Daily Devotional for December 1, 2015
Jeremiah 51
Scripture:
10 ” ‘The LORD has vindicated us; come, let us tell in Zion what the LORD our God has done.’ 11 “Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields! The LORD has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is to destroy Babylon. The LORD will take vengeance, vengeance for his temple. 12 Lift up a banner against the walls of Babylon! Reinforce the guard, station the watchmen, prepare an ambush! The LORD will carry out his purpose, his decree against the people of Babylon. 13 You who live by many waters and are rich in treasures, your end has come, the time for you to be cut off. 14 The LORD Almighty has sworn by himself: I will surely fill you with men, as with a swarm of locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you. 15 “He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. 16 When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. 17 “Every man is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them. 18 They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. 19 He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including the tribe of his inheritance–the LORD Almighty is his name.
Observation:
Mike nervously stood before his congregation to tell how God had healed him of severe joint pain. Afterward, his pastor asked him to pray for others who needed healing. An elderly woman moved slowly from her seat, in obvious pain.
Mike offered a quiet prayer. “How do you feel?” he asked cautiously.
The woman stretched out her legs and smiled broadly. “I was in tremendous pain a moment ago,” she reported, “but it’s all gone now!”
When God does something powerful in our lives, we have a responsibility to share the good news.
“The Lord has vindicated us; come, let us tell in Zion what the Lord our God has done” (Jeremiah 51:10).
Too often fear keeps us from talking. But God wants us to release the testimony of what He has done so others can receive a blessing. When we share our stories, it builds the faith of others and allows God to do similar things for them.
Application:
- Personal Application: Share a story of God’s work in your life with someone today.
- Family Devotional: Read this passage to your family. Explain to them the power of telling the world about the good things God has done. Encourage them to share God’s stories as the Holy Spirit leads them. Pray with them.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Ask God for the courage to share what He has done in our lives with those around us.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that your family will always be able to see God’s hand at work in their life.
Three-Year Reading Plan for Sunday, November 29 – Sunday, December 6:
- Sunday, November 29: Jeremiah 49
- Monday, November 30: Jeremiah 50
- Tuesday, December 1: Jeremiah 51
- Wednesday, December 2: Jeremiah 52
- Thursday, December 3: Lamentations 1
- Friday, December 4: Lamentations 2
- Saturday, December 5: Lamentations 3
- Sunday, December 6: Lamentations 4
—TOM GROOT is National Director of Men’s Ministry and Christian Education. Connect with Tom on Facebook or Twitter @TomGrootJr.
Portions of this devotional are adapted from God’s Word for Today, August 29, 2014, written by Kevin Dawson.
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