August 4, 2014. The Bible readings for today are Judges 18; Acts 22; Jeremiah 32; Psalms 1-2 It is an overcast morning with indications of pending rain, which could spoil many of the celebrations planned for today, New Brunswick day. We had wonderful visit with our daughter Cheryl, who regaled and inspired us with stories of her doctoral studies at graduate school and of clients whose lives have been profoundly touched. She sat aside two days of her vacation to garden with me, and visit with Marilyn, capping the visit by baking me a pile of tea biscuits. Her specialty is the rehabilitation of cognitive disorders and she left me some research papers that are absolutely fascinating with their small insights into the complexity of the human brain. In Acts 22, Paul describes to a mob the process that he went through to become a follower of Jesus and eventually a missionary to the Gentiles. He is under arrest, but also the protection of the Roman commander. Note the direct communications that Paul had from Jesus. In Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah is also in confinement, imprisoned by the king for prophesying the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, but Jeremiah, directed by the Lord, also purchases a property as a sign that stability and prosperity will again return. After a lengthy condemnation of the people of Israel and Judah, the chapter ends with the promise by God to “bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.” He goes on to further prophesy a wonderful future relationship: “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul. “ (v38-41) As God said to Jeremiah earlier, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”(v27) God is just, but also operates in grace and is faithful to His promises.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 13:30:56 +0000
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