All posts by John (HFJ Director)

Consequences of Sin, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Grace / Forgiveness, Repenting from Sin

Exploring What Jesus Called “The Unpardonable Sin”

It is sometimes referred to as “the unpardonable sin”. Much can be said and debated and studied about this important topic. Who among us does not want to take note of anything that Jesus would say is an “eternal sin”. Do not blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.

Mark 3:28

   28“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Read and reflect on the full context of Mark 3 by clicking the link above. Jesus had publicly healed many and cast out demons. The Pharisees and scribes looked upon the manifest miracles of God, listened to how Jesus explained clearly that these works could not come from Satan, lest he be battling himself, and then accused Jesus of being a demon. They blasphemed against the Holy Spirit by attributing the works of God to Satan in an unrepentant fashion.  The hardness of one’s heart that must be required to bring this accusation against Jesus in the direct observation of healing miracles and casting out demons is amazing. It is a flat out, ongoing,  unrepentant denial of Jesus Christ as God.

It really is that simple. Jesus died for all of us, for all of our sin. But if we refuse to acknowledge the deity of Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Savior… as God… then we are essentially rejecting His offer of grace and forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

If there is one sin which can not be overlooked… that is it. With genuine repentance and submission to God through the person of Jesus Christ we can be forgiven any other sin. Pray that the Holy Spirit would lead you to truly and genuinely accepting Christ as Lord and Savior if you have not yet done so. Reach out to other Christians you trust or even to a local church or our ministry for support. Getting this right is the most important thing in your entire life and has eternal consequences.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Demons, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Miracles, Miracles, Satan, Spiritual Warfare

Live in Contrast to the World While Following Jesus

Many of us who follow Jesus will at one time or another be essentially mocked or called out as “out of our senses”.  The world struggles to understand how true disciples of Christ think and act. To follow in the example of Christ is very different from much of their worldview.

I can think of several examples simply ranging from declaring Jesus as God to giving generously while seeking nothing in return. Just declaring evolution as the false doctrine it is may be sufficient to evoke these kinds of responses. In fact, I remember one event where someone generously bought dinner for a large group at a restaurant which was unexpected. Rather than simply saying “thank you” and recognizing the person was “giving generously”, some actually mocked him as crazy for spending money that way. The world does not understand the followers of Jesus.

But take heart, Jesus experienced similar reactions. It may well be a good indicator that you are living apart from the world’s way. After going up to the mountain to appoint the twelve disciples, Jesus returned home to quite an uproar. The crowd gathered such that they could not even eat a meal. People said Jesus had lost His senses or was  possessed.

Mark 3:20-27

      20And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” 22The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26“If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! 27“But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.

Jesus certainly has a way of summarizing the issue.  How absurd that someone would say He is possessed by demons because He casts out demons! If Satan is the strong man in this scenario, then one greater than He must be present to “bind him” and cast out the demons.

Do not be discouraged when others do not understand the motivations and actions you exemplify in your life. Test to ensure that you are in line with Jesus Christ by studying and applying scripture. If that is right, keep on marching forward whether or not they think you may be crazy. Pray for God to help you be a light and draw others to Him through Christ.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Miracles, Share the Good News, Teachable

Lessons from Jesus’ Selection of the Twelve Disciples: Learn, Preach, Miracles

Mark chapter 3 records Jesus’ selection of the twelve disciples who are selected to be closest to Jesus. It is interesting to study a bit the reasons stated for why the twelve were appointed.  They were appointed to be with Jesus, to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons.

Mark 3:13-19

The Twelve Are Chosen

      13And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15and to have authority to cast out the demons. 16And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); 18and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

I find it interesting to consider the order in which Mark lists the three reasons for appointing the twelve. How natural for us to think first of being sent out to preach or to have miraculous power such as casting out demons. However, these are not the first reasons listed.

First, the twelve are appointed to be with Jesus. I can think of at least two main reasons… first before one can be entrusted to preach or to do miracles, one must first draw near to the Lord and learn and disciple after Him. Second, Jesus likely appreciated the support and companionship of these close friends during His earthly ministry. While He was fully God, He was also fully man and we are created to be social beings.

I find it telling also that the second reason listed for appointing the twelve is to preach. After we learn and disciple under Jesus we become more prepared to preach the good news and share with others.

