Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:10:50 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna Aug. 16-BP: Jer. 11; RBTTY: Rom. 15:14-33; Ps. 94-96
August 16 “A Blessing and A Curse”
“The Word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying ‘Hear the words of this covenant and speak unto the men of
Jeremiah 11:1-4
He won’t force us to do it, but He’ll still hold us accountable.
Choices, choices, choices.
Life’s full of them. Some of trivial (e.g., which restaurant in which to eat, what type clothes, camera or watch to buy, etc.) while others are major (e.g., whom to marry, what job to take, where to build our house, what car to buy, etc.).
But, none of them can compare to the choices described in today’s Manna—from they have eternal consequences.
There’s no doubt that Jeremiah was called, chosen and commissioned by God to do what he was doing and preaching what he was preaching. Even before he was “formed in his mother’s womb, the Lord knew him—and even before he came out of her womb, the Lord God sanctified him and ordained him to be a prophet unto the nations” (1:5).
Like Moses, Gideon, other saints of old, etc., Jeremiah felt inadequate to do God’s bidding (1:6-7); yet, God told him, “Don’t worry! Don’t be afraid of their faces—for I Am (Who I Am) with you to deliver you. . .and have put My words in your mouth” (vv.8-9).
There’s no doubt that it wasn’t an easy ministry. You don’t preach to folks for over 40 years without seeing any changes without getting “battle-hardened.” However, hopefully, like 24-karat in the refiner’s fire, we get “softer” (more “pliable”) on the Potter’s Wheel, not bitter or operating with grim determination.
God’s words to Jeremiah in our Manna were tough words to be sure: “Cursed is the man that obeys not the words of this covenant.” No preacher (like a doctor) likes to get up and give a dismal diagnosis; but, hopefully along with it there is a hopeful prognosis. Pity the preacher and the parishioner when there’s not (Jer. 7:16).
What’s being said here is that there’s an inherent blessing for those who follow the Lord and an imminent curse for those who don’t. That’s what the Lord God told Moses to tell the people—“Behold I set before you this day good and evil. . .life and death. . .a blessing and a curse” (Dt. 30:14-20; 11:26).
Does this mean God is some insecure celestial tyrant who forces people to obey him or he zaps them with a lightning bolt? No, not at all. He simply knows our attempting to live our lives apart from Him and His “Guidelines for Living” always leave us empty; but, when we “walk in the Spirit, there is now no condemnation” (Rom. 8:1). Glory!!
Thanks,
Mr. Lynn M. Smith
Department Business Administrator
Department of Economics
204C McElhinney Hall
(713) 743-3802 (office)
(713) 743-3798 (fax)
LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)
http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)
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