as He deserved. Their nation became corrupt and oppressive, full of injustice, violence, and greed. God did His best to warn them. He sent them prophet after prophet. He spoke to king after king. But their downward spiral could not be arrested. Finally, God had had enough. “The Lord God of their ancestors continually warned them through his messengers, for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his warnings, and ridiculed his prophets. Finally the Lord got very angry at his people and there was no one who could prevent his judgment.” (‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭36‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬) What a statement! There was no one who could prevent His judgment. No one righteous enough to stand in the gap like Moses once did. No one godly enough to fall on his knees and intercede as Samuel and Elijah once did. No one humble enough to lead God’s people back to the Lord as Hezekiah and Josiah once did. So God simply stepped back. He withdrew His hand. The Babylonians came in. Destroyed the city. Massacred the people. Executed the kings family in front of his eyes and then blinded him so it would be the last thing he would ever see.

If you are like me, you have loved ones who are lost. Loved ones who do not know God. Loved ones living in rebellion against God. It’s heartbreaking to watch. You know it won’t end well. You know they are inviting all kinds of pain and suffering into their life. And you may, like me, feel so helpless to prevent it. Here’s the reality. You are. We can’t make decisions for anyone but ourselves. At the same time, we can pray for them. We can wait on God to reveal Himself to them. And we can ask God to make us an instrument of His grace and peace and love in their lives so that when they do finally fall, they might turn to us for help. This is certainly my prayer for those I love in my own family and those I serve in our church family. Make it your prayer as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 41-44

Why it Matters - Connection

Readings for today: Jeremiah 38-40, Psalms 74, 79

Years ago, I read a book that talked about the impact of losing our connection to a particular place and a particular people. Go back a few generations in America and most people spent their entire lives living in one community. They farmed together. They ranched together. They worshipped together. They built businesses together. They built towns and cities all over our country. They took care of each other. They looked out for each other. They celebrated together over every new birth. They wept together over every death. Their families could trace their histories in this one place among this particular group of people and it gave them a collective sense of identity. It was powerful and it grounded them. Sadly, we’ve lost this connection in our modern world and it’s why so many struggle to find their way. They don’t know who they are or where they’ve come from. Their collective memories have faded and their sense of shared identity is gone.

Jeremiah understood his connection. Despite the fact that he spent his entire prophetic career prophesying the downfall of Jerusalem and the judgment of God on his countrymen, he could not abandon them. Despite the fact that he was offered a privileged place in Babylon, he refused to leave the Promised Land. He knew his place. He knew his people. He knew his community so he settles in Mizpah among the refugees. He lives among the poorest of the poor who were left in the land. “So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived there with him. He stayed there to live among the people who had been left in the land of Judah.” (Jeremiah 40:6 NET) It’s a powerful testimony. Jeremiah chooses to live among the ruins rather than the beautiful palaces and gardens of Babylon. He chooses to live among the poor rather than the rich. He chooses to live among the powerless rather than the powerful. He places himself at risk rather than seek safety. All because of his deep connection to God, to the Land, and to God’s chosen people.

As Christians, we are also called to connection. Connection with God. Connection with God’s Kingdom. Connection with God’s people. These connections give us a sense of shared identity and purpose. They ground us in a world that is often shaken. They provide a sense of certainty and safety in an often uncertain and unsafe world. But all too often, we forget these connections or we prioritize our own needs, wants, and desires above them. We allow them to fray, choosing to chase wealth or influence or power or success rather than remain grounded in what is true and real and deep and most important. The results are not good. For when our strength is spent and our wealth is gone and the world passes us by and our influence fades, what are we left with? Without these deep connections, we are lost. It’s why it’s so important to spend time with God every day. Worship God with His people every week. Cultivate a small group of Christian friends to do life with. This is how we build and maintain our connections to God and each other in the world today.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Covenant

Readings for today: Jeremiah 33-37

“But I, the Lord, make the following promise: I have made a covenant governing the coming of day and night. I have established the fixed laws governing heaven and earth. Just as surely as I have done this, so surely will I never reject the descendants of Jacob. Nor will I ever refuse to choose one of my servant David’s descendants to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, I will restore them and show mercy to them.” (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭33‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NET‬‬)

I needed these words today. Recently, I’ve been asked to carry some significant burdens for people I love. A friend from high school who lost his daughter tragically and unexpectedly. Another dear friend who received a potentially terminal diagnosis. A couple of young people I know well hospitalized with suicidal ideation. Several other young people I know and love who are struggling with their identities. So many I care about who are lost and wandering and desperately need the hope of the gospel. It’s overwhelming. For the first time in decades, all I wanted to do was pull the covers back over my head and take the day off.

