Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God, however that may take place.
Read
26 At the beginning of the reign of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, this word came from the Lord: 2 Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord; speak to them all the words that I command you; do not hold back a word. 3 It may be that they will listen, all of them, and will turn from their evil way, that I may change my mind about the disaster that I intend to bring on them because of their evil doings. 4 You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, 5 and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently—though you have not heeded— 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.
7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. 8 And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “It is the Lord who sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13 Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 14 But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”
Reflect
I don’t know, this passage strikes me as strange for the day after Christmas, I mean we should still have visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads. (whatever sugar plums are and I’m not sure how they dance) But. strange is kind of the new normal though, right. In the immortal words of Barbra Walters “This is 2020” and nothing is normal. So why not, on the day after what is supposed to be the most joyful day of the year read a passage about God’s wrath being poured out on his people. There is that passage about turning to the Lord and he will change his mind
Covid has reshaped our Holiday experience, it’s reshaped our whole year. Everything is more complicated. Wearing a mask, social distancing and knowing some of our loved ones and friends have had it much worse. Which should remind us why we do celebrate Christmas. Just remember the words from the song “Joy to the World”-No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground, he comes to make his blessings flow , far as the curse is found.
Pray
Father
We thank you for Christmas and time with our family and friends but thank you mostly for Jesus and the hope we have in him.
Go with God!
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.