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 Jeremiah 25:1-7: Hearing problems.(please click here for todays passage)

When I was an assistant pastor in my first church it was my delight to be sent to visit an elderly couple who were just a joy to be with. I remember the lovely old man (who I can see in my mind’s eye still, but whose name I have sadly forgotten) telling me that he went to ‘the hard of hearing club!’ He had problems with deafness; but he did not choose his condition.

It was different with Judah. They put themselves in ‘the hard of hearing club’ by wilful, stubborn rebellion. They were like the little boy who sticks his fingers in his ears because he does not want to listen to his ‘ticking off’. This prophecy was given by Jeremiah nineteen years before the fall of Jerusalem – about half way through his ministry. He, and other prophets, had warned the people of Judah over and over again, but they had not listened (3, 4).

Here are three questions for us to consider:

What is God saying ‘’persistently’’? (3, 4): What is the thing God keeps bringing up with you, and you don’t want to talk about it? You don’t want to hear.

Where, and how, are you tuning Him out? (3, 7): ‘’…but you have not listened…Yet you have not listened…’’ If you don’t like a particular radio programme; if, for some reason, the presenter is annoying you, you can just turn the off switch. He’s still speaking, but you’re not listening. It’s a deliberate choice. Click. He’s gone as far as you’re concerned. You don’t have to be bothered by him anymore. People try and do something similar with God. A friend of mine was disturbed by burglars one night. For a long time afterwards he couldn’t sleep. He heard the slightest noise. Eventually he found a workable solution. Ear plugs. He put them in every night and made friends with sleep once more. This was a good thing for my acquaintance, but it’s a bad thing when we put in the plugs to avoid hearing the sounds from heaven.

Do you realise where such deliberate deafness leads? To ‘’harm’’ (6, 7). You hurt yourself when you don’t listen to God; when you turn a deaf ear to His voice. If you keep on walking down the road with your ear plugs in it will take you to judgment. It also leads to misery, poverty, famine, darkness, waste and ruin (10,11). ‘’And I’ll banish every sound of joy – singing, laughter, marriage festivities, genial workmen, candlelit suppers. The whole landscape will be one vast wasteland.’’ The Message. If you fancy living in such a barren environment, keep sticking your fingers in your ears. That will get you there.

One final thought for today:

‘’One could say that Jeremiah had failed…But fortunately for Jeremiah (and for us) God does not measure the value of one’s ministry by its ‘’success’’ or ‘’failure’’ but rather by the faithfulness of the minister. This should be an encouragement to those Christian workers who labour in difficult circumstances, whose churches don’t grow, whose preaching falls on deaf ears. The truth is that spiritual success in ministry is brought about by the Lord (John 21:1-6). Our role is to trust the Lord and follow His directions.’’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary, pp.1110, 1111.

 1 Timothy 6:20-21: True riches.(please click here for todays passage)

I read recently that Simon Cowell’s home has been targeted in a burglary. If you are seen to have a lot in this world, there will be greedy eyes locked on to your possessions. There are plenty of people around who want to steal your ‘treasures’.

As we saw yesterday, in the final section of his first letter Paul teaches about the correct handling of wealth. He tells Timothy what he should say to rich Christians.

But the final exhortation to Timothy reminds us where the truest treasure lies:

‘’And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life.’’ The Message.

‘’Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.’’ New International Version.

Timothy did not have a complete Bible – not as we know it. But what he did have he was to ‘’guard’’ as ‘’treasure’’. In the face of false teaching, he had a commission to keep on preaching the truth as it had been revealed to him. He also needed to guard his own heart so that he did not ‘catch’ the deadly heretical ‘infection’ that was doing the rounds.

Do you treasure your Bible more than any other earthly possession? Are your truest riches to be found in the gospel?

Church leaders especially have a sober responsibility to guard the riches of God’s revelation. This message does not belong to us. It has been ‘’entrusted’’ to our care. Let’s make sure it is never stolen from our own hearts, or from the flock in our care.

From time to time you hear stories of evangelical church leaders who no longer believe what they once were committed to. Some stand up and express their unbelief publicly. I heard of one such incident recently. It is tragic, and damaging, when it happens. To stay true to God and His Word to the very end is our commission. To fulfil it we will need resources from outside. So the final words of today’s reading sparkle with relevance, and meet our need:

‘’Overwhelming grace keep you.’’ The Message.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for entrusting your finest riches to fickle people such as we are. But thank you too that you do more than ask us to stand guard. You give us armour to wear so that the thief doesn’t get past us to steal the loot.

Luke 4:14-30: The shadow of the cross.(please click here for todays passage)

David Pawson, preaching about Pentecost (Acts 2) noted that when a house is on fire you don’t have any publicity problems. The fire advertises itself. People come to see what is happening. As we begin today’s reading I note in (14) that Spirit-filled Christianity carries its own in-built publicity. The Holy’s Spirit’s work is to glorify Jesus.

We read that Jesus ‘’went into the synagogue, as was his custom.’’ (16). Again, here are good habits of public devotion exemplified in God’s Son. ‘’The piety of Jesus’ parents continues in Jesus…’’ IVP Commentary.

What a role model Jesus is for every preacher. We have already seen Him as a Man of the Word. Here, in the synagogue in Nazareth, He takes God’s Word, reads it and them simply explains and applies it (16-21). Powerful preaching involves the opening up of the Bible by a Spirit-filled person. Jesus’ first ministry was to preach the gospel (18; see 15, 43 and 44.) But along with the Word you also see the works. There is an example of Him freeing a prisoner/releasing the oppressed in 33-35.

Verse 20 describes a good start from the congregation’s point of view, with every eye ‘’fastened’’ on Jesus. That is how to live, day by day and moment by moment. That’s how we need to be ‘in church’ and it’s a reminder to all who lead and preach to keep the focus on the Master.

How fickle people can be. How quickly, and even violently, public opinion can change (22-30). When the message bit; when they found it to be challenging and unpalatable, they became murderously angry (25 – 30). As was the case with Herod and Herodias and John the Baptist (3:19, 20), as soon as the message didn’t suit there was a hostile reaction. Surely this story ends with a miraculous escape. But from the beginning of His ministry Jesus walked in the shadow of the cross. It fell on Him here. We can see it clearly. But He could not die until it was God’s Time. Someone said, ‘’I am immortal until all the will of God for me is accomplished.’’

‘’Jesus’ synagogue declaration brings a moment of decision for those who hear his claims. A snapshot of his entire ministry flashes in this brief exchange. Jesus offers much, but the crowd questions what is on offer. In the tension of the contrast, Luke’s readers are left to choose sides.’’ IVP Commentary.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to align myself with you – today, tomorrow and always.