Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 5-6
One mistake I often hear made when folks make reference to the prophets and specific statements from them is to apply the text to our nation. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is a prime example of this. Today’s reading also contains one such statement in Jeremiah 6:15 – “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, nor did they know how to blush.” This statement was made in regard to a nation, but it was the nation of Judah, one that was (supposed to be) governed by the word of God. The United States lost her ability to blush long ago. In fact, she has gone much further than that. Not only can she not blush at her gross abominations, she flaunts her indiscretions in the face of and openly ridicules those who uphold biblical morality. But this text is not given for America, neither should it be. This text was being applied to the people of God! Tragically, we are moving more and more toward hedonism, that is, doing whatever makes us feel good or happy. Some of what is passed off as preaching would be an embarrassment to any reasonably capable Bible student. What is passed off as faithful Christian living is less demanding than ever before. Are we ashamed off what we have become in these cases? Can we even blush?
New Testament reading: Matthew 26
The last time we came to this text (Day 190), we spoke of “the box broke ‘round the world.” Today we consider “the cock crow heard ‘round the world.” The world’s most famous rooster crowed to awaken Peter to many truths to which he had formerly been blind. The rooster awakened Peter to the word of Jesus (vv 74-75), who had prophesied of Peter’s denial only hours earlier. The rooster woke Peter to the distance between him and his Lord (cf Luke 22:31-34, 54). The rooster woke Peter to the eyes of Jesus (Luke 22:61). One can only imagine the pain in Jesus’ eyes as he heard Peter call curses upon himself as he denied knowing his Lord. The rooster woke Peter to his pride (26:35). Finally, the rooster woke Peter to repentance (v 75). Unlike Judas, Peter went out and wept bitterly because of his sin – “for godly sorrow produces repentance not to be regretted (2 Cor 7:10). Ask yourself, “Do I need a rooster to wake me as it did Peter?”
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