DAY 218 Read Jeremiah 36:1-4; 45; 36:5-32; 12; 2 Kings 24:1-16; 2 Chronicles 36:5:-10.
Today's reading: How stubborn Jehoiakim was in rejecting the Lord's messages! One certainly stands out: God's Word survives all efforts to destroy it.
Memory gem: "Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah...saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll" (Jeremiah 36:27, 28).
Thought for today:
There are far too many penknife Christians today! Did you ever hear of a penknife Christian? Well, we have the record of God's warning sent through the prophet Jeremiah. The words of Jeremiah were written in a book or scroll and were read to the king as he sat in his winter palace. The message condemned many of the deeds of both the king and the people and called for personal and national repentance. It was, in fact, an unpopular message.
You see, the book began to condemn the king, so he took his spite out on the book itself by cutting out the pages he did not like and throwing them into the fire, until the whole book was gone. When he started using his penknife of God's Word, he didn't stop until it was all gone. Some of the princes appealed to him to save it--at least, not to burn it--but he wouldn't listen. It was contrary to his wicked life--it condemned his exaction on the poor, his luxury in the time of trouble, his oath-breaking in public office, his disobedience to God--and he didn't like it. So he used the knife on it.
Now you see what we mean by "penknife Christians"--people who have the name of Christians, who believe in God and the Holy Scriptures, but who at the same time reject any part of the Bible that does not suit them. They simply cut it out--do away with it, as far as they are concerned.
Friends, we need the Bible--God's Book--God's Word--the Holy Scriptures. We need this mighty Book in our homes, in our offices, in our pockets, and, above all, in our minds and hearts. And may God help us to believe it all.
NOTE: Nebuchadnezzar's second group of exiles (including Ezekiel) was taken from Jerusalem with captive King Jehoiachin in 597 B.C.
Today's reading: How stubborn Jehoiakim was in rejecting the Lord's messages! One certainly stands out: God's Word survives all efforts to destroy it.
Memory gem: "Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah...saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll" (Jeremiah 36:27, 28).
Thought for today:
There are far too many penknife Christians today! Did you ever hear of a penknife Christian? Well, we have the record of God's warning sent through the prophet Jeremiah. The words of Jeremiah were written in a book or scroll and were read to the king as he sat in his winter palace. The message condemned many of the deeds of both the king and the people and called for personal and national repentance. It was, in fact, an unpopular message.
You see, the book began to condemn the king, so he took his spite out on the book itself by cutting out the pages he did not like and throwing them into the fire, until the whole book was gone. When he started using his penknife of God's Word, he didn't stop until it was all gone. Some of the princes appealed to him to save it--at least, not to burn it--but he wouldn't listen. It was contrary to his wicked life--it condemned his exaction on the poor, his luxury in the time of trouble, his oath-breaking in public office, his disobedience to God--and he didn't like it. So he used the knife on it.
Now you see what we mean by "penknife Christians"--people who have the name of Christians, who believe in God and the Holy Scriptures, but who at the same time reject any part of the Bible that does not suit them. They simply cut it out--do away with it, as far as they are concerned.
Friends, we need the Bible--God's Book--God's Word--the Holy Scriptures. We need this mighty Book in our homes, in our offices, in our pockets, and, above all, in our minds and hearts. And may God help us to believe it all.
NOTE: Nebuchadnezzar's second group of exiles (including Ezekiel) was taken from Jerusalem with captive King Jehoiachin in 597 B.C.
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