It is not until the very last of the three that Mark records the authority to cast out demons. I believe that this is because if you have not spend time with Jesus and do not patiently disciple under Him, you will not be prepared to preach truth appropriately. Further, what is the purpose of the miracles? The purpose seems to be to reinforce the truth of the gospel. Therefore, one must learn to preach the truth before God desires to grant the ability to cast out demons, lest one cast out demons and preach the wrong gospel. The people would then be easily led astray to follow wrong doctrine.

As with most things, God’s order contains much wisdom, but would not be the same order and manner that most of us would anticipate or map out on our own. The power to cast out demons can lead people to hell if not anchored in the strong faith and truth of teaching people the truth of the gospel!

We can also consider for our own lives the order provided here. Let us first seek to learn and disciple at the feet of our Master. Then let us learn to share the truth with others. Lastly, we can trust the Master to demonstrate miracles through or around us at His discretion to support His truth.  Let us not rush to ask for power to do miracles before we first disciple ourselves after Christ!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Am I on the path?, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Traditions / Holidays

Reflect on Freedom: Follow God’s Instructions with Wisdom

Many in the USA celebrate freedom as a key part of the heritage of our July 4 national holiday. It commemorates the independence of the USA from England and the policies of the government there for which the colonies were not represented. We can be reminded to value our freedom and not take it for granted. Fireworks and parties are commonplace. The birth of a free nation is celebrated. We do not celebrate this freedom by rebelling against the very nation that protects and provides our freedom. We do not declare that our freedom means we are no longer subject to any laws.

This day is a good opportunity for us to reflect deeper on one who is greater than us and who also allows us the freedom to make our own choices. Our Creator made us in His image and allows us the freedom to follow Him on His terms or live in rebellion to Him, choosing instead to honor and follow the desires of our flesh and sinful nature. We do not have the freedom to truly follow Him while defining our own terms regarding how we will do so. When we change the terms, we are no longer following Him His way. All of us are inherently sinful. Babies at birth need not be taught to scream when they want something. Young children need to be taught to share, taking what they want comes naturally. We must learn to focus on the needs of others just as we must learn God’s ways in order to be set apart and different than the world.

Our Father, YHWH, provided us instructions to follow as any good father does for His children. Often the instructions are for the benefit of the children themselves, even if they don’t understand that fully. The instructions have been communicated through thousands of years and neatly compiled into the Bible we have so readily available to us today, so long as we choose to open it or click the link to it. We need only pray for enlightenment from the Spirit and read with a desire to learn and change our behaviors to follow God’s instructions. We should not read with a desire to justify all of our current actions and attitudes… that is redefining God in our image rather than redefining ourselves in His image.

We talk often in Christian community about freedom through Christ. It is amazing, but sadly many get confused by false teaching about this freedom. What are we set free from?

The short answer is that all too often people essentially say we are set free from all boundaries and can do anything, and God will be pleased. This is false. This would be akin to saying we are free in the United States and then pretending that there are no laws or boundaries governing what is acceptable behavior and what will land you in prison. God has established guidelines and instructions for us to follow to help us, as a father does for his children. Are we to use our freedom to rebel against the one who gives it to us? No. Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death. He sets us free in that we can be reconciled to YHWH even when we do not live out his instructions perfectly to his standard. This means, simply that we can be forgiven for our sins, because Jesus already paid the price required by the law for our sins. We can be set free from condemnation and guilt, but we are to repent from the sinful ways and do things according to God’s instruction. We are to follow Christ.

Romans 8:1-4

1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Many teach that we are set free from the law, from God’s instructions, but this is not correct. Jesus followed God’s instructions throughout His earthly ministry and so did His disciples. In fact, he was judged righteous in that he lived perfectly according to the law. He never taught against following God’s law, only against following the man-made traditions of the Pharisees and Sadducees that were overburdening people with meaningless traditions and distracting from or even contradicting God’s law. We must ask ourselves… “Is Jesus our example to follow? or our excuse to live how we want rather than how God tells us to?”

