DAY 306

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Jeremiah 24, 25 & 26 and Titus 2

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine

Today, while we are jumping back-and-forth a little bit, the exile is happening. In chapter 24 we read about it and how God begins to offer hope to those who are in exile—those good figs. In chapter 25 we jump back a bit, but the situation is still the same and people are not thrilled with regards to Jeremiah and his message.

So what is the cost, what is the cost any of us is willing to bear with regards to following God? Jeremiah’s has been put in the stocks, and now his life is threatened. Most of us are not called to publically cry out against the government and the church—Jeremiah was! And Jeremiah did it…at great cost. He was not to marry or have a family, and he lived a life of what seems like constant rejection…the warnings of God from his mouth do not seem to have made a difference…or did they?

We are called to follow God and to proclaim his Good News; that is not a very welcome message these days either. Jeremiah lived in a form of government called a “theocracy”—where government and state were fused. We live in a democracy with freedom of religion, but with separation of church and state. Are we to speak out against the state? Are we to speak out against the church? My short answer is that we are to do what God tells us to do—God told Jeremiah to speak!

Beyond that, in general I think our first responsibility is to hold ourselves, the church, accountable. If the church cannot function as God’s people, then to “call out” the state is to practice hypocrisy. And right now we have a lot of needed improvement in the church.

The other point I want to suggest has to do with a comment I made above…did Jeremiah make a difference? Some would say “no” because the people did not repent. You might look at it another way. Is Jeremiah’s life, his faithful and hard life, an example for you and me? I think it is. Might some people have listened to Jeremiah and turned around and followed God? I believe some did. Might some religious leaders and some of the king’s officials done so? I also believe some of these did. I believe when Jeremiah went to glory with his Father in heaven, then he saw his impact. I think the same is true for us…be careful not to measure yourself by worldly standards…be faithful in season and out…fight the good fight…for the Lord knows the work He needs you to do.