Small Things Are Big
Jeremiah 17:5-10 – “Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. 8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit. 9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? 10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds.”
As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, several things got my attention. We often overlook the subtle and seemingly small things.
In Jeremiah 17:5-10, three things are listed that affect our lives continuously. In verse 5, we discover that there is a curse for relying on human ability. It is interesting because we have to use human ability and talent to live and function. Therefore, this cannot be talking about using our humanness, abilities, gifts, talent, and training. It refers to elevating the ability to a God status in our lives. It is making our ability our source.
Next, there is a blessing for putting complete trust in God and His guidance and gifting. Paul advised that we have nothing we have not received as a gift. All we have and all we are is rooted in God. He must be our all.
Third, there is a revelation of the untrustworthiness and unreliability of the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 warns that it is stubborn and impossible to understand. In verse 10, we discover that God searches our untrustworthy hearts and places constraints on us to guide us into the right paths. That implies surrendering to Him.
A fourth revelation is the Law of Sowing and Reaping. In verse 10, we read that God gives to each person according to their ways (lifestyle) and the fruit of their doings (daily activities). That includes the good and the bad.
How do we trust God and hope in Him effectively? We find a clue in Acts. Everywhere you turn, you see that the surrendered heart is a heart that is saturated with the Holy Spirit. He filled them, led them, protected them, taught them, and talked to them. He kept them in communion with God and conscious of the provision and person of Jesus. He enabled them to trust God while using their abilities. He made their abilities effective and their timing perfect.
We can’t, but God can! Trust Him!
LORD, help us to pay attention to the Small Things that are Big!
Why, If, Then
Jeremiah 7:5-7 – “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.”
As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, three words filled my mind: Why, If, Then.
Jeremiah 4:1 begins with the call to Repentance. Everything in God’s kingdom begins at the Gate of Repentance. He said, Repent, and return! In that is “putting away” that which is not life-giving. THEN, the promises, provisions, and presence of God would be their companion.
Jeremiah 7:5 says, “IF (that pesky word), we amend our ways (hearts) and our doings (actions).” We are the temple of God! IF requires action on our part.
Jeremiah 12 is filled with the perplexity of life and its seeming unfairness. WHY? (v 2). When we read verses 1-2, we cannot help but be amazed. Out of those verses comes the challenge of verse 5, which speaks of facing life with and without God. Which is our way?
Then, I was challenged in the Book of Acts about the Church, the Family of God, and the Harvest. The harvest will not be reached, and our assignment will not be completed by church attendance or even giving sermons in church. This Gospel of the King and Kingdom is a life manifested, not an action we take. It is exposing others to the Christ in us.
How did the church become a mega-church in Jerusalem? It wasn’t the great oratory, innovative activities, the splendor of the facilities, or the programs. It was Jesus in them touching people where they were (geographically and spiritually). They filled Jerusalem with their doctrine (teaching, message, experience). They demonstrated a life of difference, not indifference. (Acts 5:28-29).
In Acts 4:4, we find that 5,000 men were saved because of one miracle. I wonder how much a miracle would affect us today and for how long?
The Gospel consumed them. Acts 5:42 – “And they did not cease to teach DAILY in the temple and at home and to preach concerning our Lord Jesus Christ.”
If what we have spiritually is not impacting those around us, has it impacted us? Maybe that would be a good barometer for self-examination. Do those around us want what we have? Do they seek God because of what they see in us? Do they?
LORD, help us to become who You have designed us to be!
God’s Do Over
Isaiah 65:17 – “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I heard several things. The thoughts were: Do over. Generational word. No king, but… Recognize. Those may seem unconnected, but let’s consider them.
Isaiah 65:17 caused me to pause and contemplate! I thought, this is God’s Do Over! No, He is not trying to correct an error, but a reality that God is never without a plan, and for man, God is a God of second chances. Tragically, some live as if that second chance extends into eternity.
In Jeremiah 2:31, we find God speaking through the prophet a word to a generation. God is a personal God, but speaks to generations and nations. He has a word for this generation. We need to hear His call.
