Daily Devotional for October 26, 2015
Jeremiah 14
Scripture:
7 Although our sins testify against us, O LORD, do something for the sake of your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against you.
8 O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night?
9 Why are you like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? You are among us, O LORD, and we bear your name; do not forsake us!
Observation:
What challenges me about this chapter is seeing Jeremiah plead to God on behalf of the people who have turned their back on Him. This is incredible! Do you remember reading in chapter 11 how the people were plotting against Jeremiah? This speaks to the heart of Jeremiah and represents the heart of a Spirit-Empowered Man. Jeremiah was able to look past the circumstances and be an advocate for the people.
In many ways we relate to Jeremiah. It seems our world continues to turn their back on the Lord. How should we respond? The example set by Jeremiah teaches us to be an advocate by praying and pleading to the Lord on their behalf. Notice, in this passage, we don’t hear judgment in his voice. As Jeremiah talks to God, he identifies with the people by using the words our, us, and we. Spirit-Empowered Men consistently pray for themselves, their family, their church, their workplace, their community, and those who are in need of God’s Grace.
Application:
- Personal Application: It not our responsibility to judge, it is our responsibility to represent the Lord with love, grace, and truth. Create a list of people (5 Friend Focus) who need the Lord. Pray over this list every day.
- Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Remind them that God wants to use them as his representative of love, grace, and truth in your community. Encourage them to create a list of people that to pray over daily. If you want, create these lists together and create a family list. Pray with them and pray over your lists.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Pray for your the people on your list. Ask the Lord to be gracious to them and to reveal Himself to them.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that your family will always seek to be a prayer advocate for those who need the Lord.
Three Year Reading Plan for Sunday, October 25 – Sunday, November 1:
- Sunday, October 25: Jeremiah 13
- Monday, October 26: Jeremiah 14
- Tuesday, October 27: Jeremiah 15
- Wednesday, October 28: Jeremiah 16
- Thursday, October 29: Jeremiah 17
- Friday, October 30: Jeremiah 18
- Saturday, October 31: Jeremiah 19
- Sunday, November 1: Jeremiah 20
—TOM GROOT is National Director of Men’s Ministry and Christian Education. Connect with Tom on Facebook or Twitter @TomGrootJr.
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