THE PRIZE
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 39-41
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This statue of Cola Di Rienzo was erected in 1877 near Campidoglio, Italy, where he was killed. Di Rienzo was an Italian medieval politician and popular leader in the mid-14th century. As far as we know, the people of Jerusalem did not make sculptures of their most famous leaders, otherwise there would’ve been statues of David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and Josiah. These men all accomplished great things, unlike the king in today’s reading who was disgraced and executed by the Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jeremiah 39:18
“…For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.
Our key verse gives us the eternal perspective of God as He sees the future deliverance of His people. This should help us to realize that when we put our trust in God, regardless of present circumstances, we’ll eventually win the “Gold.”
Chapter 39 – After 18 months of siege, the Babylonians broke through Jerusalem’s walls, burned the city, captured King Zedekiah, killed his sons in front of him, blinded him and took him to Babylon in chains, never to return to Jerusalem. Such was the end of one who had repeatedly heard the Word of God but ignored it. Zedekiah brought this on himself. God had done His best through Jeremiah to warn the King (2 Kings 25:4-7).
Chapters 40 & 41 show us why Jeremiah won God’s prize for his life. The Babylonians released him from Zedekiah’s prison and offered him position, land and freedom in Babylon, but he chose to stay home and minister to those left behind in the ruins of their country, where wicked and violent men such as Ishmael were creating continued havoc. Our choices also should be to stay where we are most needed, serving the Lord faithfully.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that I will consistently do my very best to win the prize of life, here and now, as well as eternally. Lord, Your Word tells me that my works will be “revealed by fire.” The “wood, hay and straw” will be burned up, but the “gold, silver and precious stones” will remain (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). I’m asking for grace to “strive for the prize.” In the Name of the One Who has gone before me, the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I cannot help but recall the first gathering ever of the leaders of various Christian denominations in the history of communist Russia and the former 14 additional republics of the Soviet Union. Undeservedly, I was invited to be the speaker at two nights of this conference. With the help of a Finnish ministry, we had earlier released across the Soviet Union the first ever Christian-produced TV series in the Russian language on prime time television. I had the privilege on these telecasts of interviewing leading scientists, philosophers, etc. about God’s creation. The USSR was officially atheist, and our goal was to create doubt in the minds of those who believed that God did not exist. As was the case with Jeremiah, pastors had been severely persecuted. One pastor I met had badly twisted fingers on his right hand. I asked him what happened. He said that the local authorities had broken his fingers, one at a time, to try to make him deny his faith in God, but he refused. I felt like crawling under the table at which we were sitting. I was not worthy to be in his presence, let alone be the guest preacher. I weep at the memory.
Yours for striving for the “gold” that will remain through the fire,
David
P.S. Prior to the invasion of Iraq (Chaldea/Babylon) by the American coalition of nations, billboards were everywhere which pictured the brutal dictator, Saddam Hussein, with his hero, Nebuchadnezzar.
Saddam Hussein and King Nebuchadnezzar on a billboard in Iraq. This modern would-be emperor tortured and murdered tens of thousands of his people. He allowed his sons to have “rape rooms” to which they took any woman that they wanted. This was evil personified!
The depths of love for You are so great, we cannot put them into words, this morning, Lord God. We bow down in prayer to You and receive Your presence in our humbleness and surrender to our constant need for Your love and forgiveness. We show our humility by thinking less of ourselves and only about Your great power and mercy. You are the God who moves the mountains! You are the Lord who parts the seas! You are the King who makes miracles and who heals! You are the Yahweh, who provides! You are the Prince of Peace who gives us comfort. You are the King of Kings! You are the rock of our salvation who gives us the strength to stand and keep going. We praise You, Lord! We glorify You, God! In Jesus’ precious Name, we pray. Amen, amen, and amen! God bless you, fellow saints!
Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
Luke 18:1 KJV
Corey Voss – God Who Moves The Mountains (Official Lyric Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3xsn6db2iI
Amen to your prayer, Beverlee.
Have a blessed day.
Amen Beverlee, amen.
Amen .
Amen Beverlee!
May our God bless you today and always
In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
yes, Amen Beverlee
Amen
Amen
Amen!
I can only imagine the fear, bedlam and terror in today’s reading. How blessed we are to live in Canada.
