“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV The word “world” in the above scripture means “period of time, age.” The age that we live in is riddled with those who are struggling to win the war in their minds. Our thoughts hold us captive, and freedom seems to elude us. We are warned to not conform (to become similar, to comply, to agree) to this world, and then we…
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 I am a fan of Southern Gospel Music. One of my favourite songs is My Name Is Lazarus, written by Rodney Griffin and recorded by Greater Vision. It is based on the story found in the second chapter of Mark. Four men brought their crippled friend to Jesus to be healed and could not get into the house where he was because of the crowd. In desperation, they climbed on the roof, removed the tile, and let the man down to where Jesus was. We are not given the names or any details about these four men, but the songwriter used his imagination as to their identities. He suggests that the first three were men who had been healed by Jesus, a blind man, one with a withered hand, and a leper. Even though they had their needs met by Jesus, they were skeptical that this friend they had brought could be healed. But then the fourth man spoke and revealed who He was – Lazarus who had been raised from the dead. The closing verse shows us that nothing is…
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 God told Jeremiah to send a letter to the people who had been taken to Babylon, instructing them as to how they should conduct their lives while they were there. He told them to build houses and plant gardens to provide for their needs. They were to marry and have children so that their numbers would increase. They were to pray for the country and that peace would prevail. He reminded them that their captivity would last for seventy years, and when that was fulfilled, the Lord had promised that they would return to their own country. God’s thoughts toward them were of peace and not of evil, and they could trust that He would keep His word to them. If they would search for God with all their heart, they would find Him. Although these…
“Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.” Jeremiah 28:13 Many of the people from Judah had already been taken captive to Babylon and messengers had come from some of the surrounding countries to visit the king. The Lord told Jeremiah to make a wooden yoke and to go to these men with the following message: “The nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land. Jeremiah…
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it. I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 Have you ever had a thought pop into your mind that surprised you? You wonder where did that come from? It may be something that you experienced or heard many years ago, but suddenly it comes back when you least expected it. It may be a feeling of resentment against someone, or a memory of something that hurt you. When the Bible speaks about the heart, it is not referring to that physical organ that circulates the blood within our bodies and keeps us alive. It refers to our innermost being, the very centre of our emotions. In Proverbs 4:23, it says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” In other words, all our actions, reactions, our relationships with God, and with other people all spring from our hearts. The word “diligence” used in this scripture, suggests something that requires effort on our part. It speaks of a consistent,…
“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.” Jeremiah 10:23-24 Throughout the book of Jeremiah, we see God’s long suffering and patience with His people. Time after time, the prophet pleads with them to turn from their sins and serve God. Instead of listening they turned to idols hoping they would help them. Now Jeremiah reminds them that by doing so they were only increasing their sin. His heart is torn with the message that he has been entrusted with. One of the first words that a child learns is “no.” Before they are of an age to understand life, they desire to do things their way. They need direction and training until they are old enough to make the right decisions on their own. As parents, we realize the necessity of teaching them what is right and what is wrong. We do this because we love them and want them to grow up to be good citizens. If they are not guided as children, by the…