In John 19:15, the religious crowd proclaimed their true allegiance – “We have no king but Caesar.” We all have a king in our lives. The question is, who is that king? Where our treasure is defines and identifies our King. If Jesus is King, we honor and serve Him. We exhibit love, not hate. We serve rather than demand to be served.
Then John 20:14 stopped me in my tracks with a disturbing reality. Mary was at the tomb seeking the body of Jesus. She saw the angels and then turned and saw Jesus. “But she did not know that it was Jesus.” We do that. We see Him but do not recognize Him. We see it in other people. We see it in opportunities almost daily. Sadly, too often, we do not see Jesus. We see people or problems and fail to recognize Jesus in them.
Is this disconnected? I don’t think so. If we truly understand that God’s mercy extends second chances to us, we realize it does for others as well, and mercy flows. If we understand that God has generational words, we discern the times and yield to His present purposes. If we realize that everyone has a king, we more readily reject the flesh and turn to God. If we understand that God is in everything, we will always recognize Jesus, no matter who or what we encounter.
Father, help us discern the times!
Abiding Comfort
John 14:1-6 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, the word “abide” captured my consciousness. The word “comfort” also kept surfacing. Not just an abiding comfort but an abiding that results in comfort.
Jesus spoke to troubled hearts in John 14. If they were not experiencing a measure of confusion, He would have had no reason to address that. He would have had no reason to speak of heaven as an abode. He would have had no reason to make His promise to return. They were conflicted in their hearts. Their religious mindset, which included a political Messiah, conflicted with His revelation. They saw His departure as defeated, and it produced a measure of hopelessness.
John 14:6 – Jesus IS access and provision. In a sense, having Jesus in the heart is heaven.
John 14:12 describes Christianity 101. In John 15:1-3, He unveiled the reality that failure to bear fruit is evidence of not abiding. He revealed that those who bear fruit will be pruned and that the pruning cleanses, and it comes through the Word (abiding in us). The abiding Word transforms. The abiding Word equips. The abiding Word challenges, teaches, reminds, and comforts. The Holy Spirit (Comforter – Helper) makes the Word alive and applicable.
John 15:5-7 is powerful. Abiding releases fullness and life. Failure to abide produces defeat and death.
John 16:22 is incredible. Seeing the resurrected Jesus (in the Spirit & Heart) produces unalterable joy. But if we stop seeing Him, that Joy departs. Do we have JOY? That’s the key to most spiritual problems – seeing or not seeing the resurrected Jesus!
If we see Him, we can ABIDE in Him, and in that abiding state, we have COMFORT. From that condition, we become His instruments and representations in this world with His power. John 16:33 – Peace is in Jesus! He has overcome the world, and we have no reason to be afraid.
Lord help us to experience the Abiding Comfort of Your Continual Presence in our Lives!
Learning to Wait
Isaiah 40:28-31 – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom. 29 He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. 30 Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. 31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, GOD became my focus. Isaiah 40:28-31 gripped my mind and filled me with wonder, calmness, awe, and inspiration.
He is Creator, tireless, without equal, and He gives us strength and health. In the natural, even the young and strong get tired, but in God, there is a continual renewal and infusion of divine life. Those who learn to wait on God are renewed! The key is WAIT (trust).
God is THE LIVING GOD, Creator of All Things! He is our God (personal intimate relationship). He has, does, and will help us. He is our defense attorney. He is our HELPER! (Isaiah 41:10-13).
Isaiah 43:2 reminds us of His keeping power and promise.
Isaiah 48:10 is a needed reminder. “I have purified you in the furnace of affliction.”
We treat delay as denial, disfavor, and defeat. We do not WAIT, we WORRY. In John 11:6, we find that Jesus delayed 2 days before responding to the call to come help Lazarus. When He got there, death had occurred, and both Martha and Mary blamed Him, “If You had been here…”
The awesomeness of God quiets the fears of the heart. The WAITING heart is not troubled by delay or even apparent defeat. If we truly realize, believe, and embrace Him as THE LIVING GOD, nothing shakes us. Are we shaken? Why? Today is the day He has made, and He is the God of Renewed Strength! Believe and Receive!
LORD, teach us to wait and Trust in our Waiting!
Roy's Covenant Corner 