Topic: Faithful, But Tried [DCLM Daily Manna 25 November 2020 Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
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Text: Jeremiah 32:1-15 (KJV)
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
2 For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house.
3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
6 And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
Also See: Open Heaven 25 November 2020 – Looking For Greener Pastures?
8 So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
14 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
15 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.
Key Verse: “For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.” – (Jeremiah 32:3)
MESSAGE:
Frederick B. Meyer, a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England, was involved in inner city mission across the Atlantic between 1870 and 1929. Amid diverse challenges, Meyer was undaunted and held to God’s promises. He wrote in his book, Abraham: The Obedience of Faith that “If God promised His servants an unbroken run of prosperity, there would be many counterfeit Christians. Don’t be surprised at famine… it is permitted to root you deeper just as a whirlwind makes the tree grapple deeper roots into the soil.”
Like Meyer, our text reveals what Jeremiah, the prophet of the most High, suffered under the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah. Due to Jeremiah’s faithfulness to God’s word, the king imprisoned him. Despite his predicament, Jeremiah never relented in his obedience. For this reason, also, God kept revealing His mind and plan to him. God equally honoured all his prayers and words.
God demands faithfulness. And a life of faithfulness is practically impossible without complete obedience to all His commandments. Sadly, many believers chicken out due to the fear of persecution and suffering from men, thus becoming captives. In ministry, many have failed the test of faithfulness because they fear men rather than God their Creator.
God will only honour and bless those who are faithful despite trials. Christ said: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Are you facing persecution or going through suffering because of the truth? Just hold to His promises. It will soon be over and you will sing a new song.
Thought For The Day: There is no crown without a cross.
The Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 47-48
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.