Jeremiah's belt lesson

JEREMIAH   CHAPTER 13

The Lord told Jeremiah to buy a linen belt and put in around his waist, but not to wash it. Then the Lord told him to take the linen belt and go to the Euphrates River and hide it in a hole in the rocks. Jeremiah did as told.
A long time later, God told him to go back and get the belt, but it was now mildewed and falling apart and useless. The Lord used this to illustrate how he would rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.

The Lord told Jeremiah to send his message to the people that because of him their wineskins would be full. Then tell them he would make everyone in the land so confused that they would seem drunk - from the king down to the common people. He would smash one against the other, parents against children and his pity and mercy would not keep him from destroying them.

He gives warning again to the people to give glory to the Lord before it is too late. He asks them to listen to him or he would weep alone because of their pride and they would be taken into exile. He tells them of the foreign allies who would rule over them. And when the people ask why this is happening to them, it is because of the evil they do. The Lord will scatter them as chaff is scattered by the wind.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW:  When can respect and loyalty to our church and country carry a hidden danger- when it becomes arrogance! When is pride harmful? When it causes us to 1. look down on others. 2. be selfish with our resources 3. force our solutions on other's problems 4. think God is blessing us because of our own merits and 5. be content with our plans rather seeking God's plans.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY?  Sometimes people become so accustomed to doing evil that they lose their ability to change.God never rejects those who sincerely turn to him. Jeremiah was carrying the messages from God that it was not too late to repent, but the people refused to listen.  Do we in our society refuse to listen to God? Sometimes we do. What does that mean to "listen" to God? It means that we all have a conscience and a little voice in our hearts telling us the difference between right and wrong. The voice is God's voice. He tries so hard to get us to change our way of life to include him. Often we are so set in our ways that we don't hear him calling. Stop what you are doing today and listen for God's call. Don't be afraid to answer his call. We are all his children and he has compassion and love for everyone.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our famers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.