Throughout the scriptures, God’s law is highlighted as good, as worthy of love, of setting us free from the lure of sin by showing us what is right. It is a light unto our path to guide us. I have included a few excerpts from Psalm 119, but you should click the link and read the whole Psalm. Many others have similar content. The law of God is to be obeyed. Jesus did not come to set us free from it.

Psalm 119 (excerpts – I encourage you to read 119 completely)

97O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.

98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.

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142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.

143Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
Yet Your commandments are my delight.

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162I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil.

163I hate and despise falsehood,
But I love Your law.

164Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.

165Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.

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171Let my lips utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.

172Let my tongue sing of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.

Would it make sense that Jesus came to set us free from wisdom, delight, truth, and peace? Certainly not. This would be absurd. Jesus came to set us free from the law of sin and death. Yes, we all sin, and thus deserve death. However, Jesus sets us free from that guilt and condemnation and judgment because He already paid the price for us. What He calls for in return as part of this freedom is that we submit to God, repent of our sinful ways, and seek after God. True repentance transforms us to be different from the world and to become more and more like Jesus as we continue to grow in wisdom and maturity in our faith over the course of our lifetime.

Just as we see so obviously in the physical world, freedom brings responsibility and accountability for the choices we make. It is similar with our Father in heaven. Freedom comes with responsibility and accountability. There are spiritual consequences in our relationship with God and ultimate destination when we die from this life and go into eternity to heaven or hell. There are also physical and emotional impacts in our lives today based on how well we follow the instructions He has provided. After all, the loving Father and Creator knows how best to guide His creations. He gives us the answers, but we need to listen and obey… even when we don’t understand fully.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to follow You according to Your ways. Help me rejoice and celebrate freedom in Christ from bondage to sin. You provide forgiveness from my sins and reconciliation to You. Let me not use Your forgiveness as an excuse for me to live my own way and call that “freedom” to do as I want. That is wrong. Thank You for the freedom to choose to follow You. Help me to choose You and embrace You fully. Amen.  

Learn more:

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassion, Healer, Help / Serve Others, Jesus (hearing from God), Miracles

Jesus’ Righteous Indignation: Lessons from His Anger

Scripture identifies a few examples where Jesus actually gets angry. I think it is good to pause and consider what it was that makes Him angry. Thus we can learn something from it and apply it in our lives to live in obedience to Him.

In Mark 3, Jesus goes into a synagogue on Sabbath and finds a man with a withered hand.  Here, in the place intended to help connect man with God,  the religious leaders are more interested to “catch” Jesus doing something they think is wrong than they are to see one of their people healed. This is the definition of being hard-hearted and selfish instead of gracious and kind and focused on others.

Mark 3:1-6

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

      1He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. 2They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” 4And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

Jesus was clearly grieved and angry for the hardness of their hearts. I am a proponent of recognizing and observing Sabbath consistent with what God has commanded in scripture. However, the Pharisees demonstrate that they have missed the point. They would rather leave someone in need of healing and play “gotcha” around rules with Jesus to plot to destroy Him than see one of their people healed and recognize the power of God right in front of them!

They already knew Jesus had the power to heal… they were watching for it… and yet all they could think about was if they could trap Jesus in their perception of Him breaking a rule! They were selfishly protecting their own power and authority and completely overlooking God’s miraculous power.

Yes, we are to obey God’s instructions in scripture. However, in our efforts to honor and obey God, whether for to Sabbath or other commands, let us not miss the greater point in helping others and demonstrating God’s love and compassion to them. Yes, we are to hold teachers accountable for properly teaching truth of scripture, but we need not focus so hard on trying to catch them doing something wrong that we miss the glory of God right among us!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Psalms

Praise God in Difficult Times: Find Strength and Joy

What shall I do in difficult times? Same thing you should do in good times… praise God! Our loving Creator is worthy of praise in good times and in bad. Too often, we come to Him for help in bad times, and then ignore Him in good times. Let us instead praise Him at all times!

Psalm 34

The LORD, a Provider and Deliverer.

A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

     1I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

      2My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.

      3O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

      4I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

      5They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.

      6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.

      7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.

      8O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

      9O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.

      10The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.

      11Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

      12Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may see good?

      13Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.

      14Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

      15The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.

      16The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.

      17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.

      18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

      19Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

      20He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.

