Scripture:
Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'today', so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness".
Observation:
In the context, the author of Hebrews was talking about the unbelief that kept God's people from entering the promised land for forty years. He tells the Hebrews that, "as long as it is called 'today', they should encourage each other so that they won't be hardened by the lies that come with sin. He says we need daily encouragement.
Application:
Sometimes we wonder why good people stray away from the Lord. Maybe it's because nobody was encouraging them daily. It is easy to get tripped up by sin's deceitfulness. We must be on guard and have some people who we are accountable to and who keep us accountable. We must encourage each other so that sin doesn't win in our lives.
Prayer:
Father, help me encourage someone today to continue following You. Help me build encouraging relationships. I don't want to be hardened by sin and I don't want to see others hardened by sin. Help me get this right in my life.
Yours,
Jeff
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
God's Judgment
Scripture:
Lamentations 4:13 "But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous".
Observation:
Throughout Lamentations we see God's judgment coming on His people because of their disobedience. This particular verse shows the deeper reason why God's judgment came on the nation. It says it was not because of the sins of the nation, but because of the sins of the prophets and priests.
Application:
If God judged nations in the Old Testament because of their prophets and priests, we should understand how seriously God takes those who preach and teach in His name. Prophets and priests must rise up and preach the truth, lest judgment come on our great nation. We must have a cleansing in America from the top to the bottom, but it must start at the House of God.
Prayer:
Father, forgive my half-heartedness. Help me to accurately divide the word of truth and to teach and preach accurately what you want me to say. I want to be your voice. Cleanse my life and give me my passion for you back.
Yours,
Jeff
Lamentations 4:13 "But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous".
Observation:
Throughout Lamentations we see God's judgment coming on His people because of their disobedience. This particular verse shows the deeper reason why God's judgment came on the nation. It says it was not because of the sins of the nation, but because of the sins of the prophets and priests.
Application:
If God judged nations in the Old Testament because of their prophets and priests, we should understand how seriously God takes those who preach and teach in His name. Prophets and priests must rise up and preach the truth, lest judgment come on our great nation. We must have a cleansing in America from the top to the bottom, but it must start at the House of God.
Prayer:
Father, forgive my half-heartedness. Help me to accurately divide the word of truth and to teach and preach accurately what you want me to say. I want to be your voice. Cleanse my life and give me my passion for you back.
Yours,
Jeff
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
We are Not Consumed
Scripture:
Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Observation:
The author had just spent three chapters talking about how the Lord had abandoned His people for their sins. He was ranting for a long time about how the Lord had forsaken them. Suddenly his attitude and perspective changed and he said, "because of the the Lord's great love we are not consumed". His perspective went from accusing the Lord, to realizing they deserved worse and the Lord could have delivered worse. Simply the fact that they were not consumed was something to praise God about.
Application:
Things may not be very good. They might be really terrible right now, but they could always be worse. God could have consumed us for our sins, but He hasn't. His compassions are new every morning and His faithfulness is great. Sometimes we need to step back and thank God for not giving us what we rightfully deserve. He hasn't consumed us, therefore we should praise Him. This is humility.
Prayer:
Lord, help me with my perspective on things. Help me to see all You have done for me simply in not allowing me to be consumed. Give me strength today for all you have called me to do. Help me to hear your voice clearly and to react to it accordingly.
Your Son,
Jeff
Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Observation:
The author had just spent three chapters talking about how the Lord had abandoned His people for their sins. He was ranting for a long time about how the Lord had forsaken them. Suddenly his attitude and perspective changed and he said, "because of the the Lord's great love we are not consumed". His perspective went from accusing the Lord, to realizing they deserved worse and the Lord could have delivered worse. Simply the fact that they were not consumed was something to praise God about.
Application:
Things may not be very good. They might be really terrible right now, but they could always be worse. God could have consumed us for our sins, but He hasn't. His compassions are new every morning and His faithfulness is great. Sometimes we need to step back and thank God for not giving us what we rightfully deserve. He hasn't consumed us, therefore we should praise Him. This is humility.