Thankfully, I’ve been at this long enough to know hiding won’t help. Instead, I opened God’s Word and the above verses from Jeremiah literally jumped off the page. I immediately felt the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit reminding me I am simply seeing a snapshot of life, not the whole picture. He reminded me He is at work and He is faithful. As long as the sun rises and sets and laws governing the universe remain fixed, God will keep His covenant. He will never leave us. Never abandon us. Never refuse us. Never reject us. He loves us and He promises to restore us. This is good news to my friend who lost his daughter. Though she was not pursuing Christ, she was baptized. She believed. And she is with God. It’s good news for my friend who received a terminal diagnosis. He believes. In fact, He’s one of the strongest believers I know. He trusts God and he knows this life is not the end. There is no such thing as a “terminal diagnosis” when we know Jesus. It’s good news for the young people I know struggling with suicide. They can find hope again. Hope because they are not alone. God is with them in the hospital. He was with them through the 72 hour hold. He will remain with them every step of the way, fulfilling His promise to bring healing if they will turn to Him and accept help. It is good news for the other dear ones in my life struggling with their sexuality and identity. For they are fearfully and wonderfully made. Created by God. Shaped and fashioned by His hands in their mother’s wombs. And though they may have forgotten who they are for now, God never forgets and He is even now reaching out to them.

It’s good news for me. Good news for a broken man who is trying to follow Jesus. Good news for a man who isn’t strong enough to carry this load. God is with me. Christ indwells me. The Holy Spirit fills me. And as I turn to Him in my grief and heartbreak and pain, He will comfort. As long as the sun rises and sets. As long as there is morning and evening. As long as the universe endures. God is faithful. God will fulfill His covenant promises. I am not in this alone. Thanks be to Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 38-40, Psalms 74, 79

Why it Matters - God’s Plan

Readings for today: Jeremiah 29-32

God’s anger lasts but a moment but His favor for a lifetime. God abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness even as He is committed to holding the guilty accountable. Though His judgment extends to the third and fourth generations, His grace far exceeds it, extending to a thousand generations. This is who God is. This is who God has revealed Himself to be. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He always stays true to Himself.

The people of Israel learned this lesson. They refused to turn from their sin and they were judged. God exiled them to Babylon. They became a strange people living in a strange land, weeping as they sang the songs of Zion. They were uprooted from the Promised Land. They lost their Holy Temple. Their entire way of life was destroyed. Their covenant with God seemingly irretrievably broken. So what now? “Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and allow your daughters get married so that they too can have sons and daughters. Grow in number; do not dwindle away. Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.’ “For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘Do not let the prophets or those among you who claim to be able to predict the future by divination deceive you. And do not pay any attention to the dreams that you are encouraging them to dream. They are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so. But I did not send them. I, the Lord, affirm it!’ “For the Lord says, ‘Only when the seventy years of Babylonian rule are over will I again take up consideration for you. Then I will fulfill my gracious promise to you and restore you to your homeland. For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,’ says the Lord. ‘Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’” (Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭5‬-‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Do we have the faith to believe these words are as much for us as they were for the people of God in Jeremiah’s day? Do we trust God enough to let go of our ego, let go of our need for control, let go of our need for power and let Him direct our paths? Do we have the courage to live the quiet life? Go about our daily business? Build homes? Plant gardens? Marry and have children? Bless our town? Pray for our community’s leaders? Let God work out His plan in His way according to His timing? This is the essence of faith. It’s living our lives with complete trust in God’s sovereign plan and, more importantly, God’s unchangeable character. God is trustworthy. God is true. God is dependable. God is loyal. God is faithful. God is good. Because of all these things and more, we have nothing to fear. Because of all these things and more, we can cast all our anxieties on Him. Because of all these things and more, we don’t have to push so hard or hold on so tight. God is in control. God knows what He’s doing. God has a plan. He will bring it to pass. He has not abandoned you. He has plans to take care of you. He will give you the future you hope for if you surrender to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 33-37

