Live The Best Life

Date: Saturday, August 16, 2014
Today's Chapters: Jeremiah 25-27
Message Title: Live The Best Life

Hello My Friend,

So many people reject Christ, making the assumption that they have to give up their lives for Him. The truth is, Jesus wants us to give our lives to Him, to be a living sacrifice. Giving our lives to Him does not keep us from living, it gives us the best life. “And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” - Matthew 10:36-39.

God's ways may seem strange sometimes, but He knows what He is doing, if there is something wicked that He is allowing to happen it is for a reason. For twenty-three years God sent Jeremiah to the kings, priest, of elders, of Judah and warned them of the judgment placed upon them for turning it into a wicked and vile nation. Now, the prophecies are unfolding, God sends Jeremiah to give them yet another chance to return to Him to avoid the judgment. “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.” - Jeremiah 25:3-6.
So many people want to blame God for all the evil that is taking place all over the world, but it's not God, it's not even the devil, it's people, rebellious people, working the works of their own hands, causing their own hurt. We cannot blame anyone, but ourselves for the consequences we face for immoral, wicked, and vile acts. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” - Romans 1:18,21.
Unfortunately, we who do follow God often get caught up in the crossfire, but even then He provides an escape.
God's escape route for Judah, he was about to send them to live as captives to Babylon for seventy years. God sends Jeremiah to the temple, and one more time, urges them to repent. “Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;” - Jeremiah 26:2-5.

The people were disgruntled and wanted to kill Jeremiah, but Jeremiah had something to say to them before that happened. “Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.” - Jeremiah 26:8,12-15.
The people did come to their senses and realized that Jeremiah was telling the truth. Sometimes being linked with Jesus can seem like we get more burdens, people constantly accusing us of things and persecuting us for doing what God wants us to do. Can I tell you that it will never stop, if they accused Jesus they are going to accuse us of the same things. We are going to face some burdens in life just for remaining faithful to God, but after the burdens always come blessings. “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” - Psalm 55:22.
God orders all the nations, Israel included, to be under the hand of Babylon, it may have sounded odd, and quite a waste of time for God to do this, but for seventy years Babylon would be a great and powerful nation above all the others. “I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.” - Jeremiah 27:5-8.
Let me tell you, if God sent the faithful Jews into a wicked nation for safety can you imagine how wicked the city of God was? It must have been pretty wicked if God was willing to destroy the promised land before another corrupt nation. Sometimes it may seem strange and unfair what God allows us to go through, but He really knows what is best for us. While we may not understand at the time, He works all burdens and suffering into something for our own good. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:27,28.
Today's Prayer: God, I know I am not perfect, I know I am going to make lots of mistakes, even when following You. Lord, give me Your power to follow You faithfully and let me not be tempted to turn to the right or left, but keep my eyes on You. Help me heed and listen for the warnings as I serve You, knowing that no matter where You take me, it will lead me to where You want me to be. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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