The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 24 September 2019 – When The Minister Is Persecuted
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TOPIC: When The Minister Is Persecuted
READ: Jeremiah 18:18-23 King James Version (KJV)
18 Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.”
19 Give heed to me, O Lord , And listen to the voice of those who contend with me!
20 Shall evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You To speak good for them, To turn away Your wrath from them.
21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, And pour out their blood By the force of the sword; Let their wives become widows And bereaved of their children. Let their men be put to death, Their young men be slain By the sword in battle.
22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, When You bring a troop suddenly upon them; For they have dug a pit to take me, And hidden snares for my feet.
23 Yet, Lord , You know all their counsel Which is against me, to slay me. Provide no atonement for their iniquity, Nor blot out their sin from Your sight; But let them be overthrown before You. Deal thus with them In the time of Your anger.
THE MESSAGE:
The people of Israel made up their minds to deal with Jeremiah. They felt they could always find priests to instruct them; the wise to give them counsel and prophets to proclaim God’s message to them (verse 1). Jeremiah asked God if evil was the payment for doing good. He was sure he never offended these people but was interceding for them (verses 19-20). Jeremiah prayed with a very bitter heart against them for their plot.
It is true people can always find others who can tell them what they wish to hear.The problem is: are they being told the truth? (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Anyone who proclaims the truth should always be ready for persecution. John the Baptist was thrown into prison by Herod for telling him it was not right for him (Herod) to marry the wife of his brother who was alive. Eventually, John was beheaded for his boldness. Micaiah was thrown into the prison for telling Ahab he would not return from the war alive (1 Kings 22:26-27).
Are you passing through such persecution presently? Don’t despair. God knows and He will see you through. Matthew 5:11-12 says: Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Prayer: Teach me O Lord, to endure every persecution arising from saying the truth.
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