Jeremiah 17:1-27

Disappointment is one of the saddest feelings we will ever experience.  As much as we might try to curb our expectations in life; we all end up having certain expectations we hope will be realized.  All too often we find ourselves falling far short of those expectations and being overcome with disappointment.  As believers we can be assured that disappointment will not our final feeling because our eternal dwelling will far exceed any of our expectations.  However, while we are on earth we run the risk of feeling bitter disappointment because are sinful hearts can easily expect and desire that which is not best for the kingdom of God.  The greatest sorrow is the reality of all who do not trust the Lord and place all their hope in false gods who only lead to earthly disappointment and eternal destruction.

DECEITFUL HEARTS WILL DISAPPOINT US: When our trust is misplaced disappointment will inevitably follow.  Judah had placed her trust in idols.  The heritage of idolatry was passed from generation to generation to the point that the children had only memories of altars to false gods.  The expectations that these false gods had any power to deliver them from their enemies would only lead to disappointment.  They were about to be dragged away in slavery because they placed their trust in that which is false.  When men trust themselves they will be unproductive and end up withering away into nothingness.  When men trust in God they are fruitful and have no reason to fear.  Our problem is our hearts naturally deceive us into trusting ourselves and others instead of God.  The Lord knows the reality of our innermost thoughts and motives and we will find ourselves being profoundly disappointed by our own stupidity if we fail to trust Him.  On the other hand, God will faithfully deliver us from the evils of this world and the terror of eternal judgment if we will simply trust Him and not our own deceptive hearts.


DISOBEDIENT HANDS WILL DISAPPOINT US: God has made His will very clear to His people in His Word.  There are things He expects us to do and things He prohibits us from doing.  When we chose to rebel against His will it is inevitable that we will experience disappointment.  God had told His people not to work on the Sabbath but to set it aside for the purpose of rest and worship.  This was a physical means of demonstrating trust in God.  We often wonder what the big deal was about picking up sticks on Saturday.  Jesus showed us that it was not really about picking up sticks but the real issue was the heart.  When they chose to work on Saturday instead of worship they revealed a complete lack of trust in God.  Disobedience is, at the heart, distrust.  Resting on Saturday was a physical demonstration of their trust in God to provide for their needs apart from their own work.  God is not a promoter of laziness.  He wants us to exercise diligent confidence in Him.  Hard work couple with self-confidence is a recipe for disappointment.  The people refused to obey God because they refused to trust Him so they decided to place their trust in self and just keep on working through the Sabbath.  The result was profound disappointment as they were being drug through the fields in which they were picking up sticks as slaves to foreign lands and in eternity separation from God.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more

1 Timothy 2:1-7

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and   dignified in every way.    This is good, and   it is pleasing in the sight of   God our Savior,   who desires   all people to be saved and   to come to   the knowledge of the truth.    For   there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,   who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is   the testimony given   at the proper time.    For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying),   a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.   Prayer is one of the greatest privileges believers have and it should be one of our greatest priorities.  Too often our lives are more often marked by complaining about our circumstances and our political leaders than by prayers for them.  The government in Paul’s day
Read more