If we accept our secularized culture’s worldview, trusting conventional wisdom or our own is the best we can do. Conversely, since our Father’s “ways are higher than your ways” and his “thoughts than your thoughts,” we can know that his will for us is always better than we can imagine (Isaiah 55:8).
In fact, he is the greatest heart surgeon in the universe: “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekiel 36:26–27). Dr. Jim Denison.
I saw the Light: https://youtu.be/9tjp_5Yb9hE
God’s blessings on all saints this day and always.
Amen Lynda!
Amen Lynda
Father God, we pray that Your Word goes out clearly to all this world, in Canada and all countries. Please give Your people opportunities to share, and great boldness, compassion and wisdom to proclaim Your message to others. Please raise up Godly leaders; people who are zealous to see Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on Earth as in Heaven. May all the glory go to You, Lord, because You have done, are doing, and will do great things. In Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen to that, Rob. We need to realize that the Word of God, and prayer, is not allowed in our schools and in many other places. We need to pray especially for the children.
Amen Doreen
Amen
Amen Rob
Amen Rob
These were one above the other in my files.I couldn’t choose between them.To me they are messages within a simple poem.Have to blow out my yard and a friends.Yall be blessed.
Abide In Me
Abide in Me and I will give you life,
For if you first seek Me out sincerely
Then you will share what grows rife,
In My grace where you are held dearly.
You are a branch and I am the tree,
With Me you will know life eternal,
But if cut off from your life with Me,
You are doomed to a life infernal.
So into my open arms you must flee,
For I love all who seek out my trust,
To accept the love,abundant and free,
Instead of greed that turns all to dust.
G W (Bill) Marshall/ Feb 20, 2013
=================
Opened The Door
I have opened the door while upon the cross,
But still you turn away and refuse to see
That love is the key to avoid eternal loss;
If you would but choose life and follow me.
The kingdom I offer is of love through grace,
Your entrance is paid by each drop of my blood,
But to follow is to step out of your cozy place,
To share a love that shall come like a flood.
So turn away from greed and selfish things
And know this is the time you must prepare,
For soon is the return of the King of kings,
When I take My bride to the Home we’ll share.
Amen Bill. The kingdom our Lord offers is of love through grace.
Just watched yesterday’s 100 Huntley Street and am praying for Ann Mainse. God is with you and you are in His loving Hands, dear Ann. You are a most beloved Child of God and I look forward to reading your book when it is done and seeing you again on 100 Huntley Street. Much love and continuous prayers.
Agreeing with your prayer for Ann Mainse, Beverlee
Me too Beverlee, I am praying for dear Anne.
Read all comments dear friends. Blessings to everyone. Eleanor M.
God Heal Ann In Jesus Name
Yes if the Word stood stedfast and sure in Jeremiah’s time, it will continue to do so as the end of the Bible shows. His Word is yea and amen and it says how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation. Feel I should convey this to my loved ones and friends. Thank God we are still in the Age of Grace when the Lord is still reaching out in love and not judgement.
Have a big project ahead today too with a helper from church to blow the snow away from my buildings. The Lord gave me grace to wait for help. Please pray for me as I have an appointment with my cardiologist tomorrow and it is suppose to snow again. Thanks and God bless you all.
Heavenly Father I pray for Your protection over Ger in all she does; I pray you go before her to her appointment tomorrow, In Your Name Jesus I pray. Amen
Agreeing with Irene re: protection and help for Ger. Amen.
Lord God bless Ger; pray all goes well with her appointment with the cardiologist, pray she is 100% healed, thank you Lord in Jesus Name we Pray amen
Agreeing in pray for Ger
In Jesus Name Amen
Agreeing with you in prayer for Anne as well Beverlee.
Thank you Irene and Beverlee. God bless you.
Dear Ger,
Praying that you get to and from your appointment safely. I pray also that it will be a good appointment with encouraging news from your cardiologist.
Blessings on everyone!
Such beautiful comments, prayers, poems and agreements in this days posts. Don’t have time throughout the days to comment on many of the posts but I pray for all concerned. God bless you all.
Amen Lynda D.
I agree with you and I also pray for all concerned.
May God bless all in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.