Category: Prayer Intention

FOOL’S GOLD

“All things are vanity!” –Ecclesiastes 1:2 King Solomon, who is credited with writing the book of Ecclesiastes, was one of the richest people in history (see 1 Kgs 10:14ff). He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kgs 11:3). He could get anything he wanted any time he wanted. Many people today are trying hard to become more like Solomon. They want to be able to relax “for years to come,” “eat heartily, drink well,” and enjoy themselves (Lk 12:19). Solomon, who ought to know, says they are fools (see Lk 12:20), for “all things are vanity!” (Eccl...

PROFILES IN COURAGE

“John had told him, ‘It is not right for you to live with her.’ ” –Matthew 14:4 Jeremiah courageously confronted his opponents: “It was the Lord Who sent me to prophesy” (Jer 26:12) and “Mark well: if you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves” (Jer 26:15). Uriah prophesied the same thing to the same people as Jeremiah did (Jer 26:20). However, instead of courageously confronting his enemies, he “fled in fear to Egypt” (Jer 26:21). King Jehoiakim had him hunted down and killed (Jer 26:22-23). Courage makes a difference how you live or die....

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE

“When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the Lord bade Him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, ‘You must be put to death!’ ” –Jeremiah 26:8 Jeremiah knew he would be rejected and possibly killed when he prophesied that the Temple would be destroyed. Nevertheless, Jeremiah obeyed the Lord and spoke out. Jesus knew He would be without honor in His native place (Mt 13:57), but, in obedience to His Father, He went there anyway. We know that when we speak up for Jesus, we will suffer the consequences from our anti-Christian society....

THE ULTIMATE QUALITY CONTROL

“Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased.” –Jeremiah 18:4 God is the Potter, and we are the clay (Jer 18:6; Is 64:7). However, because we are living, free clay, we can choose not to cooperate with God. In that case, what the Potter is making turns out badly, and He will start over again (Jer 18:4). The Lord insists on quality (see 1 Cor 3:12-15). In fact, at the end of the world, lives of godly quality will...

HE ATE THE WHOLE THING

“When I found Your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore Your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” –Jeremiah 15:16 Many of us find it hard to read the Bible, but the Lord wants us to eat the Bible, to consume, even devour it. “Not on bread alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). His Word is like honey from the comb (Ps 19:11), sweet at first although later soured by persecution (Rv 10:9-10). Nonetheless, God’s Word is still...