Hello My Friend; Good day.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 39. In this chapter the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians was finally actualized. Many people from Judah were taken into exile. Only the poor people, the sick and lonely were left behind. Jeremiah was among those left behind but to his glory he had favour from the Lord and from the King of Babylon. King Zedekiah who did not hid the warnings of Jeremiah attempted to escape at the last minute but was captured and taken to Riblah, where the king of Babylon put him on trial and passed sentence. His sons were killed before his eyes and after that, his eyes were poked out, and he was put in chains. His palace was burned down and Jerusalem completely destroyed. That was the reward of the wicked, but look at verses 11 and 12. Nebuchadnezzar had given the following orders to Nebuzaradan: "Find Jeremiah and keep him safe. Take good care of him and do whatever he asks." In verses 16-18 God sent Jeremiah to tell Ebedmelech from Ethiopia as follows: "I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, .....and you will see it happen. But because you trusted me, I will protect you from the officials of Judah, I will rescue you and keep you alive. I, the Lord have spoken." This is the reward of those who trusted the Lord.
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because he wept for his beloved nation and city, Jerusalem. His people did not believe him but took him for an enemy. How sad it was that the people he loved the most and prayed for every moment of his life hated him so much. But God does not forget and His words are always true. Zedekiah, son of King Josiah and last King of Judah ended very poorly because of his stubbornness. He died in Babylon a miserable death after he witnessed all his sons killed, and his eyes poked out by the Babylonians. The reward of Jeremiah was foretold in chapter 25:2 thus, "I will cause the enemy to treat you well in the day of evil. Jeremiah was faithful to his God and now God shows himself faithful to the promise made to Jeremiah. Ebed-melech's blessing also testifies that God never forgets our good deeds (verse 18 and 19). Be comforted my friend and do not ever be weary of well-doing.
Prayer for today: Adapted from Isaiah 62: Dear Lord, though the peace of Jerusalem had been disturbed, we will not cease to pray for her and cry out to you on her behalf until she shines forth in righteousness. Along with other intercessors we will cry all day and night for the fulfillment of your promises to restore Jerusalem to her glory and make her admired and respected throughout the whole earth. This is our prayer in the Name of the One who is coming to reign in the Millennium Kingdom. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Daily Devotion and Meditation on the Word of God on January 24, 2009
Hello My Friend; Good day.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 38. This is a very interesting passage for many reasons: King Zedekiah was so confused that he listened to everyone but could not make up his mind on the right thing to do. In chapter 37:21 he agreed that Jeremiah should not be killed, but in 38:5, he gave permission for him to be killed. When the officials had put Jeremiah in a cistern so that he might die there, the king was the one who gave permission to Ebed-Melech to go and rescue him. People should ask, how did an African from Ethiopia get to have such an influence on the King of Judah to talk him into giving permission to rescue Jeremiah from the cistern? To those who think or say that Africans had no part in making the Biblical history, there is one instance for your answer. Look again at verse 7. Only a Cushite, a foreigner, cared enough to save the life of a Major Prophet in Israel ! Where were all the Godly people in Judah and Israel?Jeremiah counseled the King after he was rescued from the cistern privately. It seemed that the King finally got it(verses 14-26).
This is a lesson to comfort, all those who serve God. They is a MUST lesson. Jeremiah was repeatedly persecuted by the leaders of Judah for 40 years. Jeremiah was faithful to God because he knew he was not serving man but God. Jeremiah received no popular following, no acclaim, no love, no gratitude, beatten, jailed, forced to leave his home, lowerd into the cistern to die, yet he remained faithful in serving God and his people. How many of us can endure like that? Listen, God does not call us for our personal comfort and glorification, but to duty at our post. God's only guarantee to His servants and children is that He will be with them and give them strength in times of trouble (2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Stop seeking man's approval my friend for the one who called you is the one you ought to answer to for approval. Avoid political correctness in ministry.
