August 24 - Jeremiah 32:1-33:26 | Ezekiel 26:1-14

Good morning everyone,

Today we read that Jeremiah is confined in the courtyard of the guard. Babylon is besieging Jerusalem and Jeremiah gets this idea, a prompting from the Lord to buy a field, some property, in the territory of Benjamin, which had already been captured and was occupied by Babylon troops. Seriously, not a wise investment, logically speaking. However, the Lord validated the thought He had given Jeremiah by sending Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel, a knocking on the door saying, “buy my land” and while that would be an incredible leap of faith, it would also be an encouraging sign that God will be bringing His people back to their lands! Yes?

This story served as a great reminder for me to be patient, as I can and often do act spontaneously. Whenever I, or we, feel something in our hearts or get a thought to do something in our heads it is a good idea to wait on the Lord for confirmation before spending a lot of money or making a bold statement or promise. If it is God’s will He will pie the way for what ever endeavor, if not obvious doors will slam shut.

Chapter thirty three is a beautiful promise of restoration, not because the people cried out, oh no! there was still a consequence of choice to deal with, they owed God 70 years and that would be paid, but because it was a part of the bigger plan. Verses 14-17 promise, “The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior. For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel” These verses refer to both the first coming when he will set up His rein in the hearts of believers and the second coming of Christ when He will execute judgement and righteousness. 

If you believe in nothing else you need to believe that God keeps His promises, this is why we can be sure that the return of Christ is near. The Bible tells us that there will be signs pointing toward the return of the Lord, I do not stand alone in believing that with the increased number of earthquakes and other natural disasters, all these signs are evident today. Luke 21:28 says, When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

 Billy Graham who is now 94 years old was interviewed last October and was quoted as saying, “A new world is coming, Graham wrote. The paradise that humanity lost in the Garden of Eden will be regained. Christ is coming to conquer evil and establish his perfect rule over all creation. But until then God wants to give everyone an opportunity to know Christ through repentance and faith,” Graham wrote, “Regardless of what society says, we can’t go on much longer in the sea of immorality without judgment coming. We are at a crossroads, and there are profound moral issues at stake. It is time to return to biblical truth.”

I would encourage you to not be like the king of Judah who was eager to listen to the false prophets of his day assure him that all was well with the world and would be fine while Nebuchadnezzar marched in, took them all captive and destroyed the city , but instead bend a knee to God and listen to those who are trying to tell you we are living in the last days, time is short. Jesus will return; Matthew 16:27 says, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” I find that so exciting. Amen?

Have a good day and to God be the glory. 

God bless you all …..