Category: Spiritual

Jeremiah 23:1-2

In chapters 21:11- 22:30, God called repeatedly for justice and threatened judgment, but these corrupt leaders did not heed. After having issued a scathing indictment against Israel’s civic leaders Jeremiah prophesied a scathing indictment against the faithless religious leaders of Israel – the kings, prophets and priests. “Woe are to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord” (23:1). Yes, it was God’s pasture, and His sheep; “We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3c) as were the people of Israel. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words renders pastor “a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks (not merely one who feeds them), and is used metaphorically of Christian ‘pastors,’ Ephesians 4:11” ; therefore, pastors have the responsibility of not only feeding but of protecting, instructing, leading, encouraging, and etc. When the pastors, or shepherds, of Israel became faithless and corrupt, neglecting God’s people, He was not delighted the least. As God’s shepherds, who were political or spiritual leaders, their responsibility was caring for or overseeing His people, and they had failed.

‘Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, in regard to the shepherds who care for and feed My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; hear this, I am about to visit and attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” says the Lord’ (23:2, AMP). The ungodly leaders were self-absorbed, corrupt, and negligent of God’s people. He held them responsible for those entrusted to them; therefore, they were condemned to sorrow and misery. They were guilty of scattering God’s flock. Expository paraphrased from Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers says that the charge against the leaders was true both literally and spiritually. The people had been driven away from the fold  into exile in distant lands. The wicked rulers neglected God’s people, but He was not negligent and would visit them and attend to the evil of their deeds by reproof and chastisement. “Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!” (Ezekiel 13:3).

In Genesis 2:15-17 (NRSV, paraphrased) we are told that the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to take care of it. God commanded the man to eat freely of every tree of the garden except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because in the day that he ate of it he would die. This is God’s first test of man’s obedience. Fast-forward to Genesis 3 and the woman and the serpent, the craftiest animal that the Lord God had made, is having a conversation, but it is filled with half- truths and lies. Eventually the lies led to man’s fall from God’s grace and obedience to shame and disobedience.   As a result, the man, the woman, and the serpent were punished for their part in disobeying God. We must trust God, and trust requires having faith in God and accepting His Word. God promised the serpent in Genesis 3:15 (AMP, paraphrased) that because of his deception of the woman (Eve), He would put enmity, or open hostility, between him and the woman, and between his seed and her seed. He shall [fatally] bruise the serpent’s head, and the serpent shalt [only] bruise his heel. This is God’s prophecy of the coming of His only begotten Son for the redemption of mankind. We must not become lax and let our spiritual antenna down; we must practice being at high alert always. When our spiritual antenna is up, our reception from God is clear of static and interference. We must always be alert; Satan is lurking in the atmosphere waiting for the opportunity to make us his next prey. And we talk about static? We can’t hear the Father because of the static – the noise. Let’s protect ourselves. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6: 11) “…for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Philippians 4:1-4    

Because this earth is not the believers’ home, we are to set our affection on heavenly things, not earthly things. Yet sometimes we allow our circumstances to become a distraction, taking our focus off heavenly things. In verse one Apostle Paul epitomizes the spirit of love for God and man. Even though he is imprisoned, he doesn’t drown himself in self-pity; he is concerned for his fellow Philippian brothers, his joy and crown, whom he loves and longs to see. He writes them, exhorting them to stand fast in the Lord. That same command applies to us still today. We must hold on to our faith in Him. No matter how dire our circumstances may be, we can’t afford to give up on Him because with Him all things are possible; without Him we will surely fail. The Gospel great, Yolanda Adams sings “The Battle Is the Lord’s.” Because the battle is His, we must continue to stand fast in the Him; He’s fighting every step of the way for us as long as we live in this fallen world and obediently surrender to His will. Isaiah 40:29, (NIV) states, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” When we are in a season of suffering, Satan attacks us, planting seeds of doubt about who we are and whose we are; however, we can’t give up; it’s just a test.  

At Philippi two church sisters were having relationship issues. Scripture says that God does not show favoritism, and we must not think more highly of ourselves than others because we all have faults. Paul pleads with them to be of the same mind in the Lord (v. 2) for unity brings a spirit of joy and love in the body of Christ. Believers will have disagreements, but we must humble ourselves, put our squabbling aside and forgive one another. Our ultimate example of forgiveness is Jesus. He was crucified at Calvary, and one of his last words was “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24).  

Paul emphatically commands the church to always rejoice in the Lord. Regardless of our circumstances, we are to always express our joy found through Christ. In recounting all God has done in our lives, we realize how blessed we are. We may not have riches according to man’s standards, but if we have been so blessed, rejoice in the Lord for the earth is His and all that’s in it. Let us not focus on what we don’t have; focus instead on what we have been blessed to have. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21, paraphrased). Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.

Psalm 92:14-15

David informs us that there is no limit to relevance and usefulness of the righteous. “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing” (Psalm 92:14). The righteous is blessed to flourish like the palm tree that lives long, stands straight, and is useful just “ like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season” (Psalm 1:3). We are also blessed to grow spiritually like the cedar that is majestic and stable. That growth only happens because we abide in Christ Jesus. Every branch in Jesus that does not bear fruit, our Father removes. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit” (John15:2, NRSV). Even in old age, the righteous will produce spiritual fruit. If you don’t believe it, check out some seasoned saints. You will be delighted to find many are still sharp, and their spiritual perspective is relevant and timely based on a lifetime of commitment to God.

The psalmist further states that the righteous shall be “fat and flourishing.” Figuratively he compares our spiritual condition to flourishing like the palm tree and growing like the cedar. We are spiritually alive and spiritually healthy because the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to produce much fruit. In Christ we have an abundance of life; therefore, we are blessed and highly favored. We should never allow our present situation to dictate who we are in God. As children of God, we should never forget we are trees of righteousness. We will not decay; we will live eternally if we abide in Christ Jesus.

“To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” (Psalm 92:15). The psalmist here manifests that the Lord is upright and just in all His ways. He proclaims God to be his rock; therefore, He is our rock – the Rock of our salvation.  We can stand firm in Him and on Him. He is solid and keeps us stable when all other ground is sinking sand. As trees of righteousness our eternal destiny and secure prosperity is in Him. What the Lord said He’ll do, He will fulfill it for “He is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works.”  There is no unrighteousness in him. Thank God there isn’t because we are sinners and don’t deserve to live and Jesus die.  

Believers must continually abide in Christ Jesus, the vine to which we are attached, who anchors us by our faith and provides us with the nutrients necessary for us to live, grow, and become more productive so that we may be able to stand during storms of life. Yes, storms will come, and winds may blow, but we are to stand firm against the fiery dots of Satan, and do not be moved by his schemes. We may be at a very vulnerable place in our life, but we must refuse to abandon our faith in God. Hold on. ^“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:1).