      21Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

      22The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

How beautiful an ending, “None of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”

To “take refuge in” indicates true faith that His saving power is real and will redeem us as He says… else, why would we seek refuge in Him. It is much more than simply saying His name and believing He is God. Even Satan believes Jesus is God. We seek refuge in Him from all those that would harm us. We trust Him. We rely on Him. We recognize we can not stand without Him against the enemy. He will always keep His promises. What good reason would we as His followers have to hold back praise?

Take a step of faith to show love to God… praise Him even when you don’t feel like it. Praise Him even when things are going badly for you. If you can not find your own words as you struggle through difficult times, turn to Psalms and use the words of David. Praise God, even if it is simply an act of will at first. Then continue until it becomes almost habit. Before you know it you will find joy from within even in hard times.

Praise Him also when things go well. Thank Him. Remember Him at all times that we do not grow too high an opinion of ourselves when things are going our way. Make a habit of praising God in all situations.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Miracles, Seeking God, Spiritual Warfare

Rekindle Your Passion and Pursuit of Christ

It is good to reflect on the power of the miracles and teaching of Jesus and the impact it had on many who were there to witness it. Mark 3 captures the essence as crowds pressed in so forcefully, Jesus got in a boat to keep some space. He had healed and cast out demons. He taught the truth of God’s word.

Mark 3:7-12

      7Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, 8and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him. 9And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; 10for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.

Ask yourself, “Am I that hungry to pursue Jesus? Do my actions and choices in life reflect that about me?”

If the answer is “no”, then it is a good time for reflection and prayer to change your focus and priorities and pursue Jesus with greater passion.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Purposeful / Intentional, Rebuke Wrong Behavior

Confronting Opposition: The Boldness of Jesus

For any who have read the Bible or are reasonably familiar with the earthly ministry of Jesus, you know that Jesus was not afraid to stand and confront those who came against Him. In fact, when the timing was right and He was ready, He waited for them in the garden of Gethsemane and came along willingly. He knew they were coming and what would follow next.

Jesus was willing to confront those who opposed Him at times and places of His choosing. Typically He used these times as “teachable moments” to make an important point.

Mark 3:1-6

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

      1He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. 2They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” 4And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

It is too easy for us to allow ourselves to get intimidated by those who oppose God and to avoid standing up for God because it is easier for us. Jesus demonstrated boldness and courage as He focused on His ministry and purpose.

Let us pray that God would give us wisdom to choose which battles to fight along with when and where to fight them. Those who serve and follow Jesus will certainly face strong opposition. We need wisdom from God to effectively navigate these challenges and accomplish the work He has called us to do.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Am I on the path?, Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Guide, Obeying God, Purposeful / Intentional, Slow to Anger

Live According to God’s Righteousness: A Message from Jeremiah 22

The message of Jeremiah 22 is dramatic. God is not pleased with His people and how they have been living without righteousness… His righteousness.

I am sure they felt they were living right. To every man, his way seems right. However, God judges based on His instructions for how to live, based on His righteousness. We do not get to decide what is right and pleasing to the LORD.

Do not assume just because you call upon the LORD that He is pleased regardless of what you do and how you live. Seek to live according to His righteousness.

Jeremiah 22

Warning of Jerusalem’s Fall

      1Thus says the LORD, “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word 2and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on David’s throne, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates. 3‘Thus says the LORD, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. 4“For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people. 5“But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the LORD, “that this house will become a desolation.”’”

6For thus says the LORD concerning the house of the king of Judah:
“You are like Gilead to Me,
Like the summit of Lebanon;
Yet most assuredly I will make you like a wilderness,
Like cities which are not inhabited.

      7“For I will set apart destroyers against you,
Each with his weapons;
And they will cut down your choicest cedars
And throw them on the fire.

      8“Many nations will pass by this city; and they will say to one another, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this great city?’ 9“Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD their God and bowed down to other gods and served them.’”

      10Do not weep for the dead or mourn for him,
But weep continually for the one who goes away;
For he will never return
Or see his native land.

      11For thus says the LORD in regard to Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in the place of Josiah his father, who went forth from this place, “He will never return there; 12but in the place where they led him captive, there he will die and not see this land again.

