Daily Devotional for October 31, 2015
Jeremiah 19
Scripture:
1 This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests
2 and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. There proclaim the words I tell you,
10 “Then break the jar while those who go with you are watching,
11 and say to them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room.
Observation:
This chapter illustrates the destruction that sin can cause in our life. It is difficult to read a passage like this, or hear a story of someone who made a bad decision and got caught up in sin. It immediately reminds me of my human nature and the realization that no one is immune from the threat of sin. This drives me to spend more time in God’s Word and more time in prayer.
Here are a two actions we can take to help guard our heart from the threat of sin:
- Develop Spiritual Habits: Spend time in God’s Word, in worship, in prayer, in church, etc.Develop Spiritual
- Relationships: Find good friends to walk on this discipleship journey with you, a good mentor to encourage you on this discipleship journey, and someone that you can mentor and encourage along his discipleship journey.
Plenty of other decisions exist that help guard you from the destruction of sin. Because sin will bring destruction into your life, strive to protect yourself and your family. I encourage you to continue spending quality time with the Lord every day.
Application:
- Personal Application: We are all human and therefore vulnerable to the temptation of sin. It is wise to create guardrails in your life to help protect you. Find a friend that you trust and are able to talk to about sin and temptation.
- Family Devotional: Read this passage to your family. Discuss with them our vulnerability to make mistakes and get caught up in sin. Talk to them about the important relationships, from above, that we must have. Ask them who those people are in their life and encourage them to pray about filling any relationship gaps that may exist. Pray with them and for their friends.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Ask the Lord to help you see the way out in the midst of temptation and the threat of sin.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that the Lord will protect your family and help them to make wise decisions while they travel this discipleship journey.
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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