Prayer:
Lord, help me with my perspective on things. Help me to see all You have done for me simply in not allowing me to be consumed. Give me strength today for all you have called me to do. Help me to hear your voice clearly and to react to it accordingly.
Your Son,
Jeff
Friday, October 24, 2014
Hope, Even in Judgment
Scripture:
Jeremiah 46:28 "Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you, declares the Lord. Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished".
Observation:
Jeremiah had been bringing a message of disaster for the people of Judah. This was the Lord speaking and letting His people know that judgment was coming because they had broken covenant and were worshiping other gods. Here the Lord lets them know that He won't completely destroy them, but will only discipline them in due measure.
Application:
God is a just God and He will judge the nations one day. Even in His judgment, we can have hope. After all the judgment passages leading up to this verse, God let's His people know that He isn't going to completely destroy them but will discipline them in a just way. He promises not to overdo it. There is hope for us, even in the midst of God's judgment. He is a merciful God.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, You are amazing and I love you! Your grace and mercy never cease to amaze me. You love Your people with an everlasting love. You give us hope, even in judgment. Thank you for all you do for your children.
Love,
Jeff Jacob
Jeremiah 46:28 "Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you, declares the Lord. Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished".
Observation:
Jeremiah had been bringing a message of disaster for the people of Judah. This was the Lord speaking and letting His people know that judgment was coming because they had broken covenant and were worshiping other gods. Here the Lord lets them know that He won't completely destroy them, but will only discipline them in due measure.
Application:
God is a just God and He will judge the nations one day. Even in His judgment, we can have hope. After all the judgment passages leading up to this verse, God let's His people know that He isn't going to completely destroy them but will discipline them in a just way. He promises not to overdo it. There is hope for us, even in the midst of God's judgment. He is a merciful God.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, You are amazing and I love you! Your grace and mercy never cease to amaze me. You love Your people with an everlasting love. You give us hope, even in judgment. Thank you for all you do for your children.
Love,
Jeff Jacob
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Lies We Tell
Scripture:
Jeremiah 42:6 "Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God".
Observation:
The people of Judah asked Jeremiah to go to the Lord on their behalf and ask what they should do. In this verse they say that they will obey whatever the Lord says so that it may go well with them. They talk about how they will respond, yes, to whatever the Lord says, yet when he told them what the Lord said, they said he was lying.
Application:
Many times we say things like, "I surrender all", or "I'll go and do whatever you want Lord". These words easily fall from our mouths, but are harder to follow through on. When we make statements of commitment to the Lord, we should be willing to follow through and do what He says. We often lie to the Lord of heaven and earth. Our intentions are usually right, but our actions don't follow.
Prayer:
Lord, help me not to speak lies in your presence. Help me to walk out the commitments I make to You and follow through with obedience. I truly want to serve You well. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Strengthen my inner man so that I won't lie to You.
Your Son,
Jeff
Jeremiah 42:6 "Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God".
Observation:
The people of Judah asked Jeremiah to go to the Lord on their behalf and ask what they should do. In this verse they say that they will obey whatever the Lord says so that it may go well with them. They talk about how they will respond, yes, to whatever the Lord says, yet when he told them what the Lord said, they said he was lying.
Application:
Many times we say things like, "I surrender all", or "I'll go and do whatever you want Lord". These words easily fall from our mouths, but are harder to follow through on. When we make statements of commitment to the Lord, we should be willing to follow through and do what He says. We often lie to the Lord of heaven and earth. Our intentions are usually right, but our actions don't follow.
Prayer:
Lord, help me not to speak lies in your presence. Help me to walk out the commitments I make to You and follow through with obedience. I truly want to serve You well. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Strengthen my inner man so that I won't lie to You.
