Tag: Jeremiah

Devotional Blog- What about when evil people prosper?

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Devotion for January 2, 2014

Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts arekm consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. (Jeremiah 12:1–4 KJV)

I have definitely felt this way. I have wondered (mostly in times when I am struggling) why I’m having a hard time while I’m innocent and the guilty are prospering. A few things come to mind in response:
– The question assumes that I’m entirely innocent. Which of course I am not.
– The question assumes that God is not doing anything, or has done everything he is going to do about the situation. God knows our hearts and their heart as well. It may look like He is doing nothing to us, but it just looks that way.
– The question doesn’t take into account God’s mercy and grace. Have you ever noticed that you want mercy and grace for you and justice for those who hurt you and do wrong to you? I’m thankful for God’s mercy and His timing.
– The question doesn’t take into account that what may be difficult may be God’s biggest blessing to us. Think about Romans 8 that talks about all kinds of difficulty. Paul sums up the issue by saying:

“All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose. For whom he did foreknow, He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.”

It also reminds me of the lyrics in this song:

What if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know your near?
What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?

Application

My responsibility is mine own heart. God will take care of executing grace, mercy and judgment. I would be terrible at doing that. He is perfect at doing that.

Heavenly Father, Please help me to take responsibility for my own life, to be thankful for everything that happens to me good and bad, and to help me pray for those of us who struggle with evil. I love you Lord. Amen.

Accountable to God: Day 49

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional6 Comments

presentation1

March 16, 2012 
Today’s Text: Jeremiah 9:23-24
Today’s Key Thought:  Find your identity in knowing God!
So if God commands us not to find our identity in what we can do, what we know, and what we have, what should we glory in?
Hopefully you know by now, and I hope that this week’s verse really has impacted the way you think about yourself.  Here’s the verse:
“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”
We are to find our glory, our identity, our self-worth not in what we know, do, or have, but rather in our relationship with God.
Now like we did yesterday, without reading below, list out why it would be wise for us to find our glory in knowing God.
Here are some I thought of:
1.  God’s love for us is unchanging.  2.  Even though what we do, know, and have is fleeting, we will have relationship with God forever.  3. It is by having a relationship with God that we can have, do, and know the right things that He would have for us.  4.  It is by having a relationship with God that we will spend eternity in heaven.
Application:
Can you honestly say that your primary identity, glory, and self-worth is found in your relationship with God?

Accountable to God: Day 48

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional3 Comments

presentation1

March 15, 2012
Today’s Text: Jeremiah 9:23-24
Today’s Key Thought: Don’t find your identity in what you have.

The last category that God tells us not to “glory” or find their identity in is “our riches”.  The ideas here is that just like we should not find our identity in what we know and what we can do, we should not find our identity in what we have.
Without reading below, take a few moments and on a separate sheet of paper list out the potential problems that we could encounter with finding our identity in what we have:
Here are a few that I thought of:
1.  There is not necessarily a connection between having a lot, and being right with God.  Sometimes God does bless us financially because of who we are and what we can do.  But just because you and I may have a lot doesn’t mean that we are what God wants us to be.
2.   No matter what you have, you aren’t promised to have it forever.  If your self-worth is wrapped up in what you have, what happens when you don’t have it anymore.
3.   There will always be someone who has more than you do.
4.  Ultimately, everything you have is God’s anyway.
Application: 

It’s not a wise thing to find your identity in what you have.  How are you tempted to “glory in your riches?”

Accountable to God: Day 47

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

presentation1

March 14, 2012
Today’s Text: Jeremiah 9:23-24
Today’s Key Thought: Don’t find your identity in what you do.

God’s command continues- “neither let the mighty man glory in his might.”  Just like some people find their identity in what they know, many people also find all of their identity in what they can do.

How do we tend to do that?

This is a temptation for many people but it’s good but can be a real problem with guys.  We tend to identify ourselves with things like our jobs, our job performance, our athletic ability, our talents, and with how our accomplishments make us look.   The problem with finding all or our identity in what we can do is that…

  1. There is always someone who can do what we do better than we can.
  2. There will always be a time where we won’t be able to do what we used to do.

As a result the person that finds their identity in what they can do often ends up living in their past.  They talk about the glory days.  They talk about what they used to be.  It’s like they are living back then.  Some people even try to relive things through their kids.
Often the person who “glories in their might” wants to be known as the person who can get things done.  They want to be seen as successful, and sometimes that leads to misplaced priorities, or lost opportunities in areas that they don’t find important but really are.
The person that glories in their might often has a difficult time saying “no” to others because they feel like they have to be the one to say yes everybody that asks them. 
Application:
How do you glory in your might?  How do you find identity in what you can do, and how does that need to change?