Today’s Reading, Jeremiah 38-41
Focal Scripture: Jeremiah 38:6 “So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.”
Doing and speaking what you’re asked to from the Lord has done sequences. Sometimes those consequences are good. People get saved, hope is delivered and lives are changed. Other times those consequences can lead to suffering and punishment. Even when you’re doing the right thing.
This is where we find ourselves today. Jeremiah has been declaring the word of the Lord. In doing so people have become very upset. They wanted him destroyed and punished. So the people decided to lower him in a muddy well with no water. The scriptures even tell us that he sunk in the mud. Why? Because he declared the word of the Lord.
The lesson here for us is to know that our calling is to speak on behalf of the Lord. We represent him and in doing this can lead to anger from others. This anger can often lead to hate and people actively trying to destroy you for following the Lord. In our American context most of us won’t face death for our faith. However, we can face other challenges.
We might be left out or secluded. Not hired for a job. Talked about or gossiped to others. Or worse yet people actively trying to destroy your reputation or career. None of these are as bad as death but it is still difficult.
We must always try to do what is right no matter what. No matter the consequences to us personally. We must trust the Lord will honor his word.
Have confidence in God.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Jeremiah 42-45
