The Simple Life

In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin." Jeremiah 36:1-3 (ESV)   What kind of fool hears a warning from a reliable source and ignores it? The Scriptures are clear as to what happens to those who ignore God, yet many continue to live as if He does not exist.   Those who ignore God, for any reason, will wish they had not. There is a time when all hope is lost, and those who lived self-centered lives will see the limitations of self and the reality that the universe revolves around God, and not them. We need to respond while we still have the oppo...

I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. Jeremiah 35:15 (ESV)   God is faithful to send spokespeople to warn people of impending dangers. Often, the spokesperson speaks of the need to amend our ways. In other words, we are told to live differently from the way we are living now, or we will pay a consequence that we will truly regret.   Today, those who sound the alarm are often considered "legalists," judgmental naysayers. I imagine Elijah was considered that by King Ahab, as was his successor Elisha by other kings.   Ezekiel was not listened to, Jeremiah was the weeping prophet, and Malachi gave a warning to a people who had no idea a warning was even necessary.   Ignoring the Word of God ...

You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name, but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves. “Therefore, thus says the Lord: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the Lord. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth." Jeremiah 34:15-17 (ESV)   Mountaintop experiences are exciting and are rarely duplicated in real life. Hence, the term "mountain top experience." Those who make commitments during an emotional time in life will struggle to keep them during dull moments. Without making real changes that align with our new commitments i...

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation of liberty to them, that everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother. And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that everyone would set free his slave, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again. They obeyed and set them free. But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves they had set free, and brought them into subjection as slaves. Jeremiah 34:8-11 (ESV)   Obedience talk is cheap and easy, and it is a great idea, until we experience the cost. When we decide to obey God, but for some reason turn back to our old ways, we have not obeyed God. Leaving the door open for a return to disobedience means we usually return to our disobedient ways.   We need to decide to make no provision for ou...

"Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." Jeremiah 33:2-3 (ESV Strong's)   Some understand the un-understandable. Some are at peace during turbulent times. Some have faith when all hope seems lost. What is common among those who live rather than endure life? They call on the Lord, and the Lord, who will not hide, reveals to them great and otherwise hidden things.   It may be smart to consult a doctor, but it is wise to call on the Lord. No matter the outcome, those who call on the Lord will not be disappointed. God can heal, or He will personally greet those who are His children, who are not healed on this earth.   There is no real hope in this life apart from God, and those who seek hope apart from Him will be gravely disappointed.   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction. Jeremiah 32:33 (ESV)   To learn, you need to position yourself to listen. The prideful will not listen. The angry do not listen. The arrogant do not listen.   Listening does not mean you agree or disagree. It means that you are paying attention to what someone else is saying. Paying attention to what someone else is saying means you are actually trying to understand what they are saying. After one listens, one can respond, and hopefully respond correctly.   The academic atmosphere today seems to be one continual debate, rather than the exchange and consideration of ideas. If we know that something is right, no matter how a person debates the issue, they remain right. Those who want to debate every idea someone has, and every word they say, are wearisome and, eventually, will have no one to debate, for they have worn out all those...