Saturday, February 3, 2018

A FIRE AND A ROCK

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 23

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Looking from the area on the south side of the Temple Mount you can look across the Kidron Valley and see the Mount of Olives with thousands of graves along the western slope.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,

“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

 

The word “oracle” is repeated eight times in today’s reading. Obviously many were claiming to be prophets of God, but they were proven to be false prophets. The dictionary defines an oracle as one who gives “a message that is typically ambiguous or obscure.” That’s quite the opposite to the message given by Jeremiah! “A hammer” and “a fire” are strong and powerful words. Here is a prayer chorus sung in some gatherings: “Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me. Break me! Melt me! Mould me and use me!” The Word of God, as we read it in our daily two-year blog journey through the Bible, should have that effect on us. The idea of an “oracle” was so misused by so-called prophets that God said, “Do not say, oracle of the Lord.” Why? “You have perverted the words of the living God” (Jeremiah 23:36).

The other misused word featured in Jeremiah 23 is “shepherd.” The title “pastor” denotes a shepherd in our time. For an inspiring look at what God considers that a true shepherd should be, let’s read again Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m praying the words of the chorus I mentioned above. By the hammer and the fire of Your Word, I ask You to do whatever is necessary in me to make me all You want me to be. In and through the Person and work of Jesus Christ (Messiah) I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have often stood on one side or the other of the valley pictured above and meditated on the fact that a huge number of people are buried with their feet pointed toward the Eastern Gate in the wall of Jerusalem, the gate through which it is prophesied that the Messiah will enter into a rebuilt Temple. Most of these people expect to be given resurrected bodies, which will enable them to stand up facing the Messiah as He enters through the gate. Modern science shows that all that is needed to recreate one’s entire being is one microscopic speck of DNA dust. It’s all there! My Bible is still open to John 10 as mentioned above, and my eyes have just moved across to the opposite page where I see John 11:24-45. Jesus, the Prophet and the Son of God, spoke words that had the impact of a “Hammer” and a “Fire” when “He cried with a loud voice, ‘LAZARUS COME FORTH!’ And he who had died came out!” I don’t understand how all this happened, but years ago I made a lifetime decision to believe with childlike faith. I’ve not parked my brain! I read, ponder, and wonder. But at the same time I believe! I’m currently reading a book by a nuclear physicist who believes that Einstein’s Theory of Relativity shows that time is not locked into our perception of a 24-hour day. God is outside of time (the basis of true prophecy about the future), and therefore we should not be thrown for a loop by the modern development called “quantum physics.” Well, that’s another subject.

Yours for keeping the faith and also giving it away to the whole world!

David

6 thoughts on “Saturday, February 3, 2018

  1. Lot of talk about false prophecy today so what we say should be biblically sound and line up with the Bible. Terms not used there should not be used. Thanks to the Mainse family for their faithfulness in presenting this blog. Miss you Beverlee and Donna M. God bless you all you saints! Cold in the Maritimes but sun is shining and a big tractor and snowblower just did a great job on my driveway. God is good!

  2. I remember a chorus that I learned as a young person regarding God’s Word
    .”God’s word is like a hammer that breaketh the rock in twain,
    A lamp to guide our footsteps, and a light on the stormy main.
    A sword that has two edges, and a mirror ourselves to see.
    Oh yes, it is the Book of Books, the B-I-B-L-E!”

    I do enjoy a nd value your daily blog, and so appreciate your carrying on with it, even though David, your Dad is in Heaven!

  3. The couple of times I’ve been in Israel; the Mount of Olives was one of the many sights of special note. Great photo thank you Reynold!
    I like the heading of today scripture “A fire and a Rock!”
    The song David chose is one of my favorites “Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me, Melt me, mold me, use me fill me, Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me!”
    very cold Saturday, today here, but the sun is shining.
    Have a blessed day all saints!!

  4. blessings to all…..yes indeed, God is in control of every aspect of our lives, every single aspect of our lives He knows what will happen, we have that freewill to choose to ask Jesus to come into our hearts or not….
    I saw that picture years AGO of the door and Jesus standing on one side, the handle is on our side, we can open it or not…
    Yes God knows the weather also.
    please pray the Lord will deal with a bully at the pool! Pray that the staff see the truth in this situation. In Jesus Name we Pray Amen
    please pray the Lord will hand pick the right room mate for me, I think I would prefer a 50ish in years, working a shift that ends in the a.m. and would work nicely with my routine…God knows best…
    amen

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