Bible 365: Week 31

I am beyond late with my Bible 365 post this week.  If you've been following the blog, you know that I moved last week and that we've been without Internet until this past Thursday.  And yesterday and today we've been running errands plus dealing with other stuff.  Being without the Internet has just given more time to get my Bible study done, unpack and entertain the kids.  So, here's what I learned in Week 31.

1-"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?  Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil." (Jeremiah 13:23)  A wolf is still a wolf whether it dresses up like a sheep or not.  A lot of times we get fooled by evil people or our enemies because we see them do a good deed and think they've changed.  So, we allow them into our lives and then we want to act surprised or shocked when we get burned again.  Now, people can change, but people who have evil in their hearts usually continue to be evil.  That one act of kindness is a trick and part of their plan to wiggle their way into our lives.  Stop falling for these tricks.  If you've been burned by someone keep it moving.

2-"I will deliver you from the land of the wicked and I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible." (Jeremiah 15:21)  We have to be patient and suffer through hard times.   To keep our sanity and survive, we need to remember that our rainbow is coming.  God hasn't forgotten about those of us who are faithful and obey His word.  He will deliver us and save us.  Whatever we are going through, He will bring us out of it.

3-"For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes." (Jeremiah 16:17)  Some of us are like the Israelites.  We think that God only sees the good deeds we do.  However, He sees it ALL!  Nothing we do is hidden from Him.  So, that lie you told last week, He heard it.  That candy bar you stole, He saw it.  That is why it's important to make doing the right thing a habit all of the time and not some of the time.  It's also important to ask forgiveness immediately after we have messed up.  It's only when we admit our wrongs to God that He will wipe our slates clean and give us another chance.

4-"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it." (Jeremiah 17:9)  Who can know what's truly in our hearts indeed?  Only God can.  If we could look into the hearts of some of the people who we think are good, upright people we'd probably be surprised.  Remember everything that glitters ain't gold.  Some of us are good actors because we have ulterior motives.

5-"And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to The Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace." (Jeremiah 29:7)  Tired of not having peace?  Well, we have to do like God commanded the Israelites and pray for our enemies when we're in their mist.  And I'm not talking about praying for their downfall, but instead pray for God to change their hearts and to give them peace.  They won't become your best friends but at least there will be some level of civility. 

Do you pray for your enemies?

Week 32 Readings

8/05:  Jeremiah 46-52

8/06: Lamentations 1-5

8/07:  Ezekiel 1-3

8/08:  Ezekiel 4-11

8/09:  Ezekiel 12-17

8/10:  Ezekiel 18-24

8/11: Ezekiel 25-32