Why it Matters - Reality

Readings for today: Jeremiah 25-28

We talk about it all the time in my home…the school of hard knocks. Reality being the best and most effective teacher. As each of my children has grown up, we have done our best to teach them and instruct them in the ways of the Lord. We’ve done our best to help them understand the consequences - good or bad - of the choices they make. We’ve done our best to come alongside them when they stumble and fall. But at the end of the day, each of them in their own way has had to figure some things out on their own. They’ve had to come face to face with reality and learn that the world is not very accommodating. When I take a step back, it’s a fascinating process to watch unfold. I’ve gone from being the smartest person they know when they are young to the dumbest person they know when they are teenagers back to pretty smart again when they get into their early twenties. Through it all, my wife and I’ve learned to be patient. To wait on the Lord. To wait on our children. To let them go through hard experiences and learn difficult lessons so that they will be better for it in the long run. Does it mean crying a lot of tears? Yes. Does it mean dealing with the anxieties and fears that come with parenting? Absolutely. Is it hard to watch your children go through suffering? Without a doubt. It continually keeps us on our knees before the Lord, hoping our children will relent and see the light and return to Him. Thankfully, all of them are on that journey and because we’ve loved them well, we get to be part of it.

Now step back and try to put yourself in God’s position. For generations, He has been reaching out to His people. He has sent them prophets and preachers. He has performed miracle after miracle. He has given them His Word and provided for them a Land. He has done all these things out of love but they have rejected Him. “Over and over again the Lord has sent his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention. He said through them, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and stop doing the evil things you are doing. If you do, I will allow you to continue to live here in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors as a lasting possession. Do not pay allegiance to other gods and worship and serve them. Do not make me angry by the things that you do. Then I will not cause you any harm.’ So, now the Lord says, ‘You have not listened to me. But you have made me angry by the things that you have done. Thus you have brought harm on yourselves.’” (Jeremiah‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NET‬‬) The natural consequence of the people’s rejection of God is judgment. God will send Babylon against His people and all the surrounding nations. None shall escape. The whole land will become a ruin and a waste. And lest we think God is being too harsh here, God makes it clear that His judgment is righteous and just and good.

Human beings have never truly grasped the depths of their sin. We have never truly understood the depths of our depravity. We were given authority and dominion by God at the beginning of time but have made a complete mess of things. We want to be like God but we reign like a tyrant over a world that is suffering and tormented. We are selfish and greedy. We treat the earth like a disposable resource. We dismiss or ignore other human beings made in the image of God simply because they look different or act different or speak different or spend money different or vote different. And yet, God still loves us. God still reaches out to us. God is still patient with us. “Go stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. Speak out to all the people who are coming from the towns of Judah to worship in the Lord’s temple. Tell them everything I command you to tell them. Do not leave out a single word! Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do. If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭26‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬) God longs for us to return to Him. He longs for us to return to His ways. He longs for us to return to His love. Today is yet another opportunity to turn back to Him. Why delay any longer? Why keep holding out? Why keep running from Him? The God who loves you so much is patiently waiting for you to come home.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 29-32

Why it Matters - False Prophets

Readings for today: Jeremiah 21-24

One of the things that makes my job more difficult is the popularity of so many false prophets in our world today. The internet is replete with them. Social media amplifies their voices to unprecedented heights. Their platforms are enormous and cut across all kinds of different demographics. I spend a lot of time sitting down with people I know and love and serve helping them discern whether or not the message they’ve heard from this prophet or that preacher or that person claiming to hear from God is actually true or not. Tragically, most of it is nonsense. I think of all the predictions from so-called “prophets” after the past several elections promising God would overturn the results. I think of all the language of “winds shifting”, “earth shaking”, “movements rising”, etc. and yet none of it ever seems to come to pass. Of course, a lot of it is just general enough to keep the person from ever being held accountable. Too many Christians have ignored the clear teaching of Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:21-22) that if a prophet claims to speak for God and what they say doesn’t come to pass, they are to be rejected and never given any kind of influence ever again.

