Month: December 2023

Then the Lord told me about the plots my enemies were making against me. I was like a lamb being led to the slaughter. I had no idea that they were planning to kill me! ‘Let’s destroy thin man and all his words,’ they said. ‘Let’s cut him down, so his name will be forgotten forever.’

O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, You make righteous judgments, and You examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see Your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you.

This is what the Lord says about the men of Anathoth who wanted me dead. THey had said, ‘We will kill you if you do not stop prophesying in the Lord’s name.’ So this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says about them: ‘I will punish them! Their young men will die in battle, and their boys and girls will starve to death. Not one of these plotters from Anathoth will survive, for I will bring disaster upon them when their time of punishment comes.'” (vv 18-23, NLT)

“Say this to those who worship other gods: ‘Your so-called gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will vanish from the earth and from under the heavens.’

But God mad the earth by His power, and He preserves it by His wisdom. With His own understanding He outstretched the heavens. When He speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and releases the wind from His storehouses. ” (vv. 11-13, NLT)

“Jeremiah, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord says:

When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they disc over they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructed path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for dong wrong? Does anyone say,’What a terrible thing I have done?’ No! all are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They return at the proper time of the year. But not my people! They do not know the Lord’s laws.

How can you say, ‘We are wise because we have the word of the Lord, when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies? These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness, for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they so wise after all?'” (vv 4-9, NLT)

[Jesus said,] “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, NLT)

“The Lord gave me a message: ‘I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as My prophet to the nations.'”

“O Sovereign Lord, I said, ‘I can’t speak for you! I am too young!'”

“The Lord replied,’Don’t say, I’m too young, for your must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!’ Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,

‘Look, I have put My words in you mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.’

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Look, Jeremiah” What do you see? ‘

“And I replied, ‘I see a branch form an almond tree.”

“And the Lord replied,’That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and will certainly carry out all my plans.'” (vv. 1-12, NLT)

“‘Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land – the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you.

I, the Lord have spoken!'” (vv. 17-19, NLT)

“This is what the Lord says,’Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Could you build Me a temple as good as that? Could you build Me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are Mine. I, the Lord , have spoken!’

‘I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at My word.'” (vv 1-2, NLT)

“‘Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in My creation! And Look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in My people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.

No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young! In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards. Unlike the past, invaders will mot take their houses and confiscate their vineyards. For My people will live as long as trees and My chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-earned gains. The will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed. I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on My holy mountains. I, the Lord, have spoken!'” (vv. 17-25, NLT)

“The Lord says,’I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for Me.’ I said,’Her I am, here I am! to a nation that did not call on My name. All day long I opened My arms to a rebellious people. But they followed their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes. All day long they insult Me to My face by worshiping idols in their sacred gardens.'” (vv. 1-3, NLT)

“‘For when I called, you did not answer. When I spoke, you did not listen. You deliberately sinned – before My very eyes – and chose to to what you know I despise. Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

My servants will eat, but you will starve. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be sad and ashamed. My servants will sing for joy, but you will cry in sorrow and despair. Your name will be a curse word among My people, for the Sovereign Lord will destroy you and will call His true vine servants by another name.

And all who invoke a blessing or take an oath will do so buy the God of truth. For I will put aside My anger and forget the evil of earlier days.'” (vv. 12B-16, NLT)

“Oh, that You would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in Your presence! As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, Your coming would make the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for Your fame!

When You came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations. And oh, the mountain quakes! For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for Him! You wellcome those who gladly do good, who follow godly ways. But have been very angry with us, for we are not godly. We are constant sinners; how can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Yet no one calls on Your name, or pleads with You for mercy. Therefore, You have turned away from us and turns us over to our sins.” (vv. 1-7, NLT)

“Lord, look down from heaven; look from Your holy, glorious home, and see us. where is the passion and might You used to show on our behalf? Where are Your mercy and compassion now? Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, Lord, You would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past. Lord, why have You allowed us to turn from Your path? Why have You given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear You? Return and help us, for we are Your servants, the tribes that are your special possession.How briefly Your holy people possessed Your holy place, and now our enemies have destroyed it. Sometimes it seems as though we never belonged to You, as though we had never ben know as Your people.” (vv. 15-19, NLT)