Daily Devotion and Meditation on the Word of God on January 30, 2009

Hello My Friend; Good day.

Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 45. This is a very short chapter which should have been appended to chapter 36. In the 4 th year of the reign of Jehoiakim, 605 B.C., Jeremiah told Baruch to write on the scroll everything he would dictate and go to the Temple to read it out to the people. At that time Prophet Jeremiah had been banned from entering the Temple because of his controversial prophecies. Baruch carried out this instruction and got into a lot of trouble and threats to his life. Please refer to Jeremiah chapter 36 and re-read it.Look at 36:19: "Then the officials said to Baruch, you and Jeremiah, go and hide. Don't let anyone know where you are." So you know, after king Jehoiakim had burnt the scroll, he ordered the arrest of Jeremiah and Baruch(36:26).

Due to this threats, Baruch was afraid and began to complain openly about how much trouble was out there for him saying: "Woe to me ! The Lord has added sorrow to my pen. i am worn out with groaning and find no rest."(verse 3). We should understand that it was no easy task to write the prophecies with pen and ink. So Baruch was right. In fact he had to write it over after the king had burned the first scroll. Then after that to face the threat of death. Some of us have not suffered like that yet we complain. But listen to the Word of the Lord to Baruch: "Should you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life."(verse 5). Baruch had the whole chapter 45 of Jeremiah recounting God's message to him. God does not promise us riches and fame, but He promises to be with us. Baruch was given an assurance of God's protection during troubling times. Think about it like this. You were in a place like Iraq during the invasion and God sent the Prophet to tell you that nothing will harm you. That would be a great news. My friend, God does not forget our good deeds. He constantly things about those who obey His laws. Hallelujahs. Amen.

Prayer for today: (Adapted from Psalm 25) : Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are of old. Show us your ways, guide us in your truth, and teach us for you are God our Savior and our hope is in you all day long. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.