False prophets are nothing new, of course. Jeremiah had to deal with them in his own day. In fact, most of chapter 23 is a fiery sermon against such people. Jeremiah doesn’t hold back in his harsh critique as he delivers God’s judgment upon them. It’s worth reading again. “‬“The Lord says, “I have heard what those prophets who are prophesying lies in my name are saying. They are saying, ‘I have had a dream! I have had a dream!’ Those prophets are just prophesying lies. They are prophesying the delusions of their own minds. How long will they go on plotting to make my people forget who I am through the dreams they tell one another? That is just as bad as what their ancestors did when they forgot who I am by worshiping the god Baal. Let the prophet who has had a dream go ahead and tell his dream. Let the person who has received my message report that message faithfully. What is like straw cannot compare to what is like grain! I, the Lord, affirm it! My message is like a fire that purges dross! It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces! I, the Lord, so affirm it! So I, the Lord, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who steal messages from one another that they claim are from me. I, the Lord, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who are using their own tongues to declare, ‘The Lord declares….’ I, the Lord, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who dream up lies and report them. They are misleading my people with their reckless lies. I did not send them. I did not commission them. They are not helping these people at all. I, the Lord, affirm it!” (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23‬:‭25‬-‭32‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Perhaps you’ve found yourself under the influence of a potential false prophet. Perhaps a friend or family member has sent you a link of someone they listen to regularly. Perhaps you’ve found yourself starting to question the wisdom or the predictions of the person you’ve been listening to lately. Pay close attention. Jesus promises in the last days many will be led astray. Many false prophets and false messiahs will arise. Sadly, we’re seeing it happen in real time as too many pastors and preachers merge the gospel with partisan politics. Too many pastors and preachers claim divine authority despite the number of ways they divide and damage the Body of Christ. Too many pastors and preachers refuse to humbly admit where they have made mistakes. Too many pastors and preachers practice revisionist history in an attempt to make themselves look good. Too many pastors and preachers glibly string together all sorts of “prophetic sounding” language from the Bible in order to make themselves seem more credible. Too many pastors and preachers use the gospel and the local church to make a name for themselves and create a lot of wealth and influence and power. We must be wise. We must be discerning. We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. We must test everything by the Word of God.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 25-28

Why it Matters - Confidence

Readings for today: Jeremiah 17-20

I recently met with a new friend. He remarked on my confidence as a preacher. It’s something he admires deeply. He is often surprised at the things I say and how strongly I say them. He even wonders at times if I will get in trouble or possibly even lose my job. He asked me where I had gained such confidence. What experiences in life led me to become so bold and courageous? What hardships had I endured that made me seemingly impervious to the opinions of others. I told him he had it all wrong. I am not strong at all. I am not courageous at all. I feel like an imposter every time I get up to preach because I know my weaknesses and failures as a man, a husband, a father, and a pastor. My confidence - as it were - does not come from within, it comes from the Lord. I am not confident at all in my “self” because I don’t trust my “self.” My confidence is in God. His nature and character. His power and authority. His promises and presence.

The same was true for the prophet Jeremiah. He too was a bold and courageous preacher. Far more than I could ever hope to be! He was not afraid to say hard things, speak truth to power, or confront even the priests and kings of his time. He was not afraid to tell the people of Israel exactly what would happen should they persist in their wickedness. He was not afraid to call them out, even describing their sin in graphic terms. “The sin of Judah is engraved with an iron chisel on their stone-hard hearts. It is inscribed with a diamond point on the horns of their altars.” (Jeremiah 17:1 NET) For speaking God’s truth, he was persecuted. He was beaten. He was imprisoned. And clearly his experiences robbed him of any kind of “self” confidence. Indeed, he often complained to the Lord about his prophetic calling. “Lord, grant me relief from my suffering so that I may have some relief. Rescue me from those who persecute me so that I may be rescued.” (Jeremiah 17:14 NET) He called on the Lord to punish those who were attacking him. “So let their children die of starvation. Let them be cut down with the sword. Let their wives lose their husbands and children. Let the older men die of disease and the younger men die by the sword in battle. Let cries of terror be heard in their houses…” (Jeremiah 18:21 NET) Clearly, Jeremiah wasn’t afraid to vent his anger and call for vengeance on his enemies! And though Jeremiah even accuses God of “coercing” him into being a prophet (Jeremiah 20:7 NET), he still ultimately places his trust in the Lord. God is his confidence. God is his strength. God is his hope. “The Lord is with me to help me like an awe-inspiring warrior. Therefore those who persecute me will fail and will not prevail over me.” (Jeremiah 20:11 NET)

It’s a great reminder to us all. Especially when we endure difficult times or challenging circumstances. Especially when we feel like we’ve been treated unfairly or unjustly. Especially when we’ve been the victims of oppression and persecution. In those moments, we remember God is our vindication! God is our present help in time of need! God is our hope when everything seems to be crashing down around us and the walls are closing in. No matter what you may be facing today, turn to Christ! Call on Him to be your wisdom and strength! Call on Him to stand at your side as an “awe-inspiring warrior” and fight your battles for you! Trust in Him for He will win the victory!

