The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Jeremiah 9-12
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Background Information: Jeremiah 9-12
Human pride is ridiculous. To boast in your wisdom, strength, and wealth is a joke. The smartest among us knows so little. The strongest among us is a speck, on a small planet, in the vast cosmos. The wealthiest among us cannot buy a single extra day of life, and when they die, their wealth remains behind. The only legitimate boast is that we know the Lord. The only way to spend and not waste your life is to learn to delight in the things that he delights in. (9:23-24). Idolatry is stupid. We form the idol ourselves, then we worship it as if it has power to protect and save us. How are ridiculous human pride and stupid human idolatry tied together? In our pride, we make gods in our own image. We worship the idols of human wisdom, strength, and wealth. Those who believe they have obtained these things live desperately and vainly, trying to hold on to them. Those who do not have them live desperately and vainly, trying to obtain them. Will we ever learn? It seems not. The graveyards are filled with the smart, strong, and rich of their day. Then a new generation arises who form their own gods, made in their own image. They bow down again to human wisdom, strength, and wealth. These gods cannot save; they will go down to the grave with the ones who made them. This cycle repeats over and over. Yet, there are those who break out of the cycle, or rather are broken out of it. They trade the empty boast of human wisdom, strength, and wealth for the saving boast of “Christ in me, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Challenge leaders as they begin their training this weekend. Pray that this training will give them a vision for their ministry and that they will steward the great privilege and responsibility of leading.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.