One of the Greats: Jeremiah Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You! Jeremiah 32:17 I many times will go through a book in the Bible and read just my underlinings from months or years before--knowing that they were meaningful to me or there would be no red marks. I have just done that again with the book of Jeremiah. What an awesome person he was! He has several illustrative names: The weeping prophet, prophet of loneliness (God commanded him not to marry), and the reluctant prophet. But God gave him specific orders and Jeremiah followed those orders. He complained quite a bit, tendered his resignation once or twice, and begged God with tears to get me out of this mess. But for more than forty years he faithfully proclaimed Gods judgment on apostate Judah, all the while enduring opposition, beatings, and imprisonments. [1] I look at this man, read about him, and marvel at his endurance, his courage, his perseverance, and his loyalty. And when I do, I automatically think, how courageous am I? How loyal? Would I testify solemnly with Jeremiah, But if I say, I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name, then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it (20:9). Jeremiah was a passionate, fearless follower of God. I, too, am a follower, but where is my passion, and how many times do my emotions--my fear--squelch the leading of the Holy Spirit? Well, so much for this introspection and confession session. What can I do to fight this battle of depression and self-condemnation? Well, Ill go back and read Jude 24 again and Romans 14:4 and Philippians 4:13 and I Corinthians 15:58 and John 15:5 and Jeremiah 31:3. When I have finished reading those verses over several times Ill come to my senses and realize that Satan is alive and well and talking to me, trying to get me to sink into the pit of depression and forget who I really am by Gods grace and the power that is mine by letting Christ live through me. And then what do I do? Ill turn to him, look him straight in the eye, and shout, Dont you rejoice over me, you louse! Though I may fall, I WILL get up again and even though I may not see things clearly all the time let me remind you - THE LORD IS MY LIGHT and HE CANNOT BE EXTINGUISHED (Micah 7:8). (You gave it your best shot and failed big time--remember?) Gods Word--a power in the lives of those who believe. Thank You, Lord, for the incredible power You have placed within me. Oh, I cant escape the battles--they will be a part of life as long as Im on Planet Earth--but I know what to do: Run like crazy and let You take over. Theres just one thing that I must remember--I have to guard my mind and keep the deceiver in his place--which is under Your control. Want me to help you with the verses? Jude 24: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy ... Romans 14:4: ...and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. I Corinthians 15:58: Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. John 15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Jeremiah 31:3: I have loved you (Anabel) with an everlasting love, Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. I am who my beloved God recreated me to be. I will rest in that reality. [1] The Ryrie Study Bible, New American Standard Translation Jeremiah 32:17 KJV 17 Ah Lord God ! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 00:05:19 +0000