Prayer for today:Dear Lord, there are so many voices around but yours is the true voice. Help us to discern the truth and follow it at all cost as Jeremiah did and be blessed through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 38. This is a very interesting passage for many reasons: King Zedekiah was so confused that he listened to everyone but could not make up his mind on the right thing to do. In chapter 37:21 he agreed that Jeremiah should not be killed, but in 38:5, he gave permission for him to be killed. When the officials had put Jeremiah in a cistern so that he might die there, the king was the one who gave permission to Ebed-Melech to go and rescue him. People should ask, how did an African from Ethiopia get to have such an influence on the King of Judah to talk him into giving permission to rescue Jeremiah from the cistern? To those who think or say that Africans had no part in making the Biblical history, there is one instance for your answer. Look again at verse 7. Only a Cushite, a foreigner, cared enough to save the life of a Major Prophet in Israel ! Where were all the Godly people in Judah and Israel?Jeremiah counseled the King after he was rescued from the cistern privately. It seemed that the King finally got it(verses 14-26).
This is a lesson to comfort, all those who serve God. They is a MUST lesson. Jeremiah was repeatedly persecuted by the leaders of Judah for 40 years. Jeremiah was faithful to God because he knew he was not serving man but God. Jeremiah received no popular following, no acclaim, no love, no gratitude, beatten, jailed, forced to leave his home, lowerd into the cistern to die, yet he remained faithful in serving God and his people. How many of us can endure like that? Listen, God does not call us for our personal comfort and glorification, but to duty at our post. God's only guarantee to His servants and children is that He will be with them and give them strength in times of trouble (2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Stop seeking man's approval my friend for the one who called you is the one you ought to answer to for approval. Avoid political correctness in ministry.
Prayer for today:Dear Lord, there are so many voices around but yours is the true voice. Help us to discern the truth and follow it at all cost as Jeremiah did and be blessed through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Jeremiah 37 Daily Devotion & Meditation on the Word of God
Hello My Friend; Good day.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapters 37 . These two chapters can easily be read together. In chapter 37, we see some new events manifesting. The people of Jerusalem had assassinated King Jehoiaikim and appointed his son Coniah commonly known as Jehoiachin, but only three months later he was taken captive to Babylon. In Babylon, Nebuchanezzar dumped Jehoiachin but appointed Zedekiah instead as his agent in Jerusalem. Zedekiah and his officials were not repentant either and all he wanted was for Jeremiah to pray for him for things to change (verses 2 and 3). Do you know anyone who always asks for prayers and blessings from God, but would not yield their lives to God? That was Zedekiah. My Friend, God is not pleased with those who come to Him only for what they can get from God. They want God to play Santa, only to give, bless, protect, and not to be referenced. God is ready to say NO. Look at verses 6-10. Of course out of hate and frustration, Jeremiah was ceased and put in prison, but God was with him and he did not die even though he continued to warn the king and the people with true messages from the Lord. The true Prophet hears from God and gives the message as it was given to him. False prophets are men/women pleasers. They say what the people want to hear. We will see that at the end, all of Jeremiah's prophecies came true exactly as he prophesied.
Prayer for today: Oh Lord God of Israel, your Word is truth. Open our eyes and our ears to see and hear the truth. Give us the discernment to know the truth and to follow the path of truth. Egypt in this lesson represented false hope and that was what happened to Judah. Egypt could not help. Take our hopes away from man, and anchor all our hopes in You the true Salvation of mankind. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapters 37 . These two chapters can easily be read together. In chapter 37, we see some new events manifesting. The people of Jerusalem had assassinated King Jehoiaikim and appointed his son Coniah commonly known as Jehoiachin, but only three months later he was taken captive to Babylon. In Babylon, Nebuchanezzar dumped Jehoiachin but appointed Zedekiah instead as his agent in Jerusalem. Zedekiah and his officials were not repentant either and all he wanted was for Jeremiah to pray for him for things to change (verses 2 and 3). Do you know anyone who always asks for prayers and blessings from God, but would not yield their lives to God? That was Zedekiah. My Friend, God is not pleased with those who come to Him only for what they can get from God. They want God to play Santa, only to give, bless, protect, and not to be referenced. God is ready to say NO. Look at verses 6-10. Of course out of hate and frustration, Jeremiah was ceased and put in prison, but God was with him and he did not die even though he continued to warn the king and the people with true messages from the Lord. The true Prophet hears from God and gives the message as it was given to him. False prophets are men/women pleasers. They say what the people want to hear. We will see that at the end, all of Jeremiah's prophecies came true exactly as he prophesied.
