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Life can get rough at times - really rough! Fortunately, in spite of how bad your circumstances might be or even become, the Bible teaches us (and especially through the book of Jeremiah) that it's possible to live ABOVE anything that comes our way. Maybe you're laughing at what I just said, but the Bible is replete with real stories of men and women who fell into horrible situations, but God saved them out it.
As you read the book of Jeremiah, you can quickly see that Jeremiah had it rougher than most Bible characters. Everyone hated his preaching, and hated him! Besides being arrested, whipped, put into stocks and humiliated in front of one of the main gates of the city, Jeremiah continued to be faithful to God's call on his life.
If there's one in the New Testament who reminds me of Jeremiah it's the apostle Paul who once said, "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ,[d] who gives me strength." (Phil.4:11-13) The apostle Paul had it rough too! He had been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and impoverished. Yet, in spite of all that, he learned to rise above his circumstances and still be full of the joy of the Lord.
As we read today's passages, we see Jeremiah being called to do another difficult task. God commands him to stand in front of the Temple and in a place where every person could hear his voice, and announce not only impending doom, but a way out of that impending doom. Even though God was furious with His people for their wickedness, He still offers them a way out of bondage in Babylon, "Give them my entire message; include every word. Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins." (26:2-3) In spite of God coming to the end of His patience with the people of Judah, and in spite of their continued wickedness and rejection of God's prophets, God still offers them a way out! He offers forgiveness and safety.
In spite of what you've done in your life, and in spite of the circumstances that have unfolded before you, God wants to do the same for you as He wanted to do for His people. If you'll truly turn from your sins and to God, just like He was asking Judah to do, He'll forgive you and offer you safety under His loving care and change your circumstances. He won't make you do it. You must make the decision yourself. When we one day stand before God and give account for our lives, the decision of what we do must all rest on us. We can't blame God.
Continuing with the story of chapter 26, we see that the message Jeremiah preached fell on spiritually deaf ears. Instead of getting a positive response, Jeremiah's words from the Lord did the opposite and incited a mob reaction. Can you think of another person who spoke God's truth which incited a mob reaction? If you're thinking Jesus, you're right!
The Temple mob wanted to kill him! Instead of being humble, loving, true worshippers of God at the Temple, they were more like a group of fake worshippers. As the mob threatened to kill Jeremiah, fortunately he knew how to rise above his circumstances! Notice what he did. He informed them confidently that he was God's servant and that if they wanted to kill him - fine. Fortunately, God brought some wise, old men to the assembly who reminded the crowd that what Jeremiah was proclaiming had already been proclaimed by the prophet Micah many years before. When the mob heard that, they let Jeremiah go.
So, exactly how do you rise up to live above your circumstances?
How do we take lessons from Jeremiah and apply them to our lives?
1) Jeremiah found his value in pleasing God, not men! Notice what he said, "As for me, I am in your hands—do with me as you think best. But if you kill me, rest assured that you will be killing an innocent man! The responsibility for such a deed will lie on you, on this city, and on every person living in it. For it is absolutely true that the Lord sent me to speak every word you have heard.” (26:14-15)
2) Realize you're part of something greater than your circumstances! Jeremiah knew his task was going to be difficult, God told him that. And, as such, he expected the challenges he faced. He didn't like them, but he knew they were part of the bigger picture of what God was trying to do, not only for the nation of Judah but for the whole world. Listen to the advice God gave him, "You must influence them; do not let them influence you!" (15:19) That's what each of us as Christians must do! Our job is NOT to be influenced by the spiritually lost crowd, but to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us to influence them. They don't influence us, we influence them.
3) Be patient and let God change your circumstances! In chapter 27 & 28, we see Jeremiah being challenged by another prophet, one that the people and the priests really like. His name was Hananiah. In an attempt to embarrass and invalidate Jeremiah's position as a prophet of God, it back fired on Hananiah! Even though he was successful in humiliating Jeremiah, God told Jeremiah to go and inform Hananiah that he would die within the year. It didn't take that long - within 2 months Hananiah was dead! While Jeremiah perhaps would have liked God to take vengeance on Hananiah in front of the crowd, it really didn't matter. Jeremiah knew God would take care of the situation. God has promised Jeremiah His protection in every circumstance. That's why you need to be patient when life's circumstances go wild. God will eventually, at the right time, make all things right!
4) Trust God in every circumstance! For nearly 25 years, Jeremiah had preached to a crowd of hard-hearted people who had no desire to follow God. Yet, in spite of all those years without any conversions, he still trusted God. You must do the same!
In chapter 29, we see Jeremiah writing a letter to his enemies exiled in Babylon. One can only imagine what they thought - "Jeremiah was right all along!" Jeremiah trusted God, and that's what helped him to live above his circumstances!
You and I need to learn to do the same!
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