Jeremiah 1:10 - Tear down to rebuild

See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10

Jeremiah was a prophet who predicted the fall of Jerusalem. God was preparing his people for great destruction because of their unfaithfulness. He was going to tear down so he could rebuild. This is a difficult concept and even more difficult when we are the ones being uprooted and torn down. This passage reminded me of the yard work I did yesterday. I wanted to do some planting, but before I could plant the new, I had to tear out the old. It was hard, back breaking work but weeding the flower bed had to happen before it could be replanted. The weedy, ugly area was transformed into a beautifully landscaped garden. When our lives seem to be falling apart, maybe God is allowing this to happen so that he can transform us.

Lord, Thank you for seeing the potential in us. Please help us to deal with the pain when we are going through this process of transformation. Amen.

1 John 2:17 - I want it!

 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. - 1 John 2:17

There are times when we want something. Maybe it is a new job, a new car, a drink, or a half gallon of ice cream. Whatever our desires are, we have to keep our main focus on the will of God. In the end, none of those things we want really matter. They may be good things, and it is ok to want and get them as long as it is not at the expense of the will of God. When the pursuit of these things cause us anxiety and to make sinful choices, then we need to put God back in first place and reasses our desires.

Lord. Thank you for all of the gifts of this world. Please help us to keep you and your will as the most important thing in our lives. Amen.

Judges 2:10 - The next generation

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Judges 2:10

While Joshua was alive, the Israelites followed the Lord. Verse 7 states, "The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel." But what about the next generation? Why were they not faithful? Why didn't they know the Lord? As a Christian, it is my responsibility to not only remain faithful and bring glory to God, but also to teach the next generation about the Lord and what he has done for me.

Lord, Thank you for giving us salvation through Jesus blood. Please help us to share our faith with our children and the children around us. Amen.

Judges 1:1 - Ask The Lord

After the death of Joshsua, the Israelites asked the Lord, "Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?" Judges 1:1

In a class on the Judges, it was pointed out that this is the ony time in this book where the Israelites asked for the guidance of the Lord. Judah is the answer, but Judah asks another tribe to go into battle with them, so even this is not fully followed. How often do we ask for the guidance of God? I often praise him, thank him, and make requests, but rarely do I ask for specific guidance. Which should I do first? When should I do this? Who can help me with this? I think God will find a way to communicate to us if we ask for ears to hear and eyes to see his answer.

Lord, Thank you for allowing us to come to you for guidance. Please help us to think first of asking you when we are making decisions. Amen

1 John 2:9 - We are family

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[a] is still in the darkness.
1 John 2:9

Footnotes: 1 John 2:9 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15, 17; 4:20; 5:16.

In general, I don't think we should hate anyone, but this passage stresses the importance of not hating our brothers and sisters. This is stressed several times in the book of 1 John. So, who are our brothers and sisters? In the footnote above, it refers to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family. As Christians, we have a responsibility to each other. We are a family. We may disagree, even on points of doctrine, but we must want the best for each other and pray for each other. We are linked by the most fundamental of beliefs: God is real and he sent his son to die for our sins. This core belief supersedes all other aspects of our human existence. If we can not love each other, how can we love non-believers and share God's love with them? And why would they want to be a part of a family who can not exist in harmony?

Lord, Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family. Please help us to love each other. Amen.

1 John 1:9 - Forgiveness

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Did you know you are a sinner? I am a sinner too. We are all sinners. Even if there are aspects of our lives we think are ok, they may be sinful. In the Old Testament, men often had multiple wives. There is no indication they considered this sin, but today we generally see this as wrong and sinful. Sin is always sin, but to the one engaged in it, it may not always be clear. Sometimes it is just the norm of the day. Thankfully, if we admit we are sinful and allow Christ to forgive us, we are forgiven of all of our sins, even the ones we do not know we are committing.

Lord, Thank you for sending your son to die on the cross so that we may be forgiven. Please help us to admit to our sin and grow to sin less each day. Amen.

Matthew 14:31-Why did you doubt?

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

Sometimes we step out in faith, but then we doubt. Why? In Peter's case in the passage above, he sees the wind. What sort of wind disrupts our faithwalk? Maybe we commit to teaching a bible class, but we find ourselves uninspired. Maybe we are trying to stop an addictive behavior, but as quickly as we say we won't do it, we do. Maybe we strike out on a new career path we feel called to, but it's not what we dreamed it would be. If we think about what can make us doubt ahead of time, maybe we can build our faith to help prevent sinking into the waves. We can keep our head up, eyes on Jesus, and step boldly. 

Lord, Thank you for allowing us to step out in faith. Please help us to prepare for the wind and remain faithful. Amen.