The Simple Life

"Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed." Jeremiah 48:10 (ESV)   "That a curse should be hurled at the head of the traitor who does "the work of the Lord deceitfully" surprises no one. But to find a curse aimed at the merely negligent worker makes us pause, and think, and ask ourselves questions. The persons here referred to are amongst those who are doing "the work of the Lord."—They profess and call themselves Christians." (Biblical Illustrator)   Negligence is evil. When we neglect the gifts we were given, the opportunities we have, or the time with which we have been entrusted, we will have regrets. We are never promised more than one opportunity, and the wise understand this and remain diligent, knowing that both their time and opportunities are limited.   The farmer who tore down barns and built bigger ones so his future could be full of "himself" was cal...

The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: "Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old," declares the Lord. Jeremiah 46:25-26 (ESV)   There is a theme in Jeremiah concerning those who place their trust in anything or anyone other than God. The theme is simple: our trust in anything or anyone other than God will be to our demise. It is not God who will destroy us; it is we who will destroy us, for our faith/trust has been misplaced.   All of us trust something. We trust our judgment, feelings, friends, family, or charismatic people. In time, we realize that our misplaced trust is costly, we eliminate the many false gods we have trusted, and begin to trust in the one and only true God. Unfortu...

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations. About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle! Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen! Take your stations with your helmets, polish your spears, put on your armor! Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; they look not back— terror on every side!" declares the Lord. "The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape; in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen." Jeremiah 46:1-6 (ESV)   There is no recourse against God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life, and by the word of His mouth, His enemies fall. Man's strength is equal to God's weaknesses...

"And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go." Jeremiah 45:5 (ESV)   "Baruch, the companion of Jeremiah, to whom these words were addressed, was a young man of learning, who had probably formed large expectations of distinction, which were sadly disappointed by the calamities which befell his country. The prophet checks his aspirations in the strong language of our text: "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not." It is the selfish seeking of the great things of this world and the eager pursuits of them, as if they were of supreme importance, which is censured by the prophet." (Biblical Illustrator)   It is a common error to think that our greatness is wrapped up in our position in life when, in reality, it is wrapped up in our position in Christ. When we seek greatness for ourselv...

Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, 'Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!' But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods. Therefore my wrath and my anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they became a waste and a desolation, as at this day. Jeremiah 44:4-6 (ESV)   God is merciful and gracious, and slow to anger. Yet this does not mean that those who reject His mercy and graciousness will not experience His anger. Mercy and grace are valuable to those who accept it and value it.   We are sinful, rebellious ingrates who deserve the wrath of God, and He has offered, numerous times, to pay the price for our sin Himself. How foolish it is to reject such a gift. How foolish it is to accept His gift, but never to unwrap it.   God has given us His Word, teachers of His Word, and many opportunities for those who want to know Him...

Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, came near and said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Let our plea for mercy come before you, and pray to the Lord your God for us, for all this remnant—because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us— that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do." 4 Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your request, and whatever the Lord answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you." Jeremiah 42:1-4 (ESV)   God is merciful and grants mercy to those who seek Him. At this time, people sought God through the prophet Jeremiah. They knew that Jeremiah was a prophet, a man of God, and one they could trust.   Where do I turn when I need help? Where do I find God today? If I cannot find Him, I am looking in t...