Monday, 09 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Lesley Crawford [a] and posted in Jeremiah

“O Sovereign Lord,” Jeremiah said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I tell you.” Daniel 10:12

It’s easy to look at ourselves and think of all the reasons why God couldn’t possibly want to use us. Like Jeremiah we can protest that we’re too young or we can make any number of excuses. But God doesn’t judge things as we do. He’s not bothered by things like age - we’re never too young to be used by him. What matters is our willingness to make ourselves available to him.

Tuesday, 10 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Lesley Crawford [a] and posted in Jeremiah

“Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you, so let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?” Jeremiah 12:1

Have you ever felt that life’s not fair and you can’t understand why things have turned out a certain way? What do you do with those feelings?

Jeremiah felt like that and he was able to go to God and be honest about how he felt. It’s ok to have hard questions and the best place to take them is to God.

Wednesday, 11 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Lesley Crawford [a] and posted in Jeremiah

The people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah...We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumours about him and ignore what he says.” Jeremiah 18:8

Jeremiah’s messages weren’t making him popular. He’d been telling the people God didn’t like how they were living and the people were finding this hard to accept.

It’s easy to respond to criticism by being stubborn and denying we have a problem. The truth can be hard to deal with, but the people’s stubbornness was only going to cause them problems in the long run.

Thursday, 12 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Lesley Crawford [a] and posted in Jeremiah

“These messages from the Lord have made me a household joke. But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire.” Jeremiah 20:8-9

As Jeremiah discovered, it can be difficult to stand up for God when no-one else understands or feels the same way but, despite the difficulties, Jeremiah feels he has to speak for God. He really cares more about being faithful to God than about what other people think of him. I find that quite a challenge.

Friday, 13 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Lesley Crawford [a] and posted in Jeremiah

Jeremiah was put into a dungeon cell, where he remained for many days. Later King Zedekiah secretly requested that Jeremiah come to the palace, where the king asked him, “Do you have any messages from the Lord?”

For all of Jeremiah’s life people have been ignoring his prophecies. Now, ironically, King Zedekiah wants to hear from God. Perhaps the king though that some time in prison would make Jeremiah prophesy something good about Judah… but he obviously didn’t know Jeremiah very well!

Jeremiah faithfully repeats what God has to say even though his own life could be ended by the king because of what he says.

Saturday, 14 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Lesley Crawford [a] and posted in Jeremiah

The officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard...There was no water...but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom and Jeremiah sank down into it. Jeremiah 38:6

Life really wasn’t easy for Jeremiah. The more he spoke God’s words to the people, the harder they tried to silence him.

When bad things happen, it can be easy to think that God has abandoned us or he’s punishing us. Sometimes though, we face trials simply because we are being faithful to God. He never promised that following him would be easy... but it’s definitely worth it.

Sunday, 15 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Lesley Crawford [a] and posted in Jeremiah

Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure. Lamentations 5:20-22

Such is Jeremiah’s grief over his nation’s conquer and exile that he ends his book of Lamentations with the above verses. Questioning, doubting and lamenting are all important parts of faith. It’s ok to have doubts and ask big questions.

Take comfort that Jeremiah was bold enough to speak about them. Take comfort that God was happy to include them in Scripture; sometimes even without the answers…