Good morning to all on this new year of 2012. Waine and I were blessed to bring in the New Year with Freddie, Tracy, Kai and Hailie. Waine and I are already having "grandchildren withdrawal" as we didn't have little ones crawling into bed with us to wake us up in the morning. What a blessing to have grandchildren in your life to remind you that you indeed walked this earth! I am more convinced tan ever, that if you stay in "Christ faith" your day, your week, your month, and your year will be blessed and runny over.
I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 17: verses 19-27, "This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and stand at the Gate of the People, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘Hear the Word of the LORD, you kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem who come through these gates. This is what the LORD says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors. Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline. But if you are careful to obey me, declares the LORD, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever. People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD. But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
I just love the Lord because He is good, righteous and generous! This is a commandment with a PROMISE! He is commanding the Israelites to keep the Sabbath Day HOLY by not "trading in commerce" on this one day. He specially told Jeremiah to tell them not to bring goods either in or out of the main gate of the city. To not concentrate on making a living on this one day but instead learning how to live by focusing their attention on God and their relationship with God. But it was not just a message to the Jews but to everyone living in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the equivalent of New York city. Many people of many faiths lived there. It was the seat of commerce for that region. Goods and services were always being traded and when you are focused on making money, God knows this will consume you. God was not condemning commerce, He just wanted the inhabitants of Jerusalem to not have their focus on it for 1 day a week. When you think about these verses they also have a practical message; if the inhabitants of Jerusalem were not busy blocking the gate to the city on the Sabbath, there would be a clear path for folk living outside of the city to bring in their offerings and also give them an opportunity to trade with the folk inside of the city walls on the next day. By obeying God, the inhabitants of Jerusalem would prosper!
Now some folk will focus on what they have been instructed to do which was to "not trade" in commerce for 1 day. They will focus on the lack of the opportunity to make money or become economically enhanced. These folk's glass will always be half-empty. There are others that will thank God for the rest provided and the enhanced opportunities for their future. These folk's glass is always half-full. Which camp are you in? Do you see a faith in Christ as restricting; a religion of do's and don'ts or do you see your faith in Christ as liberating and energizing? You will only have a relationship with God through Christ as you read and learn of them through the Word. When you come to know God through Christ and are able to walk daily with God through the Holy Spirit then you will LOVE God! When you love God then you will be made whole! When you are WHOLE then you will be victorious in all things. Never second guess that path that Faith and Obedience takes you down. There is a "pot of gold" at the end of the trail and it is yours know and into eternity. To know God is to Love God. To love God is to Serve God. Be blessed today!
Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace!
Stephanie
No comments:
Post a Comment