Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Monday, 25 June 2018 "Honest Conversation with God" by William Coker, Jr. - Jeremiah 14:10-22.

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Monday, 25 June 2018 "Honest Conversation with God" by William Coker, Jr. - Jeremiah 14:10-22.
Jeremiah 14:10 Here is what Adonai says to this people:
“They so love to wander,
they don’t restrain their feet;
so Adonai does not want them.
Now he will remember their crimes,
and he will punish their sins.”
11 Then Adonai said to me, “Don’t pray for this people or for their welfare. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; when they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Rather, I will destroy them with war, famine and disease.” 13 Then I said, “Adonai, God! The prophets are telling them, ‘You won’t see war, and you won’t have famine; but I will give you secure peace in this place.’” 14 Adonai replied, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn’t send them, order them or speak to them. They are prophesying false visions to you, worthless divinations, the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore,” Adonai says, “concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, whom I did not send, yet they say, ‘There will be neither war nor famine in this land’ — it will be war and famine that will destroy those prophets. 16 And the people to whom they are prophesying will be thrown out into the streets of Yerushalayim because of the famine and war, with no one to bury them — them, or their wives, or their sons, or their daughters — because I will pour their own wickedness out upon them. 17 You are to give them this message:
‘Let my eyes stream with tears
night and day, unceasingly,
because the virgin daughter of my people
has been severely broken;
she has been dealt a crushing blow.
18 If I go out in the field,
I see those slain with the sword.
If I enter the city,
I see the victims of famine.
Meanwhile, prophets and cohanim
ply their trade in the land, knowing nothing.’”
19 Have you rejected Y’hudah completely?
Is Tziyon loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us irreparably?
We looked for peace, but to no avail;
for a time of healing, but instead found terror!
20 We confess our rebellion, Adonai,
also the crimes of our ancestors;
yes, we have sinned against you.
21 For your name’s sake, do not spurn us;
do not dishonor your glorious throne.
Remember your covenant with us;
do not break it.
22 Among the nations’ idols,
can any make it rain?
Can the skies, of themselves,
send showers?
Aren’t you the one,
Adonai, our God?
Don’t we look to you?
For you do all these things. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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Is any person or group of people beyond redemption such that we should stop praying for them? What if God says: “You need not pray; their sins are so persistent that the consequence of their sins is eminent”? Those were the deep questions that faced Jeremiah; and they were not just any people or even an unknown people group, they were Jeremiah’s people. Jeremiah’s prayer is reminiscent of Abraham’s intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18) and Moses’ pleading for his people after they built a golden calf (Exodus 32). In both of those previous situations, God’s judgment fell on the people. However, Jeremiah did not quit praying for the people. He boldly pressed on to the throne of grace and reminded God of His covenant with King David: "I will be  his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wiekded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him" (2 Samuel 7:14b-15a).
Jeremiah understood that even though God’s judgment may not be stopped, there is hope that it will become a means of repentance if God does not remove His covenant of grace. Keep on praying!***
Hymn for Today: "Behold the Throne of Grace" by John Newton.

1. Behold the Throne of grace!
The promise calls me near:
There Jesus shows a smiling face
And waits to answer prayer.
2. My soul, ask what thou wilt;
Thou canst not be too bold;
Since His own blood for thee He spilt,
What else can He withhold?
3. Thine image, Lord, bestow,
Thy presence and Thy love;
I ask to serve Thee here below,
And reign with Thee above.
4. Teach me to live by faith;
Conform my will to Thine;
Let me victorious be in death,
And then in glory shine. Amen.

Thought for Today: For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift. You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Gabon.
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