Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 28.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+28&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”

Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it.  Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Even so will I break within two full years the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’”  Then the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Go and speak to Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made instead of them yokes of iron.”  For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him.  And I have also given him the beasts of the field.”’”  Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie.  Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth.  This year you are going to die, because you have counseled rebellion against the Lord.’”

So Hananiah the prophet died in the same year in the seventh month.”  Jeremiah 28:9-17.

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“The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”  Verse 9.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you;  depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”  Matthew 7:15-23.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God:  every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;  and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God;  this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.  You are from God, little children, and have overcome them;  because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.  They are from the world;  therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God;  he who knows God listens to us;  he who is not from God does not listen to us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”  1 John 4:1-5.

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,” said “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.”  John 13:3 and 19.

“Q. 43. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?

A.  Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church, in all ages, by his Spirit and Word, in divers ways of administration, the whole will of God, in all things concerning their edification and salvation.  Westminster Larger Confession.

“So when it comes to pass—as surely it will—then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst.”  Ezekiel 33:33.

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 27.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+27&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“It will be, that the nation or the kingdom which will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine and with pestilence,” declares the Lord, “until I have destroyed it by his hand.  But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers or your sorcerers who speak to you, saying, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’  For they prophesy a lie to you in order to remove you far from your land;  and I will drive you out and you will perish.  But the nation which will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let remain on its land,” declares the Lord, “and they will till it and dwell in it.”’”  Jeremiah 27:8-12.

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“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.  For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.  Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.  Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.  For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.  For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience?  But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”  1 Peter 2:13-20.

There comes a time when one should rebel. 

“All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes;  then many nations and great kings will make him their servant.”  Verse 7.

“There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven—

…
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 8.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1-4.

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 26.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+26&version=NASB

“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the Lord’s house all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them.  Do not omit a word!  Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of the evil of their deeds.’  And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened;  then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”

The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.  When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You must die!  Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant’?”  And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

…

Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.  Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God;  and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you.  But as for me, behold, I am in your hands;  do with me as is good and right in your sight.  Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants;  for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”  Jeremiah 26:1-9 and 12-15.
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In the beginning, chapter 1 of the book of Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.

“I will pronounce My judgments on them (against all of the cities of Judah) concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.  Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you.  Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them.  Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land.  They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 1:16-19.

When Jeremiah was seized by the priests and the prophets, and they said “You must die!”, I am not sure if Jeremiah remembered the words:  “They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.”, because Jeremiah did say to them:  “But as for me, behold, I am in your hands;  do with me as is good and right in your sight.  Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants;  for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”  Verses 14-15.

Jeremiah seemed to forget himself and the things that were his.  But, Jeremiah remembered and spoke every word of what the LORD commanded him to speak to the people. 

The following is one of the “slide show” quotes at the Home Page of the web site of the Protestant Reformed Churches.  Here is a link – http://www.prca.org/

“We are not our own;  therefore, let us not make it our end to seek what may be agreeable to our carnal nature.  We are not our own; therefore, as far as possible, let us forget ourselves and the things that are ours.” ~ John Calvin.

“Q. 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

 A.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.”  Heidelberg Catechism.

“for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord;  therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”  Romans 14:8.

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah 25:12-38.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+25&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“For thus the Lord, the God of Israel, says to me, “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.  They will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them.”

Then I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom the Lord sent me drink it:  Jerusalem and the cities of Judah and its kings and its princes, to make them a ruin, a horror, a hissing and a curse, as it is this day;  Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes and all his people;  and all the foreign people, all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines (even Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod);  Edom, Moab and the sons of Ammon;  and all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon and the kings of the coastlands which are beyond the sea;  and Dedan, Tema, Buz and all who cut the corners of their hair;  and all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign people who dwell in the desert;  and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam and all the kings of Media;  and all the kings of the north, near and far, one with another;  and all the kingdoms of the earth which are upon the face of the ground, and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

“You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Drink, be drunk, vomit, fall and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you.”’  And it will be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:  “You shall surely drink!  For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment?  You will not be free from punishment;  for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” declares the Lord of hosts.’”  Jeremiah 25:15-29.

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“For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment?  You will not be free from punishment;  for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” declares the Lord of hosts.’”  Verse 29.

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;  and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?  Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”  1 Peter 4:17-19.

“The end of all things is near;  therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.  Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without complaint.  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;  whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 4:7-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah 25:1-11.

“The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.  And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your deeds, and dwell on the land which the Lord has given to you and your forefathers forever and ever;  and do not go after other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands, and I will do you no harm.’  Yet you have not listened to Me,” declares the Lord, “in order that you might provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm.

“Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Because you have not obeyed My words, behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these nations round about;  and I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror and a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.  Moreover, I will take from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.  This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”  Jeremiah 25:1-11.

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“… even to this day, these twenty-three years the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.  And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear …”  Verses 3-4.

We all must agree.  This is very familiar Scripture.  It seems like we read in every chapter similar Scripture of the LORD’s warning, call to repentance, the failure of the people to listen, and prophecy.