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 21-24

Why it Matters - Prophetic Burden

Readings for today: Jeremiah 13-16

The prophetic burden is a terrible one. It comes with incredible pain and suffering. It is accompanied by conflict and persecution. It is not a call that brings glory or honor, riches or wealth. It is costly. It will sap one’s mental, emotional, and physical strength. It will leave one often feeling weak and helpless. I have met many such prophets in my life. They are serving in some of the darkest places on the face of the earth. Their bodies bear the scars of their work. No one will ever know their name. They are desperately poor. They often go hungry and thirsty. They weep frequently. They feel so alone. They are beaten. They are threatened. They are left for dead. And yet, they never stop preaching. Never stop speaking God’s truth to those around them. They remind me of Jeremiah.

“Lord, you know how I suffer. Take thought of me and care for me. Pay back for me those who have been persecuting me. Do not be so patient with them that you allow them to kill me. Be mindful of how I have put up with their insults for your sake. As your words came to me I drank them in, and they filled my heart with joy and happiness because I belong to you. I did not spend my time in the company of other people, laughing and having a good time. I stayed to myself because I felt obligated to you and because I was filled with anger at what they had done. Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish? Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound? Will you let me down when I need you like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?” (Jeremiah‬ ‭15‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NET)

I love the raw honesty of Jeremiah. He never sugarcoats his life. He never pretends his call is easy or fulfilling or fun. He is hurting. He is in pain. He suffers tremendously. He is attacked on every side. He has no friends to speak of. No one to share his burden. He sits alone. When he does open his mouth, he is “a man of strife and contention” to His people. They curse him when they see him. They hate what he has to say. They refuse to believe him. When Jeremiah first accepted God’s call, he rejoiced. God’s Word became his joy. It was an honor to be called by God’s name. But his joy has turned to sorrow. His rejoicing has turned to mourning. Honor has turned to shame. For the Lord’s sake, Jeremiah bears reproach. He is hated and despised. God has filled him with indignation. Honestly, it feels to Jeremiah like he got a raw deal.

Though I would never claim the prophet’s mantle, I have tasted a bit of Jeremiah’s pain. I have felt the indignation Jeremiah references when I have felt compelled to preach God’s truth and confront the idolatry of God’s people. I have been cursed for preaching on ethnic reconciliation. I have been criticized for confronting things like preference-driven worship, greedy and power-hungry preachers, or unhealthy and toxic congregational systems. I have taken shots over the years for my biblical views on sexuality and marriage. I have been attacked for the fact that I am pro-life from the womb to the tomb. I have to admit in my darker moments I too have wondered if I got a raw deal. But then the Lord encourages me just as He encouraged Jeremiah.

“Because of this, the Lord said, “You must repent of such words and thoughts! If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me. If you say what is worthwhile instead of what is worthless, I will again allow you to be my spokesman. They must become as you have been. You must not become like them. I will make you as strong as a wall to these people, a fortified wall of bronze. They will attack you, but they will not be able to overcome you. For I will be with you to rescue you and deliver you,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭15‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NET‬‬) God is faithful. If we take our stand on His Word, we will never be defeated or put to shame. If we walk in His ways, He promises to be with us and save us and deliver us. He will guide us and protect us. He will strengthen us and equip us for every task He sets before us. This call is not just for preachers like me. Not just for prophets like Jeremiah or my friends overseas. It is for every Christian. Every person who calls on the name of the Lord. So stand before the Lord, friends! Utter what is precious and good and righteous and true. Trust Him for your deliverance and salvation. He will stand by your side!

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Power

Readings for today: Jeremiah 9-12

About ten years ago, I had lunch with a former world leader who came as a refugee to my city. At one point in time, he was a hero in his country. He helped overthrow an oppressive communist regime. He became one of two key leaders for the country in a power sharing arrangement. However, the power soon went to his head. He became corrupt. He stole money intended for his people. He had political opponents jailed or even killed. After a few years, the other leader in power had him charged and sentenced to prison for his crimes. He was held in solitary confinement for over a decade before being released and allowed to come to America. Tragically, his is a story I see repeated all over the world, including here in our own country as well. People who initially may have the best of intentions. They may be motivated to set people free or resist tyranny or overthrow oppressive governments end up becoming the very thing they hate when they take up the reins of power. As has often been said, “If you want to know about a person’s true character, watch what they do with power.”