Prayer for today: Oh Lord God of Israel, your Word is truth. Open our eyes and our ears to see and hear the truth. Give us the discernment to know the truth and to follow the path of truth. Egypt in this lesson represented false hope and that was what happened to Judah. Egypt could not help. Take our hopes away from man, and anchor all our hopes in You the true Salvation of mankind. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Jeremiah 36 Daily Devotion & Meditation on the Word of God
Hello My Friend; Good day.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 36. In this chapter, God told Jeremiah to write a book containing all the warnings He had given to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He did so by dictating for Baruch to write. When King Jehoiakim of Judah heard about the scroll, he sent for it and it was read to him. Note verse 23 that when Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with the scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. We are told in verses 27-31 that God instructed Jeremiah to write another scroll containg the same words that the king burned but to add the following statements:1. "He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; 2. his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night; 3. I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness;4. I will bring on them and the people living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened."
It was a terrible thing for the king of Judah to burn the scroll(The Bible). Any one who does such dispicable thing should not go unpunished !!! Look at verse 5. It was a sad affair in Judah and Israel when a Prophet like Jeremiah was restricted from entering the Temple of the Lord and yet these people called themselved declaring a national fast. Look at verse 19 also and note how the officials told Baruch and Jeremiah to go into hiding to avoid being killed by the king. We ought to be thankful to God that we live in a country where there is freedom of religion. Yesterday our new President attended National prayer convocation in Washington. There are also various prayer circles for the President and the leaders. Prayers are definitely needed for our leaders and we urge you to join one of these prayer circles.
And so we join them to pray as follows:
O Lord, God of the unverse, we thank you for our country where we can offer prayers to you freely. We join all the faithful of the land to pray for our President and his family and all the leaders. Keep this country in your Book of Remembrance. Forgive us when we go astray and bring us back into your Grace. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The reading of today came from Jeremiah chapter 36.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 36. In this chapter, God told Jeremiah to write a book containing all the warnings He had given to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He did so by dictating for Baruch to write. When King Jehoiakim of Judah heard about the scroll, he sent for it and it was read to him. Note verse 23 that when Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with the scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. We are told in verses 27-31 that God instructed Jeremiah to write another scroll containg the same words that the king burned but to add the following statements:1. "He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; 2. his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night; 3. I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness;4. I will bring on them and the people living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened."
It was a terrible thing for the king of Judah to burn the scroll(The Bible). Any one who does such dispicable thing should not go unpunished !!! Look at verse 5. It was a sad affair in Judah and Israel when a Prophet like Jeremiah was restricted from entering the Temple of the Lord and yet these people called themselved declaring a national fast. Look at verse 19 also and note how the officials told Baruch and Jeremiah to go into hiding to avoid being killed by the king. We ought to be thankful to God that we live in a country where there is freedom of religion. Yesterday our new President attended National prayer convocation in Washington. There are also various prayer circles for the President and the leaders. Prayers are definitely needed for our leaders and we urge you to join one of these prayer circles.