Why did the LORD wait so long to punish?

The LORD wanted to show His patience, His lovingkindness, and His justice.

“‘The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression;  but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.’”  Numbers 14:18. 

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.  As He says also in Hosea,

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved;  for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.”  Romans 9:22-28.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 24.

“After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths from Jerusalem and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me:  behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord!  One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten due to rottenness.  Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”  And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good;  and the bad figs, very bad, which cannot be eaten due to rottenness.”

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans.  For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land;  and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.  I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord;  and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

‘But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness—indeed, thus says the Lord—so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt.  I will make them a terror and an evil for all the kingdoms of the earth, as a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places where I will scatter them.  I will send the sword, the famine and the pestilence upon them until they are destroyed from the land which I gave to them and their forefathers.’”  Jeremiah chapter 24.

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There is good fruit, and there is bad fruit.  This sharp distinction is an illustration of the sharp distinction between God’s elect and the non-elect.

For God’s elect, God does everything for them. 

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:28-30.

“For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land;  and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.”  Verse 6.

And, even though God’s elect may experience trials and tribulations, like the “good figs” who went into captivity into Babylon, God preserves them through it.

God is the One Who makes good fruit.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad;  for the tree is known by its fruit.”  Matthew 12:33. 

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  Matthew 7:17-19.

“I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord;  and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.”  Verse 7.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-8.

“²³ “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord,
“And not a God far off?
²⁴ “Can a man hide himself in hiding places
So I do not see him?” declares the Lord.
“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.

²⁵ “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!’  ²⁶ How long?  Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, ²⁷ who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?  ²⁸ The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth.  What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord.  ²⁹ “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?  ³⁰ Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other.  ³¹ Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares.’  ³² Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting;  yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 23:23-32.

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“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  Verse 29.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  John 1:1. 

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.”  Psalm 33:6.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:11.

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12.

“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.  For,

And this is the word which was preached to you.”  1 Peter 1:23-25.

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah 23:9-22.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+23&version=NASB

I quote only the following Scriptures.

“¹³ “Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing:
They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.
¹⁴ “Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing:
The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood;
And they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one has turned back from his wickedness.
All of them have become to Me like Sodom,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

¹⁵ “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets,

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah 23:1-8.

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord.  ² Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people:  “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them;  behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord.  ³ “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.  ⁴ I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them;  and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.

⁷ “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when they will no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ ⁸ but, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I had driven them.’  Then they will live on their own soil.”  Jeremiah 23:1-8.

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“In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
‘The Lord our righteousness.’  Verse 6.

“²¹ “Declare and set forth your case;
Indeed, let them consult together.
Who has announced this from of old?
Who has long since declared it?
Is it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other God besides Me,
A righteous God and a Savior;
There is none except Me.
²² “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth;
For I am God, and there is no other.
²³ “I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
²⁴ “They will say of Me, ‘Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.’
Men will come to Him,
And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.
²⁵ “In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
Will be justified and will glory.”  Isaiah 45:21-25.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

“For if by the transgression of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  Romans 5:17.

“He (God) made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Christ).”  2 Corinthians 5:21.

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 22.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+22&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Thus says the Lord, “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word ² and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, who sits on David’s throne, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates.  ³ Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor.  Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow;  and do not shed innocent blood in this place.  ⁴ For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people.  ⁵ But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the Lord, “that this house will become a desolation.”’”

…

“¹³ “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness
And his upper rooms without justice,
Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay
And does not give him his wages,
¹⁴ Who says, ‘I will build myself a roomy house
With spacious upper rooms,
And cut out its windows,
Paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.’
¹⁵ “Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink
And do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
¹⁶ “He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy;
Then it was well.
Is not that what it means to know Me?”
Declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 22:1-5 and 13-16.

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“Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness …”  Verse 3.

We cannot just worship God and pray and expect the LORD will bless us.  We must do justice and righteousness.

We are reminded of Isaiah 58:6-11.  We may even fast in our worship to show our devotion and try to get favor from the LORD, but such fasts do not impress the LORD.  The LORD favors those who do justice and righteousness.   

“⁶ “Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
⁷ “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
⁸ “Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
⁹ “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
¹⁰ And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
¹¹ “And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”  Isaiah 58:6-11.

The LORD Himself exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness.  

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Those who know the LORD will seek to do those same things (justice and righteousness) that they see the Father do.  

“…  Is not that what it means to know Me?”
Declares the Lord.”  Verse 16.

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing;  for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”  John 5:19. 

And, we who were born of the Spirit do these same things (justice and righteousness).

“If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.”  1 John 2:29.

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment;  because as He is, so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love;  but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  We love, because He first loved us.”  I John 4:16-19. 

God created us to practice justice and righteousness.  God gives us the will to do His will.  God works within us.  God guides us in the paths of righteousness.  God completes the good work that He started in us.  Praise God!!!!!

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“…  He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:3.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.