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Christian Devotional – July 10, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 11:20–But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my course. TRUTH: Because Jeremiah was speaking the truth, the people became angry and plotted to kill him. The Lord allowed Jeremiah to know of their plans. Still, Jeremiah’s response was not to get angry and seek retribution on his own, but to turn the entire matter over to God and allow Him to judge the people and exact His vengeance. When we are wronged, do we seek our own form of vengeance? God is the one who judges righteously and we…
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Christian Devotional – July 9, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 10:6–No one is like You, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. TRUTH: Jeremiah compares the Lord with the worthless carved idols that the people are worshipping. There really is no comparison. The Lord is living and powerful. He is able to speak and hear all that we say and do. The Lord has no equal and is worthy of praise like nothing else. Do we lift Him up and praise Him or are we praising other idols in our life? RESPONSE: Father, You are great and Your name is mighty in power. You are worthy of all. I will praise and acknowledge You…
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Christian Devotional – July 8, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 9:23-24–This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. TRUTH: We can get so proud of so many things. Sometimes we can get boastful. I find it interesting that God does not indicate that boast is wrong. Instead, He tells us that what matters is what we boast about. If we…
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Christian Devotional – July 7, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 8:18–You who are my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me. TRUTH: The Lord has been sharing the message of the destruction of Judah with Jeremiah. Jeremiah then takes a break in this verse and shares with the Lord his response to the message. He is sorrowful and is overcome with grief at what is coming. Yet, even in his grief, he turns to the Lord. He knows that only by coming to God will he be comforted and strengthened. When we go through a time of difficulty and sorrow, are we leaning on the One who gives true comfort? Only the Lord can sustain and…
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Christian Devotional – July 6, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 7:24–But they did not listen or pay attention; instead they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. TRUTH: When people are confronted with their sin, they really only have a couple of possible responses. Either they are broken and move forward toward confession and repentance, or they ignore the warning and continue to rebel. These people Jeremiah was speaking to chose to continue to rebel. God indicates that their hearts are evil and stubborn. People don’t always listen or pay attention when we share God’s message with them. We are to continue to realize that when people are action with out…
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Christian Devotional – July 5, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 6:16–This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.'” TRUTH: If we are seeking and looking for the path that God desires for our life, then He will lead us to that path. However, even then we must choose to walk down it. The Lord does not force us down that path, even after He has shown it to us. Yet, so many people seek after the Lord and then when faced with…
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Christian Devotional – July 4, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 5:12–They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword of famine.” TRUTH: When we deny that God will punish sin, then we are lying not just to ourselves, but also about God. We are denying the very character and holiness of God. God is holy and just and as such He must deliver the consequences of sin. When we minimize or deny our sin, (“It’s not that bad,” etc.) then we are lying about God. Do we recognize sin for what it really is: rebellion against God? RESPONSE: Father, You are holy and I…
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Christian Devotional – July 3, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 4:18–Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart! TRUTH: There are times when God allows circumstances to happen to us to help us learn and grow. However, there are other times, like those mentioned in this verse, where we are allowed to simply experience the consequences of our wrong doing. Sin has consequences and those hurt and can be painful to go through, yet it is not because God hates us. Rather, it is so that we learn how much God loves us and wants us to avoid this pain by following and…
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Christian Devotional – July 2, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 3:10–“In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense.” declares the Lord. TRUTH: Both Israel and Judah strayed from following the Lord. The people of Judah were called back to God when they saw the people of Israel destroyed, but Judah only came back to God with false motives. They didn’t return with their heart. Why are we following God today? Are we obedient only because of what we can gain from God? Or do we follow Him because we love Him? We must drop any and all pretense for follow God and simply seek Him…
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Christian Devotional – July 1, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 2:5–This is what the Lord says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.” TRUTH: God had provided for the people of Israel, yet they turned their backs on Him. He wants to know what the reason was for the change. He could very easily ask us the same thing today. Why have we as a country forsaken God? He then points out that as a nation or group of people we will be what we value. They valued worthless idols and as a result they became worthless themselves. What are we following…