Jeremiah saw similar dynamics in play in his own time. The leaders of his nation had abandoned their love for the Lord. They believed they were beyond accountability. They believed they were beyond judgment. They believed they answered to no one but themselves. But the Lord was watching. “These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows. Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies. They have become powerful in the land, but they have not done so by honest means. Indeed, they do one evil thing after another and do not pay attention to me. Everyone must be on his guard around his friends. He must not even trust any of his relatives. For every one of them will find some way to cheat him. And all of his friends will tell lies about him. One friend deceives another and no one tells the truth. These people have trained themselves to tell lies. They do wrong and are unable to repent. They do one act of violence after another, and one deceitful thing after another. They refuse to pay attention to me,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NET‬) They do wrong and are unable to repent. Let that statement sink in for a moment. They had become so drunk with power and so convinced of their own lies that their hearts became so hard they no longer had the ability to respond to the Lord. It’s not that they wouldn’t repent, it’s that they couldn’t repent. That’s hard for us to swallow and yet I will say I’ve met more than my fair share of people over the years who might fall into this category. It’s always heartbreaking.

Of course, power isn’t just a problem for world leaders. All of us are given some measure of power and authority in our lives. How do we use it? Do we allow it to corrupt or do we use our power to serve? Do we allow it to turn us from the Lord or are we willing to lay it down before the Lord? Does it bring out the worst in us or the best? Does it make us prideful, arrogant, deceitful, violent, and hateful? Do we find ourselves doing all we can to protect it? Guard it? Accumulate it? These are important questions to ask whether one is a spouse or parent, an employee or employer, engaged in public service of some kind, or given some kind of authority - physical, spiritual, or emotional - over other people’s lives. Especially those who are vulnerable. How do you use your power?

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 13-16

Why it Matters - Entitlement

Readings for today: Jeremiah 5-8

I take far too much for granted. I imagine most of us do. The clean water that comes out of the faucet of my sink. The abundance of food available at the grocery store. The protection I received from first responders who dedicate their lives to serve our communities. A secure bank where I can put my money without fear. Reliable heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. Peaceful transitions of power politically in local, state, and national elections. Access to education and health insurance and a job I love. A wonderful family, a large group of friends, and a church family that is healthy and thriving and a joy to serve. If I am not careful, it’s easy for me to start to feel entitled. Like I’ve earned all these things. Like I deserve all these blessings. Treat them as if they are mine by right. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are all gifts from God’s own hands and I ignore this truth to my own peril.

Jeremiah preached against the entitlement of God’s chosen people. They had forgotten God, the source of all their blessings. As we read yesterday, they turned to “cisterns of their own making” rather than the “fountain of life-giving water.” The result is destruction. God builds on this theme in today’s reading. “The Lord said, “Go up and down through the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and see for yourselves. Search through its public squares. See if any of you can find a single person who deals honestly and tries to be truthful. If you can, then I will not punish this city. These people make promises in the name of the Lord. But the fact is, what they swear to is really a lie.” Lord, I know you look for faithfulness. But even when you punish these people, they feel no remorse. Even when you nearly destroy them, they refuse to be corrected. They have become as hardheaded as a rock. They refuse to change their ways. I thought, “Surely it is only the ignorant poor who act this way. They act like fools because they do not know what the Lord demands. They do not know what their God requires of them. I will go to the leaders and speak with them. Surely they know what the Lord demands. Surely they know what their God requires of them.” Yet all of them, too, have rejected his authority and refuse to submit to him.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬) Noble and commoner. Highborn and lowborn. Master and slave. All of them have turned from God. All of them refuse to be corrected. All of them reject God’s authority. Even though God supplied their needs, they chased after other gods. Even though God provides for them, they refuse to acknowledge Him. Even though God protects them and has compassion on them and shows them mercy, they will not submit to Him. Self-righteous in their own eyes, they believe they are beyond accountability and judgment.

Tragically, God will shatter their illusions. He will destroy their delusions. He will bring them to their knees as they watch their entire way of life be destroyed. The “fiery bellows of judgment” will burn fiercely, consuming all that is in Jerusalem and leaving nothing, not even stubble, behind. It’s not easy to read these words much less preach them. These words aren’t even easy for God to say as even He weeps at the end of the eighth chapter over what is to come. And they serve as a warning for us in our own time. As our nation grapples with the increase of anger and hate, corruption and deceit, violence and pain; we cannot make the assumption that somehow we are immune from God’s judgment. The faithfulness of past generations will not save us. The moral and ethical capital our forebears saved up is almost spent and we seem incapable of producing more on our own. Our only hope is to turn to God before it is too late. Before He unleashes the “fiery bellows of His judgment” on us.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 9-12

Why it Matters - Twilight of a Nation

Readings for today: Jeremiah 1-4

According to Greek legend, Cassandra was a princess of Troy gifted with the ability to see the future but cursed with the inability to persuade anyone what she saw was true. Beloved by the god Apollo, he gave her the gift but when she spurned his advances, he also gave her the curse. Her most famous prophecies had to do with the fall of Troy. She predicted the Trojan Horse. She predicted the downfall of the city and the destruction of the royal family. By the time her prophecies came to pass, it was too late. As a result, her name has become associated throughout history with those who correctly predict disaster but are not believed.