And so we join them to pray as follows:
O Lord, God of the unverse, we thank you for our country where we can offer prayers to you freely. We join all the faithful of the land to pray for our President and his family and all the leaders. Keep this country in your Book of Remembrance. Forgive us when we go astray and bring us back into your Grace. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The reading of today came from Jeremiah chapter 36.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Jeremiah 35 Daily Devotion & Meditation on the Word of God
Hello My Friend; Good day,
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 35. This is a very interesting story. Jeremiah employed various tactics to frighten the Jews out of disobedience to God, but none seemed to work. In this chapter, he invited the children from the family of Rechab into one of the offices in the temple and offered them wine. Now the Rechabites had a family code of conduct similar to that of the Nazirites which their ancestor gave them instruction not to drink wine and to dwell in tents throughout their generations. They were originally known as the Kenites(see 1 Chronicles 2:55). In this story, they refused to drink the wine given to them by Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah used their obedience to the rule of their ancestor to convict the people of Jerusalem who disobeyed their God while the Rechabites obeyed their father completely. Look at verse 16:"The family of Rechabites have obeyed their father completely, but you have refused to listen to me." See also the blessings that came to the Rechabites in verse 19:"The Lord, the God of Israel, says that because you have obeyed your father in every respect, he shall always have descendants who will worship me."
My Friend, obeying your father and mother is commanded by God. Please read Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:4; and Ephesians 6:1-3. The Rechabites were by far better than the original Israelites because they obeyed their father and by doing so obeyed God. How do you treat your parents today? If your parents are not living, how about your elders and your leaders? The eternal blessings of God are upon those who obey simple fatherly Godly instructions.
Prayer for today:
Adapted from verse 19: May the Lord God of Israel bless all those who obey their parents for this is the only commandment of God that comes with a promise. May you live long on this earth and be blessed with descendants who worship God. Halellujah. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 35. This is a very interesting story. Jeremiah employed various tactics to frighten the Jews out of disobedience to God, but none seemed to work. In this chapter, he invited the children from the family of Rechab into one of the offices in the temple and offered them wine. Now the Rechabites had a family code of conduct similar to that of the Nazirites which their ancestor gave them instruction not to drink wine and to dwell in tents throughout their generations. They were originally known as the Kenites(see 1 Chronicles 2:55). In this story, they refused to drink the wine given to them by Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah used their obedience to the rule of their ancestor to convict the people of Jerusalem who disobeyed their God while the Rechabites obeyed their father completely. Look at verse 16:"The family of Rechabites have obeyed their father completely, but you have refused to listen to me." See also the blessings that came to the Rechabites in verse 19:"The Lord, the God of Israel, says that because you have obeyed your father in every respect, he shall always have descendants who will worship me."
My Friend, obeying your father and mother is commanded by God. Please read Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:4; and Ephesians 6:1-3. The Rechabites were by far better than the original Israelites because they obeyed their father and by doing so obeyed God. How do you treat your parents today? If your parents are not living, how about your elders and your leaders? The eternal blessings of God are upon those who obey simple fatherly Godly instructions.
Prayer for today:
Adapted from verse 19: May the Lord God of Israel bless all those who obey their parents for this is the only commandment of God that comes with a promise. May you live long on this earth and be blessed with descendants who worship God. Halellujah. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Jeremiah 34 - Daily Devotion & Meditation on the Word of God
Hello My Friend; Good day and Congratulations on Obama's Inauguration as the 44th President of USA. It is a uniquely important political event. It suggests the idea of political messiah ship. But we must beware that we cannot put our hopes in humans who breathe through their nostrils. We must put all our hopes in God while we pray for our earthly leaders to do the right things. So we are to pray for Obama and his cabinet.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 34. This chapter and the following four chapters continue to present Jeremiah's warnings and predictions for the captivity of Jerusalem by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. God kept sending messages through Jeremiah, but the people could not repent. King Zedekiah was told that though he would be captured, he will not be killed and he will die a natural death. To the people of Jerusalem, because they failed to free their Hebrew salves, there was no mercy for them, they will be killed and their dead bodies will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth (verse 20). Those who were not killed will be scattered throughout the world as exiles they broke the contract they made with God, so judgment was awaiting them.
How do we regard God's anger towards us and our sinful world today? Do we think that God does not regard sin anymore? If God allowed His beloved nation, Israel to suffer, what about the Gentile nations, which God only extended residual love to? Think about this my friend and repent today.