Your Son,
Jeff
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Difficult Ministry
Scripture:
Jeremiah 38:4 "Then the officials said to the king, 'This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin'".
Observation:
Jeremiah was given a very difficult message from the Lord. He was telling the people the truth and exactly what the Lord wanted him to tell them, but it got him in much trouble. He was put in prison and in a cistern and left to die because of the message the Lord gave him. The officials wanted him dead for discouraging the troops and the people with his message. Jeremiah wasn't giving a politically correct message and was paying for it.
Application:
Sometimes in ministry we are called to say hard things that people don't like. Will we let the applause of man be more important than the approval of God? It is difficult to say what nobody else is saying. It is tough to say what God wants said sometimes. Jesus said difficult things. Paul said difficult things. John the baptist said difficult things. Sometimes as followers of Jesus, we will be called upon to say difficult things. May God give us the backbone to stand up and let our voice be heard, even when people don't want to hear it.
Prayer:
Father, help me to accurately speak what You are speaking. I want to hear what You are saying and speak it forth clearly and passionately. Help me to say what needs said to who it needs said and not to be afraid of their disapproval.
Your Son,
Jeff
Jeremiah 38:4 "Then the officials said to the king, 'This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin'".
Observation:
Jeremiah was given a very difficult message from the Lord. He was telling the people the truth and exactly what the Lord wanted him to tell them, but it got him in much trouble. He was put in prison and in a cistern and left to die because of the message the Lord gave him. The officials wanted him dead for discouraging the troops and the people with his message. Jeremiah wasn't giving a politically correct message and was paying for it.
Application:
Sometimes in ministry we are called to say hard things that people don't like. Will we let the applause of man be more important than the approval of God? It is difficult to say what nobody else is saying. It is tough to say what God wants said sometimes. Jesus said difficult things. Paul said difficult things. John the baptist said difficult things. Sometimes as followers of Jesus, we will be called upon to say difficult things. May God give us the backbone to stand up and let our voice be heard, even when people don't want to hear it.
Prayer:
Father, help me to accurately speak what You are speaking. I want to hear what You are saying and speak it forth clearly and passionately. Help me to say what needs said to who it needs said and not to be afraid of their disapproval.
Your Son,
Jeff
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Have You Answered the Call?
Scripture:
Jeremiah 35:17 "Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says, 'Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer'".
Observation:
God is speaking through Jeremiah concerning Jerusalem. He tells Jeremiah to tell the people that God was going to bring disaster on them because they did not listen to Him. He says, "I called to them, but they did not answer". God wants his people to reply when He calls and change when He tells them to. He doesn't like to speak in vain, but likes His words to be attended to.
Application:
How many times have we not listened to what God was putting in our hearts. So many times, God has put something in my spirit to do and I have not done it. We must train ourselves to do what He says and to answer His call. God is looking for a people who will be completely His and who will say yes to His words. We must answer the call!
Prayer:
Lord, first, help me answer the call You have given me. Second, let my ears be open and attentive to your words. Third, help me to do whatever you speak to my heart. Help me to fulfill your words and the desires of your heart.
Yours,
Jeff
Jeremiah 35:17 "Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says, 'Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer'".
Observation:
God is speaking through Jeremiah concerning Jerusalem. He tells Jeremiah to tell the people that God was going to bring disaster on them because they did not listen to Him. He says, "I called to them, but they did not answer". God wants his people to reply when He calls and change when He tells them to. He doesn't like to speak in vain, but likes His words to be attended to.
Application:
How many times have we not listened to what God was putting in our hearts. So many times, God has put something in my spirit to do and I have not done it. We must train ourselves to do what He says and to answer His call. God is looking for a people who will be completely His and who will say yes to His words. We must answer the call!
Prayer:
Lord, first, help me answer the call You have given me. Second, let my ears be open and attentive to your words. Third, help me to do whatever you speak to my heart. Help me to fulfill your words and the desires of your heart.
Yours,
Jeff
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