The prophet Jeremiah found himself in a similar position. Only his life and his prophecies about the coming destruction of Jerusalem were no myth. Imagine being Jeremiah. Called to prophesy of your nation’s destruction at a time - during the reign of Josiah - when you are experiencing a national revival? “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations…Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬, ‭10‬ ‭NET‬‬) Jeremiah didn’t want this call. He was too young. He was too inexperienced. He was too ill-equipped. But God’s call, when it comes, is relentless. It is irresistible. It cannot be denied. So Jeremiah begins to see visions. Visions of the coming destruction of his city and his people and his nation. He is given God’s Word to preach, reminding God’s people of God’s former faithfulness and how they abandoned God to chase after false gods. God calls him to speak in graphic terms, pulling no punches. God even expresses His own incredulity through him at one point saying, “Has a nation ever changed its gods (even though they are not really gods at all)? But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God, for a god that cannot help them at all!” (Jeremiah‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Like all God’s prophets, the primary message God gives Him to proclaim is repentance. God is merciful and compassionate. Despite generations of sin, God is quick to forgive and turn away His anger. So even in the midst of the harsh words Jeremiah has to say, there is a note of grace. An opportunity for God’s people to turn back to the Lord. “Come back to me, my wayward sons,” says the Lord, “for I am your true master. If you do, I will take one of you from each town and two of you from each family group, and I will bring you back to Zion. I will give you leaders who will be faithful to me. They will lead you with knowledge and insight. In those days, your population will greatly increase in the land. At that time,” says the Lord, “people will no longer talk about having the ark that contains the Lord’s covenant with us. They will not call it to mind, remember it, or miss it. No, that will not be done any more! At that time the city of Jerusalem will be called the Lord’s throne. All nations will gather there in Jerusalem to honor the Lord’s name. They will no longer follow the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. At that time the nation of Judah and the nation of Israel will be reunited. Together they will come back from a land in the north to the land that I gave to your ancestors as a permanent possession.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭NET‬)

Sadly, like Cassandra, Jeremiah seems cursed to speak God’s truth about the future and not be taken seriously. He is called to share God’s vision of what’s to come, issue the invitation to repent, and be rejected over and over again. He is doomed, so to speak, to preach during the twilight years of the nation of Judah as the era of the kingdom of Israel comes to a close. It is painful. It is hard. It is why Jeremiah becomes known as the “weeping prophet.”

It’s hard not to see parallels to our own time. The nation to which I belong - America - just celebrated her 250th anniversary. In many ways, she has been a positive, transformative force in the world. In many ways, she has acted corruptly and selfishly and unjustly. Like all human nations, her history is a mixed bag of good and evil. And as we enter the middle part of the 21st century, it is becoming harder to see how she can continue to stand. She is divided. She is being torn apart from the inside by extreme political forces across the spectrum. It may be that we too are living through the twilight years of an empire. Jeremiah’s words to Judah are just applicable to us today. Repent. Return to the Lord. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call on Him while He is near. Perhaps He may hear from heaven and heal our land.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 5-8

Why it Matters - Disaster

Readings for today: Joel 1-3

I have seen the devastation of a locust plague firsthand. Crops that are destroyed. Herds decimated for lack of food. Famine in the land as people struggle to find enough to eat. A few years ago, locusts came to East Africa. They marched through nation after nation. Kenya. Ethiopia. Somalia. Uganda. South Sudan. Literally trillions of insects devastating fields and pastures. The plague lasted for almost three years and put millions at risk of starvation. It makes what we read today from the Book of Joel seem very relevant. “It is a huge and powerful army - there has never been anything like it ever before, and there will not be anything like it for many generations to come! Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them there is only a desolate wilderness - for nothing escapes them! They look like horses; they charge ahead like war horses. They sound like chariots rumbling over the mountain tops…they charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers…they burst through the city defenses and do not break ranks.” (Joel 2:2b-8 NET)