Prayer for today:
Dear Lord, we have read of your fierce anger towards your beloved people in this chapter. We are as sinful if not more sinful today. Have mercy on us and take away our sins according to your Word for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 34. This chapter and the following four chapters continue to present Jeremiah's warnings and predictions for the captivity of Jerusalem by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. God kept sending messages through Jeremiah, but the people could not repent. King Zedekiah was told that though he would be captured, he will not be killed and he will die a natural death. To the people of Jerusalem, because they failed to free their Hebrew salves, there was no mercy for them, they will be killed and their dead bodies will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth (verse 20). Those who were not killed will be scattered throughout the world as exiles they broke the contract they made with God, so judgment was awaiting them.
How do we regard God's anger towards us and our sinful world today? Do we think that God does not regard sin anymore? If God allowed His beloved nation, Israel to suffer, what about the Gentile nations, which God only extended residual love to? Think about this my friend and repent today.
Prayer for today:
Dear Lord, we have read of your fierce anger towards your beloved people in this chapter. We are as sinful if not more sinful today. Have mercy on us and take away our sins according to your Word for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod
Monday, January 19, 2009
Jeremiah 32 -Daily Devotion & Meditation on the Word of God
Hello My Friend; Good day. Happy Dr. MLK's Holliday
We thank God for Dr. King's life, hard work, obedience, faith, vision, dream, and unyielding commitment to the cause of social justice. Dr King would have turned 80 by now. How we love him and cherish his memories!!!
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 32. The events of this chapter occurred between 587 and 586 B.C. while the Babylonians were besieging and trying to tear down
Prayer for today:
Adapted from verses 40-42: Dear Lord, let your covenant be permanent with your people and never again desert them, but only do them good. Put a desire into our hearts to worship you so that we never leave you to worship other gods. Please Lord; let it be your joy to do us good as your Word has promised through the merits of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Jeremiah 31 - Daily Devotion and Meditation on the Word of God
Hello My Friend; Good day.
Our reading for today is from Jeremiah chapter 31. In this chapter, God through Prophet Jeremiah promised Israel and Judah and eventually the Gentiles political and spiritual restoration. When we recognize God as our Lord, He will in turn care for us as He did for the Hebrew people from tbe bondage in Egypt; and from captivity in Babylon. So much has been said in this chapter which reflects what is happening in our country this weekend. God's anger is turned to mercy, compassion, mercy and restoration.
In verse 15 Rachel, Jacob's wife is mentioned to symbolize captivity in Assyria and later her name is invoked in Matthew 2:18 in connection with Herod's slaughter of infants in Bethlehem. God's comfort comes in verse 16 that her cry and prayers had been heard. All those who weep will be comforted and they will bless the Lord when they see their home again. (see verse 23). In our own case, we see in part the present comfort in Obama's revolution and expected political and racial harmony. This temporal, but it will all culminate in the New Jerusalem when Christ will reighn as the Righteous KING. All God's people will bless the Lord when they get home at last.
In the United States, we have a sense of political restoration as Dr. King's DREAM IS ABOUT TO BE FULFILLED IN THE INAUGURATION OF OBAMA AS THE USA 44th PRESIDENT. The White House which was built on the backs of African slaves will have descendants of slaves finally occupying that house ! Praise God from whom all blessings flow.But we will be failing in our job if we fail to sound a note of warniong that political liberation does not mean spiritual liberation. Everyone including our very esteemed President-elect and his family must repent of sins and be washed in the blood of the Lamb of God. We pray for safety and God's speed for Obama and his family. We wish the out-going President and his family journey mercies back to his destination.
Prayer for today:
Adapted from verses 23-24:"The Lord bless you, O center of righteousness, O holy hill !" Give Grace to our New in-coming President. Restore the United States again to the place and reputation of the land which everyone desires to live in Grant us peace and joy to dwell together, people of all nationalities, creeds, and religions. Give rest to the weary and joy to all the sorrowing. For we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
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