house privileges

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1337Jeremiah 11:1-17

 

The LORD’s covenant was a covenant of freedom, but the people, once freed, sought bondage again by pursuing the gods of the nations.  Therefore, the LORD intends to bring disaster upon them, because he must keep his part of the covenant.  He must remain faithful, even if his people are not.  His faithfulness to the covenant means that he cannot listen to prayers for deliverance, nor can he enjoy their worship, so even sacrificial flesh cannot divert their doom.  Israel has become an unfaithful lover, who has lost the privileges of the LORD’s house because of her vile deeds.

LORD, we plead the blood of Christ, because we deserve your abandonment just as Judah did.  We do not deserve house privileges.  We seek your grace. Redeem us by your mercy.

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time and chance

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1338Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

It is better to live wisely than foolishly, but even living wisely is no guarantee that you will not be snared by an evil time.  Time and chance happen to all of us.  No one has a guarantee of success or deliverance from the chance disaster.  The wisdom in knowing this is the wisdom of anchoring ourselves to the one who is eternal, who cannot be overtaken by death.  Since there is only one man who is the resurrection and the life, it makes perfect sense to cling to him.

LORD, give us the wisdom to cultivate a relationship with Christ.

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their gods shall perish

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1335Jeremiah 9:23-10:25

Judah had many wise men, many strong men, and many rich men, but she did not have many men who knew the LORD.  They had trusted in their wisdom, might and riches, and had not circumcised their hearts, so they were just like the nations all around them.  Those nations were doomed to destruction, just like their gods, who “shall perish” (11, 15).  The images are false, with no breath in them, and those who trust in them will be like them.

LORD, teach us how to trust in you, and help us to put away our trust in idols and ourselves.

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no reward

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1320Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

 

The Preacher lives in a world where there are no guarantees of success, even if one does what is right.  Rewards for righteous living are “in the hand of God” which means that they are out of our hands.  Strike hope #1. Neither can we expect reward at death, because the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and have no more reward. There is no work or thought in Sheol, where the dead go.  Strike hope #2.

These are unpleasant truths, and many religious people refuse to believe them.  But they are the truth.  They are just not the whole truth.  The whole truth came with the Truth, Jesus Christ, who promised a resurrection.  Without him, life has no meaning, and the righteous have no reward.  The Christian obeys out of faith in Christ, knowing that he, not prosperity or death, makes it all worth while.

LORD, give us faith in Christ, not in success or death.

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band-aids on broken arms

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1321Jeremiah 8:4-9:22

 

Even when the officials of the people understood that they were doomed and dying, they simply tried to calm everyone down with false assurances of peace.  But Jeremiah knew that there was no peace.  The people tried to heal broken arms with band-aids.  The LORD’s instructions were to gather everyone together for fasting and prayer, but the proud in Judah would not have that.  He instructed the women to practice dirges, because only death will follow when God’s people no longer pursue him.

LORD, give us eyes to see our true condition, and seek you as the only proper remedy.

Posted in discernment, Jeremiah, peace, relationship with God, repentance | Tagged , | 1 Comment

exceptions

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1319Ecclesiastes 8

The essence of the conventional wisdom of the Preacher’s day is that living a righteous life will produce a longer, healthier, and happier life.  Yet, the Preacher proclaims that there are plenty of exceptions, and no one can find out why.  The preacher simply encourages his readers to eat and drink and be joyful.  This enjoyment of life as it is will go with them as they toil through the days of their lives.  In a sense, it will be a testimony of trust.  Finding joy in a life we do not fully understand is a way of declaring faith in the one who gave us this life.

LORD, we choose to enjoy life, and trust in you for eternal life.

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remember Shiloh

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1315Jeremiah 7-8:3

Jeremiah is told to stand at the gate of the temple and warn the people that they are trusting in a place rather than the LORD himself.  Even if it is – or was – the LORD’s chosen place (as Shiloh was) it offers no security.  A place is just a place, and a building is just a building.  The same message goes for those who go to worship every weekend and then live like the devil every week.  Remember Shiloh, how the LORD removed his presence from that place.  Our God is not confined to a local residence.  An hour or two every week pretending to worship does not constitute a relationship with him.

LORD, teach us how to live in your presence all the time.

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balance

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1310Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

The preacher confesses here that he has sought to analyze all reality and has been able to figure out so little of it.  He knows why one man in a thousand does what he does, but cannot understand any women.  He sought to understand why certain things have happened, and confesses that really understanding history has proven too far and deep for him.  His advice is that living life means striking a balance between winning every argument and always allowing oneself to be thought of as wrong.  Sin is in everyone, so sometimes it is impossible to find the just answer to a conflict.

LORD, when we can find no justice, give us the wisdom to trust you to sort things out.

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useless offerings

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1296Jeremiah 6

The LORD proclaims impending destruction upon Jerusalem because they are always rejecting his word.  They dare to think that God cares about offerings from foreign lands, as if their costliness would appease him.  But he says: “What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me” (20).  The righteous LORD cannot be bought off. He must be obeyed.

LORD, teach us how to obey your word.  Forgive us for thinking we could just buy you off with offerings.

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good old days

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_1307Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

The preacher instructs us not to look back when times were good and pine for them.  Instead he instructs his readers to consider the present times as the work of God.  There is a reason that we are living now, and things have happened thus.  Embrace the work of God going on right now, and find your place in it.  Someday, you and I might look back on this time as the good old days.  Let’s make them the best possible.

LORD, give us eyes to see the potential of this time for building your kingdom.

Posted in discernment, kingdom of God, Solomon, time | Tagged | Leave a comment