Where do people turn in the face of such calamity? Where do people go when faced with such a disaster? For the people of God, we turn to the Lord. We return to Him with our whole hearts. We cry out to Him for help. We ask the Lord to do what only He can do. Restore the years the locusts have eaten. Restore the fields and pastures. Restore the trees and vines. Fill our threshing floors with new grain and our vats with new wine. We call on God to fulfill His promise - “I will make up for the years that the arbeh-locust consumed your crops - the yeleq-locust, the hasil-locust, and the gazam-locust - my great army that I sent against you.” (Joel 2:25 NET) We call on Him because we can trust His character - “for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love - often relenting from calamitous punishment.” (Joel 2:13 NET)

Books in the Bible like Joel do beg an important question. One we wrestle with constantly in our modern understanding of the world. We struggle to understand how natural disasters like locusts plagues could be signs of God’s judgment. We struggle to understand why God would allow such things to happen. In fact, many today believe the presence of suffering in our world to be the greatest apologetic against the existence of God. This is was not an issue most believers throughout history. They believed in God’s sovereignty. They trusted God’s sovereignty. They understood that everything that happens in life - the good, the bad, and the ugly - is used by God to draw us back to Himself. Back to a right relationship with Him. And that’s why Joel calls on them to repent even in the midst of their suffering.

Our world is full of all kinds of suffering and pain. It serves as a daily reminder that this world is not as it should be. It is not as it was created to be. We feel this deep in our bones. It’s like we all have this longing deep inside for another world. A different world. A world where we walked with God. The Bible calls it Eden. Many cultures call it Paradise. Many religions call it heaven. It’s the persistent echo of another time and another world that seems hardwired into our souls. Thankfully, God wants to lead us there. God wants us to join Him there. All He asks is that we turn to Him in faith.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 1-4

Why it Matters - Questioning God

Readings for today: Habakkuk 1-3

God loves our questions. God is not afraid of our doubts and fears. He can handle our anger and frustration. Many times over the course of my life, I have found myself questioning God. Asking Him “why” over and over again. When those I love suffer. When those I care about struggle. When those I know work so hard to get ahead only to fall short. As a pastor, I’ve sat at the bedside of terminally ill children and prayed for healing. I’ve been called to scene of tragic accidents. I’ve been asked to preside over the funerals of those who died way too young, way too early, way too suddenly. I’ve also traveled the world and witnessed incredible suffering firsthand. Starvation. Disease. Injustice. Oppression. Persecution. Death. It’s overwhelming and I’ve cried out to God, “how long, O Lord?”

I love the book of Habakkuk for this very reason. The prophet is not afraid to complain to God. Not afraid to question God. Not afraid to confront God with the hardest questions. “How long, Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, “Violence!” But you do not intervene! Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present Dan one must endure strife.” (Habakkuk 1:2-3 NET) Habakkuk looks at what’s happening all around him and he cannot understand how or why God would allow such things. Why would the rulers of His own people to engage in such wickedness? God is quick to answer. He will bring the Babylonians to Jerusalem’s gates as an act of judgment. The answer clearly doesn’t satisfy Habakkuk. He goes on. “Lord, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. Lord, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of judgment. You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?” (Habakkuk 1:12-13 NET) These are hard questions. They are good questions. They are important questions. And the reason God answers Habakkuk’s questions is because he asks in faith. In fact, chapter two begins with the prophet acknowledging his willingness to wait for God’s answers. To watch and wait and remain at his station on the city wall until God brings the answer. God’s answer indeed comes though it is not easy to swallow. However, as hard as it is to digest, Habakkuk still places his trust in God. “I listened and my stomach churned; the sound made my lips quiver. My frame went limp, as if my bones were decaying, and I shook as I tried to walk. I long for the day of distress to come upon the people who attack us. When the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines; when the olive trees do not produce, and the fields yield no crops; when the sheep disappear from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls, I will rejoice because of the Lord; I will be happy because of the God who delivers me! The sovereign Lord is my source of strength.” (Habakkuk 3:16-19a NET)

Habakkuk sets a great example for us. In spite of everything he sees happening around him. In spite of all he feels and experiences. In spite of his questions and doubts and fears. He still trusts in the Lord. Even when things appear at their most bleak, he chooses to rejoice in God. It’s often been said that the Christian faith is not a religion but a relationship. The essence of any relationship is the ability to be honest and transparent with the other party. Unlike so many other gods in so many other religions, the God of the Bible invites us to be honest and transparent with Him. And if we will wait on Him in faith, He promises to give us answers as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Joel 1-3