Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 11-12
Today’s reading again reveals how God’s word is not diminished by time. Jeremiah 11 begins with a Divine exhortation to Jeremiah to call to remembrance the covenant made between God and Israel as they prepared to enter Canaan. Jeremiah 11:3 makes reference to Deuteronomy 27:26 –“Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant.” This covenant had been made some 800 years earlier as Israel stood at the threshold of the “land flowing with milk and honey” (Jer 11:5), yet God refers to it as if the ink is still wet. There is an unusual statement in Jeremiah 11:14 that was first seen in 7:16, wherein God forbids the prophet to pray for the people. In the first instance, God says He would not hear Jeremiah. In the second appearance, God says he will not hear Judah when they cry out in the day of trouble. There is a similar text in 1 John 5, wherein Christians are instructed not to pray for forgiveness of those who refuse to repent and cease from sin. In that context, such is called “sinning a sin unto death” (v 16). Chapter 11 also contains the first threat to Jeremiah’s life (vv 19-21). Being a faithful prophet was serious business, and many literally gave up their lives to proclaim God’s word.
New Testament reading: Mark 3-4
For some reason, everyone believes they’re the good soil. In the parable of the soils in Mark 4, we find four different results from the seed being planted. The stony ground, the thorny ground and the good ground all represent those who believe and obey the gospel. Those on the stony ground are easily identified today. They stick around a little while, but they don’t last long. The good ground is also easily identified. Those who obey the gospel and bear fruit are easily seen. But what about the “thorny ground Christian?” There are far more thorny ground Christians than we might think. Look at the characteristics of the thorny ground Christian and consider, how many Christians are “too busy” to read their Bibles every day, too busy to attend all the assemblies, too busy to teach Bible class, too busy to do the work of the church, including evangelism? Many churches are full of thorny ground Christians who look the part but do not bear the fruit. Let us examine ourselves to find our true soil type!
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