Messages about the Kings

13“Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness
And his upper rooms without justice,
Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay
And does not give him his wages,

      14Who says, ‘I will build myself a roomy house
With spacious upper rooms,
And cut out its windows,
Paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.’

      15“Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink
And do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.

      16“He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy;
Then it was well.
Is not that what it means to know Me?”
Declares the LORD.

      17“But your eyes and your heart
Are intent only upon your own dishonest gain,
And on shedding innocent blood
And on practicing oppression and extortion.”

      18Therefore thus says the LORD in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,
“They will not lament for him:
‘Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’
They will not lament for him:
‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’

      19“He will be buried with a donkey’s burial,
Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

      20“Go up to Lebanon and cry out,
And lift up your voice in Bashan;
Cry out also from Abarim,
For all your lovers have been crushed.

      21“I spoke to you in your prosperity;
But you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your practice from your youth,
That you have not obeyed My voice.

      22“The wind will sweep away all your shepherds,
And your lovers will go into captivity;
Then you will surely be ashamed and humiliated
Because of all your wickedness.

      23“You who dwell in Lebanon,
Nested in the cedars,
How you will groan when pangs come upon you,
Pain like a woman in childbirth!

      24“As I live,” declares the LORD, “even though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were a signet ring on My right hand, yet I would pull you off; 25and I will give you over into the hand of those who are seeking your life, yes, into the hand of those whom you dread, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26“I will hurl you and your mother who bore you into another country where you were not born, and there you will die. 27“But as for the land to which they desire to return, they will not return to it.

      28“Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered jar?
Or is he an undesirable vessel?
Why have he and his descendants been hurled out
And cast into a land that they had not known?

      29“O land, land, land,
Hear the word of the LORD!

30“Thus says the LORD,
‘Write this man down childless,
A man who will not prosper in his days;
For no man of his descendants will prosper
Sitting on the throne of David
Or ruling again in Judah.’”

Avoid the trap of assuming that if you call upon the name of the LORD, He is pleased and satisfied with you. He expects more from His children than just “lip service”. He calls us to live according to His righteousness, according to His word. This is what is pleasing to Him.

Take time to pray and reflect. What changes should you make in your life to live more in tune with God’s instructions?

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Curse, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Obeying God, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God

God’s Favor and Discipline: The Choice Between Blessing and Cursing

Not all among God’s people carry favor with Him. Many have turned away from Him and His instructions and go their own way.  All the while, they hope God will protect them even while they yet disobey Him. There are times when God Himself comes against His people to discipline them. He offers life or death (Jeremiah 21 verses 8-9 below). He offers blessing or cursing (obedience or disobedience).  More often than we think, we get to choose based on our actions and obedience.

Jeremiah 21

Jeremiah’s Message for Zedekiah

      1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying, 2“Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is warring against us; perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all His wonderful acts, so that the enemy will withdraw from us.”

      3Then Jeremiah said to them, “You shall say to Zedekiah as follows: 4‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel, “Behold, I am about to turn back the weapons of war which are in your hands, with which you are warring against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall; and I will gather them into the center of this city. 5“I Myself will war against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, even in anger and wrath and great indignation. 6“I will also strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they will die of a great pestilence. 7“Then afterwards,” declares the LORD, “I will give over Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people, even those who survive in this city from the pestilence, the sword and the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their foes and into the hand of those who seek their lives; and he will strike them down with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them nor have pity nor compassion.”’

      8“You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9“He who dwells in this city will die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence; but he who goes out and falls away to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live, and he will have his own life as booty. 10“For I have set My face against this city for harm and not for good,” declares the LORD. “It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it with fire.”’

      11“Then say to the household of the king of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the LORD,

12O house of David, thus says the LORD:
“Administer justice every morning;
And deliver the person who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor,
That My wrath may not go forth like fire
And burn with none to extinguish it,
Because of the evil of their deeds.

      13“Behold, I am against you, O valley dweller,
O rocky plain,” declares the LORD,
“You men who say, ‘Who will come down against us?
Or who will enter into our habitations?’

      14“But I will punish you according to the results of your deeds,” declares the LORD,
“And I will kindle a fire in its forest
That it may devour all its environs.”’”

It is not enough to just ask God to bless you and protect you while remaining in sin. Truly turn your heart towards Him, repent, and seek Him diligently.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.