Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 6
Monday


A FAITHFUL
HELPER

READ:
Jeremiah 20:7-13
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The LORD is with me
as a mighty, awesome
One. __Jeremiah 20:11
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As a young boy, my father had to deliver slop to hungry pigs on the farm where he grew up. He hated this job because the hogs would knock him over when he entered their pen. This task might have been impossible except for a faithful helper who accompanied my dad__a German shepherd named Sugarbear. She would maneuver herself between my father and the pigs and hold them back until my dad finished his chore.

The prophet Jeremiah had the difficult job of proclaiming God's messages to the Israelites. This required him to endure physical abuse, verbal attacks, imprisonment, and isolation. Although Jeremiah struggled with deep discouragement, he had a Helper through all of his trouble. God promised him, "I am with you...to deliver you" (Jer. 1:19).

God did not desert Jeremiah, and He will not desert us. We have His continual aid through the power of the Spirit who lives inside every believer (John 14:16-17). The Helper gives us hope (Rom. 15:13), steers us toward spiritual truth (John 16:13), and pours out God's love in our hearts (Rom. 5:5). We can trust God faithfully helps us as we endure hardship. We can say with Jeremiah, "The LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One" (Jer. 20:11). __Jennifer Benson Schuldt

````````````````````````You God, have been our help forever,`````````````````````
````````````````````and You are our hope now and into eternity.``````````````````
````````````````````We thank You that You will never desert us.```````````````````
```````````````````````````````You will be faithful.`````````````````````````````
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Our greatest hope here below
is help from God above.

****************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Jeremiah 20:7-13********************************

7 O LORD, you induced
me, and I was persuaded;
You are stronger than I, and
have prevailed. I am in
derision daily; everyone
mocks me. 8 For when I
spoke, I cried out; I
shouted, "Violence and
plunder!" because the word
of the LORD was made to
me a reproach and a
derision daily. 9 Then I said,
"I will not make mention of
Him, nor speak anymore in
His name." But His word
was in my heart like a
burning fire shut up in my
bones; I was weary of
holding it back, and I could
not, 10 For I heard many
mocking: "Fear on every
side!" "Report," they say,
"and we will report it!" All
my acquaintances watched
for my stumbling, saying,
"Perhaps he can be induced;
then we will prevail against
him, and we will take our
revenge on him."

11 But the LORD is with me
as a mighty, awesome One.
Therefore my persecutors
will stumble, and will not
prevail. They will be greatly
ashamed, for they will not
prosper. Their everlasting
confusion will never be
forgotten. 12 But, O LORD of
hosts, You who test the
righteous, and see the mind
and heart, let me see Your
vengeance on them; for I
have pleaded my cause
before You.

13 Sing to the LORD!
Praise the LORD! For He
has delivered the life of the
poor from the hand of
evildoers.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Knowing that God called him to a difficult ministry, Jeremiah
endured much persecution while striving to remain faithful to his
calling (Jer. 20:1-6). His suffering caused him to question that calling
(vv.7-10), but he was quick to reaffirm God's sovereignty (vv.11-13).