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Hear the devotional read here: https://bit.ly/3tHc1h8
18 The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then thou didst show me their evil deeds. 19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more." 20 But, O LORD of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause. (Jeremiah 11:18-20 Revised Standard Version of the Bible)
May the blessings of God be yours ConCafe Family on this Wednesday. And may your responses to God's leading blind the devil to the point of confusion so that you can bless even more people than ever! We continue our prayers for the needs of our brothers and sisters. We pray for one another, and for our needs.
The job of a prophet is never an easy one, nor a popular one. To answer yes to God's invitation to serve Him as a mouthpiece; that is to speak His truth even to an unreceptive crowd was one of the most difficult jobs on that era. Jeremiah was a faithful prophet. He spoke numerous things about the coming Messiah. No one was ready nor receptive it would seem to a message of needed change. His messages were as well received as guitar strums in the mid-60s in hallowed sanctuaries, or large screens and projectors in the midst of sacred space. Wait, Pastor Eradio, you're gone from preaching to meddling! The prophet is baring his soul, friends. He's speaking truth with pain. When one walks with God, God reveals a lot, including the coming troubles and trials for the faithful. And God revealed to Jeremiah what his contemporaries were up to; a nice surprise party of betrayal. Those who opposed God, opposed Jeremiah and their plans were far from nice; in fact, they were evil, as most opponents of God are capable of. What's sadder is their blindness to their deeds. They have rationalized their views from their own perspective and judged themselves as worthy and honorable. Yet, their desire to kill, steal, and destroy never works against God, nor does it fool Him. Jeremiah wrote that line that would also be prophetic about Jesus; "But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter." The betryal against prophets still hurts but yet, the image of God's Son as the willing Lamb, led to His slaughter, for OUR good blesses us; but the image of a faithful prophet targeted for his slaughter just to shut him up hurts. "Our pastor does not fit the purpose of this congregation; please send us another." Some members of whatever committee votes that actually believe that; the rest smile invisible, but not to God, their evil smile, hoping that a new pastor will not bother them and their real agenda. And still we wonder why the state of the church at this point of our history is in such disarray.
Jeremiah writes what we should hear and know; God knows our hearts and minds. Doesn't this sound like what we have been reading all week? Who among us is the greatest? I want to rule, I want to be in charge; from James' epistle lesson from yesterday. And today's truth that we can act holy, but we must be holy and in love with God, as we imitate Him; that leads to true holiness and servanthood that pleases God and blesses God's people. Oh, and by the way, God's way is life, not death. God's way is to build up, not tear down or break up. God's way is to heal, encourage, repair and mend; Satan's is the opposite.
Friends, true leadership is servanthood. It's not sitting at the head of the table, but wearing the mantle of the servant; one who washes the feet of the invited, or serves the meal to the hungry or see that all are fed and welcomed; and is the last to eat and the last to leave because they have been busy helping and blessing others. And yet, not the most sought after job is it? I heard a Christian comedian speak today on a social media post that what drive him to do what he does is to introduce the why behind his comedy and life. He illustrated that by asking a gentleman in the congregation, who was a renowned choral director, to sing a stanza of Amazing Grace. Using his beautiful baritone voice he sang a superb version of the classic gospel hymn. The comedian then asked him to sing it as if his uncle had just been released from prison and after having been shot in the back and yet surviving that attack. The man then sang a different style version of the hymn that made others seated around him to stand and clap and even made some to cry. The man explains the difference between the two versions. He said the first time the man sang he knew what he was going; the second time he knew the why behind it; and like his comedy, he wants people to know the why so they can walk in purpose. To know God is to know the why behind our purpose and our lives can be those lived and walked in purpose.
Friends, let's realize the truth behind why we believe so that we can bless God and bless others.
PRAYER: Loving Father, we thank You for being our Why. Let us live in a way that blesses You by walking in the purpose You have shared with us for our lives. May we be faithful and fruitful; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Walk in purpose in a blessed way that helps God be glorified.
Receive my blessings of hope, joy, and purpose,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
To see the video of the comedian, please click below:
