Bad Shepherds

*Jeremiah 23-24

*Psalm 127

Luke 10

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

      “1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.” (Jer 23:1, REV).  Jeremiah isn’t called the “weeping prophet” for no reason, he is not only torn and anguished by the compounded sins of his people, but he’s distressed because there are prophets who are telling the people lies (See Jeremiah 14:14), bad shepherds.  We see in that chapter that not only are the “prophets” lying in God’s name, but the people who are listening to these lying prophets instead of God are going to be penalized (See Jer 14:16).  He is constantly and faithfully relaying the word of Yahweh to the people, a word of warning and a call to repentance, and the lying prophets are saying “there will be peace.”  Of course he’s frustrated to the point of tears, these are his people, and God is speaking to them but they’re just not hearing it.

            So while there is a woe that will befall the bad shepherds (this is also brought up in a few other places: see Eze 34:2 and Zech 11:17 for a couple other references to this theme), it should be very sharply understood by the sheep that if they choose to ignore God and have their ears tickled instead, it won’t end well for them either.  For us.  We are the sheep.  So how do we know if we’re doing right, and following the right shepherd?  How do we know we’re not galloping en masse toward the edge of a cliff, or about to be eaten by wolves?  We, as sheep, need to take some responsibility for our own well being: because it’s our lives that are at stake.

            Here are just a few suggestions:

  1. Scripturational Awareness:  “Turn to the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light of dawn in them. ” (Isa 8:20, REV).  Situational awareness is very important, but scripturational awareness (yes, I know it’s a made up word, but it works so shh!) is even more important.  Know your scripture.  It is SUPER easy to believe something a charismatic smiling guy is telling you with a look of sincere conviction, even if the only reason he believes it is that at some other time some other smiling charismatic guy told him the same thing with a look of sincere conviction.  Don’t fall for it.  The scripture is our ruler, our standard.  Not tradition, not guys in suits, not any specific denomination, but God’s word, and God’s word alone.  I don’t need a  guy in a suit telling me something that sounds beautiful if he has no dawn, I want to see the dawn.
  • Situational Awareness: “…You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you are not able to interpret the signs of the times. ” (Jesus, Matt 16:3, REV).  I have watched someone I love happily and obliviously counting out a stack of money onto their lap while a street gang looked on with intensely growing interest behind her.  Acknowledging your situation can save your life.  Ok, look around you.  Be honest.  Does it look like we, as a people, are listening to the voice of God and humbly and obediently following His will?  If not (spoiler alert, the answer is no) you should be reeeeeeeaaaally careful to not listen to anyone saying “peace, peace, tomorrow will be just like today, only better” because at least according to scripture (the testimony and the law), that’s just not how God operates.  Read the room, because like it or not, this is the room that you’re standing in.  Maybe clean out your corner of it before Dad comes home.
  • Relational Awareness: “The earth is Yahweh’s, and all it contains; the world, and those who dwell in it. ” (Ps 24:1).  Since the beginning of time, when man was created in the image of God, man has taken that authority and ran with it.  Sometimes a little too far and a little too fast.  Yes, we were created in the image of God, but we were also created by God.  So is everything else here on the earth.  It’s all created by God, even us, and it all belongs to Him.  We are all under the authority of God, but most of us have either forgotten or chosen to ignore this very simple foundational understanding that brings life: there is a God, and you are not Him.  Know your role, and humbly seek to obey your creator.  Pray, fast, humble yourself, and seek God.

            This is all very concerning, for those who are paying attention, but there’s hope.  Jer 23:4-5 says “I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them, and they will fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor will any be missing, says Yahweh.  Behold, the days are coming, says Yahweh, that I will raise for David a righteous Branch, and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.” (REV).  We believe that this righteous branch has come and will come again, our Messiah, the king, Jesus.  Please also note that the word that is translated as righteous/ness here is (once again) “tzedakah”, do a search (just type in “tzedakah” in the search bar on this website) to get a fuller understanding of what that means and implies.  It’s important.

            This is of the utmost importance.  In a world with thousands of shepherds, each herding their sheep in a different direction, we need to ensure that we’re listening to the Good Shepherd, the man God sent, our Messiah.  Yesterday’s devotion touched on this a little as well.  We need to listen to Jesus.  There’s an ancient book called “The Didache” that deals extensively with the workings of the (very) early church.  In it, one of the methods offered by which to discern a false apostle or bad shepherd was “do they ask for money? If they do, they’re a false apostle.”.  Jesus never asked for any money, just saying.  All I remember Jesus saying about money is that one cannot serve both God and money (Matt 6:24).  Hrmm, interesting.

            That means that even if someone else has a very melodious voice, even if they’re very handsome and charismatic, even if they preach at a mega-church (which are in and of themselves all fine things), even if they have thousands and thousands of followers: if they say anything other than exactly what Jesus was saying, it’s because they have no dawn.  They won’t see the morning when the morning comes.  The people who are following them blindly won’t either.  Let that sink in.

            We have a God that loves us intensely, whom we have grieved over and over with our disregard and misplaced priorities.  Yes, God is love.  He sent us Jesus as a way for us be be reconciled, to once again dwell with our God: we have one good shepherd that will lead us back to our God, and a thousand bad shepherds that will lead us to destruction.  We only need to listen to the one that God sent.

            “If Yahweh does not build a house, those who built it labored in vain. If Yahweh does not watch over a city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. ” (Ps 127:1, REV).  Please, be careful.  Examine yourself daily, speak to God regularly, ask Him to reveal to you your own hidden faults, and seek His wisdom in correcting them.  Act generously towards your fellow creation, and seek to the best of your ability to fulfill the tasks that we as servants of the living God have been given.  Listen to Jesus, follow the only Good Shepherd, the one God sent.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Why do you think there are such a large number of bad shepherds in the world, and why do you think they are thriving?
  2. If I gave you $100 for every bible verse you memorized, would you memorize more verses? 
  3. Why? (It’s a deep question.  Think about it.)

PRAYER

Father God, Thank you for life.  Please guide me, there are so many distractions here, so many things and theories that are not from you, please grant me discernment and wisdom and help me to follow Jesus alone, to your glory.  Thank you Father, in Jesus name, Amen.

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Martha, Martha, Martha!

Mary listened to the Lord's teaching at his feet

Jeremiah 21-22

Psalm 127

*Luke 10

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Ok, to be fair, in the target verse I took the title from there are only 2 “Martha”s, but every time I read this verse I think of the old Brady Bunch television show and crack up laughing.   In the context of the show, Jan (a younger sister) would often complain that Marcia was receiving all the attention, leading to the whined repetition of her sister’s name. This is often (and incorrectly) quoted as “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” (it’s actually “Marcia”, pronounced the same, spelled differently).

            The sentiment expressed biblically is exactly the same though: hey, why are they getting all the attention, when I’m the one doing the work here?  How often do you feel as if you’re going above and beyond when _______  (insert any name here) is really just not trying nearly as hard.  I know I’m absolutely guilty of that at times, both at my job and at my home. 

            Here in America (where I live), we have a phrase: “phoning it in.”.  It implies that the person in question is too lazy to even show up to work, and they are “phoning it in.”.  I say with shame that I have on occasions in the past when I have felt like I was shouldering the majority burden of a load around the house called out to my wife “Hey, it’s 865.”.  To which she’d go, “What is?”  and I’d reply “that’s our area code, so when you’re phoning it in you’ll at least get close to where we live.” (I know, I know…).

            The problem with that is, and I’ve said this many times: when we stand before the throne of judgment on the last day, what other people have done will not enter into the conversation.  Each person’s actions are between them and God, when we make preliminary judgment we’re taking a dangerous action.  Remember the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (in Luke 18)?  The Pharisee was puffed up by all the things he had done, the Tax Collector just begged God for forgiveness, and only one of them went home justified that night before God.

            The verse that the title is taken from is near the very end of this chapter, and says (Luke 10:41-42): But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,but one thing is necessary; indeed, Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (the REV translation is used throughout this devotion).

            Like us, Martha is anxious and troubled about many things.  Jesus tells her, and us, though: but one thing is necessary.  What is the one thing?  To listen to Jesus.  To sit obediently at his feet and listen to the things that he tells us.  Mary got to do this in person, to gaze up at our Teacher as he spoke.  We have to rely on the scriptures, and the urgings of the spirit, but the one thing that is necessary remains the same.  Listen to Jesus.

            So backing up in this chapter, Jesus says and does a few things.  Let’s listen to Jesus.  If you flip back to the previous chapter (9) Jesus sends out the 12.  At the beginning of this chapter, he sends out the 72, with roughly the same mission.  One of the things he said to them stands out to me, in verse 3 he says “…I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”. 

            When I first began attending Atlanta Bible College, freshly come from life as a career criminal (yes, of course there’s a story there…), Kent Ross asked me about a week in how I was doing with it all.  Kent was awesome.  I had to think about it really hard, so it took me a second to answer him, and I said “Kent, I feel like a wolf among sheep.”.  He just smiled and patted me on the shoulder and said “It’ll get better”, and he was right.

            When the 72 returned, they marvelled that even the demons submitted to them.  Jesus warned them not to rejoice in this, but to rejoice instead that their names were written in heaven (presumably in the “book of life”).

            When a certain expert of the law (Jewish Orthodox Law) asked Jesus “What must I do to obtain life in the age to come?” (ie, the kingdom of God), Jesus replied, “What is written?”.  The implication here is that the understanding and practice of what is written in scripture can lead one to life in the age to come, in the kingdom.  The man quoted the Shema (Deut 6:4-5), the absolutely most important commandment, and followed it with Leviticus 19:18.  Both are pasted below, since Jesus himself said that this was the greatest and the next greatest commandment both here and in other accounts (in Mark 12:29-32).  You should know these verses and have them memorized, because according to Jesus these are the most important commandments:

The Shema, The Greatest Commandment (Deut 6:4-5): “4“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh alone! 5Therefore you are to love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. “

The Golden Rule, the second greatest commandment (Leviticus 19:18): “Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you are to love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh. “

            In the parable of the Good Samaritan, just after this conversation, Jesus tells us who our neighbor is that we are to love.  It’s everyone, every other vessel of clay that the Lord God Yahweh has made, which is all of us.

            What else did Jesus say?  Well, Jesus has a God, and tells us that his God and our God are the same God (John 20:17).  He says that God has sent him and that he can only say and do the things that God has told him to (John 12:49).  Jesus tells us that the Father, Yahweh, is greater than he is (John 14:28).  Jesus tells us that he is the Christ, the one whom God has anointed, the man whom God has chosen to be the king (John 4:26).  How has the modern church confused and altered such simple teachings?  Like Mary and Martha in this story at the end of Luke 10, we need to understand that only one thing is necessary: to listen to Jesus.

            If you really want to listen to Jesus, and want a concentrated dose of what Jesus said, I really think (ie, it’s my opinion) that reading and putting in to practice Matthew 5-8 are probably the most important things that we can do to become citizens of the kingdom of God, and to have our names written in the book of life.  Please read it for yourself, and tell me if you agree.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Do you ever fall into this trap, of comparing yourself to another human instead of measuring yourself up against God’s expectations?
  2. What is the best way to avoid this pitfall, and how can we implement it in our daily lives?
  3. How often do we just shut up, when we are praying, and try to listen?  If we’re talking more than we’re listening, doesn’t that imply that we view the relationship in a skewed fashion?

PRAYER

Father God, please forgive my arrogance when I judge others.  Help me not to do that, help me to avoid the things that can trap me in wrong thinking, and please create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.  Teach me and help me to listen, guide me and give me the courage to follow, hold me and help me to know I am loved.  Thank you God, in Jesus name, Amen.

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Recurring Themes: The Kingdom and The Christ

Jeremiah 19-20

Psalm 127

*Luke 9

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Lots of time in the scriptures we see a “recurring theme”; a central idea, message, or concept that appears repeatedly throughout a single work of art, a series of works, or across different narratives.  We see this a lot in scripture, and you can probably think of at least 3 examples of this without thinking too hard about it.

            In today’s reading of Luke 9, we see a couple of recurring themes that occur through this single chapter of scripture: 1 of these themes (the Christ, and what that means identity-wise)  occurs about 531 times directly in the new testament, myriads of other times semi-directly , and another (the kingdom of God) occurs about 365 times throughout the bible.

            Dissecting Luke 9, we see right off the bat (in v 1-6) that the 12 (disciples) are empowered to cast out demons and cure sicknesses, and sent out to (in v2): “…preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “.  The last verse of this section says “6 And they departed and went throughout the villages proclaiming good news and healing people everywhere”.  So what is this good news?  What is the gospel that they are preaching?  They are preaching about the kingdom of God.  That’s the good news that Jesus sends them out to speak about.

            The kingdom of God (or kingdom of Heaven) is one of the recurring themes throughout scripture, and occurs about 365 times, give or take.  It’s mentioned 6 times in this chapter alone, and refers to God’s coming kingdom that will be established (on the earth).  When Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, a portion of the prayer includes …”your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10, Luke 11:12).  Jesus teaches us that we are to “seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” (Matt 6:33), so it’s not just a priority, it’s top priority.

            Throughout the centuries since Jesus the Christ left us, the focus has gradually shifted away from attaining citizenship into this kingdom (after the resurrection of the dead at the second coming), and towards “going to heaven” when we die.  Unfortunately, this “traditional orthodox” understanding is not scriptural: scriptures themselves speak only of a type of “sleep” for the righteous (with the notable exceptions of Enoch and Elijah).  In scripture, there are no verses that say that the righteous will go to heaven when they die, and approximately 54 that state they enter into a state of “sleep”* when they die (prior to a day of resurrection) so it can be logically inferred that the majority of traditional “orthodox” understanding is probably erroneous in this matter.  I’ll spare you the bad joke about what Mozart is doing right now**, along with the rest of the dead.

            It should also be noted that the kingdom of Heaven/kingdom of God is, according to scripture, going to be established here upon the earth***, after the return of the Christ, the judgment, and the resurrection of the dead.  If we entered immediately into the kingdom upon death, there would be no need for a resurrection, or the establishment of the kingdom on the earth.  The kingdom of God is to be established here on the earth after a number of specific criteria and events have occurred (see Revelation for reference).  Scriptures that seem to uphold both this and the above paragraph are listed at the bottom, if you’d like to compare and contrast them with your beliefs, but by all means make your own interpretations and do your own studies.

            So, is the kingdom of God a big deal?  It absolutely is, it’s what Jesus preached about, and sent his disciples out to preach about.  Has it been misunderstood and misrepresented in these later times?  It would seem so, according to scripture.  We are also told that in the last days, there will be lots of misunderstandings (See 1 Tim 4:1) and misrepresentations, so this shouldn’t come as any surprise.

            Another recurring theme we see through Luke 9 is folks wondering who Jesus is, who is this Nazarene fellow that some are calling The Christ?  Herod wonders this in Luke 9:7-9.  In Luke 9:18-22, Jesus asks his own disciples who the people are saying he is, and then asks Peter.  In Luke 9: 35 we hear what is presumably the voice of God stating who this Jesus fellow is.

            So, who was the Christ?  What does “Christ” mean?  What relationship did Jesus have with God, according to scripture?  What relationship does Jesus have with God, according to “orthodox tradition”?  Are they the same answer?  Why, or why not?

            This is a recurring theme even today, and unfortunately, we’ve let years of tradition influence our answer in most churches.  There is a fantastic and disturbingly educational book I’ve read recently which explains how a lot of the current “orthodox” traditions were accepted by the church that I’m going to highly, highly recommend to anyone who is truly serious about separating fact from fiction from tradition.  It’s called: “Voting About God in Early Church Councils”, by Ramsay MacMullen.  It’s a book that draws on extensive verbatim stenographic records, and analyzes the ecumenical councils from 325 to 553, in which participants gave authority to doctrinal choices by majority vote.  Did you ever wonder how some of these things really went down?  This book tells you (with original sources quoted extensively).   Spoiler Alert: it’s disturbing.

            Forget tradition, scripture slone should be our measuring stick.  If we hear anything that does not perfectly align with the majority of scripture, then it should be looked at very carefully.  Luke 9, along with all other scriptures, give us some very specific things that it claims that Jesus, the Christ, is.  It is also notably missing some of the larger more ambitious claims of later “orthodox” doctrine.  While our job is not to hold a measuring stick up to our brothers and sisters, we are told quite extensively in scripture to examine ourselves.  With that in mind:

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. What do you think the “kingdom of God” is?  Where and when does it take place? Which verses do you feel lend credence to your interpretation?  What level of priority should we assign to becoming citizens of this kingdom?
  2. Who do you say that Jesus is?  Does your belief line up with the majority of scripture?  Why, or why not?
  3. Possibly the most important question: how does your interpretation and understanding of scripture affect how you view and interact with both God and the rest of the humans he made?

PRAYER:

Father God, Please open my eyes and let me see.  Speak into my ear, and let me understand your word.  Grant me wisdom to discern the truth, and obedience to follow your word.  Forgive me of the many times I fall short, and help me to be as forgiving to the people around me when they do.  Thank you God, for life, breath, and all things.  In Jesus name, Amen.

* the “sleep of the dead” is extensively referred to throughout scripture: Gen 47:30; Deut 31:16; 2 Sam 7:12; 1 Ki 2:10; 1 Ki 11:21; 1 Ki 14:20; 1 Ki 15:8; 1 Ki 15:24; 1 Ki 22:40; 1 Ki 22:50; 2 Ki 8:24; 2 Ki 13:9; 2 Ki 14:16; 2 Ki 14:22; 2 Ki 15:7; 2 Ki 15:38; 2 Ki 16:20; 2 Ki 20:21; 2 Ki 21:18; 2 Ki 21:26. 1 Chron 28:10; 2 Chron 9:31; 2 Chron 14:1; 2 Chron 16:13; 2 Chron 21:20; 2 Chron 24:25; 2 Chron 26:23; 2 Chron 32:33; Job 7:21; Job 14:12; Ps 13:3; Ps 90:5; Dan 12:2. Matt 9:24; Mark 5:39; Luke 8:52; John 11:11; Matt 27:52; Acts 7:60; Acts 13:36; 1 Cor 7:39; 1 Cor 11:30; 1 Cor 15:20; 1 Cor 15:51; 1 Thess 4:13; 1 Thess 5:10; 2 Peter 3:4.  Additionally, the entirety of Heb 11 is devoted to explaining this concept, with examples.

** “De-composing”, pa dum pum (at least until Jesus comes back).  Ok, so I won’t completely spare you.

*** The Kingdom of God established on the earth: Is 65:17-19, Dan 2:44, Mic 4:1-2, Zech 14:9-11, Heb 12:22, Rev 3:12, 5:10, 11:15, 21:1-3, and more.  These texts collectively affirm that the Kingdom is a literal, earthly government rather than a purely spiritual or heavenly entity.

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Clay Vessels

A person shaping a clay pot on a spinning wheel, with hands covered in clay. The image features the quote from Jeremiah 18:2 NIV overlayed on top.

*Jeremiah 17-18

Psalm 126

Luke 9

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Genesis 2:7 states that God made man from the “dust of the ground“, and the literal translation of “dust” in this could equally be translated as “dirt/dust/clay/mud/earth”.  The literal origin of the species* happened at this time, according to scripture, when God made man (from the dirt/clay/mud  of the earth) and “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life“.  “Breath” in this verse is also the same exact word for spirit in the original language, by the way, so you could honestly say with accuracy that every human being who is living and breathing at this moment in time has a small piece of the “spirit” or “breath” of God in them.  That’s what animates us all, and gives us life.

            This is an important concept and it’s ramifications to our place in the universe are pretty extensive.  We exist solely because God (1) formed us out of the dirt and (2) breathed into us His breath or spirit, which gave us life.  This is a conscious act of creation, an act of will, an intentional making which caused us to be.  It’s easy to forget sometimes, when we see some of the other tiny little humans walking about that are famous, wealthy, beautiful, full of pride, etc. Etc.; but we are all creations, jars of clay formed by our creator, God.  We live solely because our lungs are filled with the “breath”, or “spirit”, of God.  Regardless of our status towards the other humans, we are all the same before God: vessels of clay, which He has formed and animated, creations which He owns since He made it all.

            There are a couple verses in Job that I like a lot specifically because they highlight these simple teachings.  In Job 33:6 it says: “Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay. ” when the young Elihu speaks to Job, and later in that same conversation, in 34:14-15 he says: “If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would die together and man would turn again to dust.“.  Think about that for a moment.  God, as the creator of the earth and all the things in it (even us) has absolute authority over all of it, because it is His.  This is clearly stated throughout scripture, and most beautifully put in Psalms 24:1 “The earth is Yahweh’s, and all it contains; the world, and those who dwell in it.“.

            In our Jeremiah reading today, we get a pretty clear restatement of this simple concept.  Jeremiah 18:1-4 reads: “The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, “Get up and go down to the potter’s house and I will tell you my message there.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making a work on the wheels. Whenever the vessel that he made of the clay came out ruined in the hand of the potter, he made it again, into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. “.  It’s a very straightforward visual lesson: perform the purpose for which you are created or else back in the bucket you’ll go.  God is the divine potter, we are his clay.

            A while back, there was a famous (and now disgraced) comedian who had a great bit in his show about a parental warning that his father gave to his 7 year old self that went something like this: “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out. And it don’t make no difference to me, I’ll make another one look just like you”.  Hilarious when presented in the comedy show, it’s a bit ominous and concerning when it turns out to be a scriptural accuracy that is clearly demonstrated in our reading today.

            Here are a couple verses to compare and consider, from Jeremiah 17 (please note that ALL scriptures from today’s devotion are quoted from the REV translation, available free online):

“5This is what Yahweh says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in humans and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart departs from Yahweh.” 

“7Blessed is the one who trusts in Yahweh, and whose confidence is Yahweh.”

“9The heart is deceitful above all things, and is incurable; who can know it?”

            To trust in humans is a curse, to trust in Yahweh is a blessing, and our own hearts are deceitful above all things.  This means that even if we really feel like something is right, we need to compare it to scripture and see if it meets the criteria before we can make a discerning judgment. 

            In my sabbath school class this morning, I heard for the second time a teaching I was unfamiliar with from scripture, the concept that Adam and Eve wore “robes of light” in the garden of Eden.  It’s a common belief in the denomination of the church I was attending this morning.  Everyone in the class was on board with this belief, but I was unfamiliar with it. 

            I double checked in scripture, and then raised my hand and politely asked about it.  We all had a very respectfully polite and loving conversation about it; while there were some later verses that could be read in a specific way to imply that such a thing might exist (or come to exist for believers), nothing in scripture stated this specifically and more to the point in question, there was nowhere in scripture during the creation story that stated or even implied that Adam and Eve were wearing such a thing (and some verses which seemed to potentially contradict this belief).

            As a result, and since scripture is the ruler by which we should measure all of our beliefs, we as a group came to the conclusion that while it was not necessarily detrimental to salvation and perfectly acceptable to be held as a personal belief, the belief that Adam and Eve wore “robes of light” in the garden couldn’t be found anywhere in scripture and therefore shouldn’t be spoken of with certainty when teaching (at least without a caveat mentioned).  This conversation was all done in love and unity, with a common seeking an understanding of God’s word.  We didn’t all agree on the “robes of light”, but we did all agree that scripture should be our guide.

            I offer the above (true) story as a template to a loving and respectful way that we can, as a body of believers, seek after the truth of God’s word in humility and respect and to weigh the truth of scripture against what our heart may hold dear as it has been presented to us in the traditions of man.  It’s ok to raise your hand.  It’s ok to ask questions.  It’s ok to lovingly request clarification on any specific belief or tradition.  Then, it’s required to compare that to what the scriptures say, because trusting in men is a curse, but trusting in Yahweh is a blessing.  Even if you really feel strongly about something in your heart, because the heart is deceitful above all else.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Think of a time when you really wanted something to be true, but it just wasn’t.  How many things did you just think of?
  2. Of all those times you just thought about, how many times was your mistaken belief because you were deceived by others compared to you deceiving yourself?
  3. Do you find yourself sometimes thinking that your jar of clay is better than someone else’s, or vice versa?  Why?  Do you think that’s scripturally accurate?

PRAYER

Father God, you have created not only me but all things here on the earth.  You are my maker, I am your creation.  Father forgive me when I fall short, please mold me to serve the purpose which you intended for me.  Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me, for your glory.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*-The question of the origin of the species can be boiled down to a simple and single binary question: is the existence of man(kind) planned or random?  Mathematical Physicist Robert Pemrose has calculated that the probability of a life-supporting universe arising by chance as 1 in 10^10^123, which is an infinitesmally small percentage.  This in turn suggests that the precise constants required for life make a random origin of our existence statistically impossible, thereby increasing the likelihood of a conscious creator to near certainty.  Just some math stuff for you nerds.

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Who Touched Me?

*Jeremiah 15-16

Psalm 126

*Luke 8

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            If you read yesterday’s devotion, do you remember there being at least 8 devotions worth of material in Luke 8?  Well, lucky day, since Luke 8 is partially in today’s reading too, one of them (the woman who touched Jesus and was healed) is going to be our primary study today.

            Before we go there though, just a touch upon our Jeremiah reading today.  If you read through these chapters, it really sounds like God is super-pi….well, let’s just say really angry. If you wonder why, check out the devotion from  June 17th this year entitled “Tingling Ears”.  Manasseh means “forgetting” or “causing to forget”, and Manasseh caused the Israelites to forget about God, while being credited in a number of scriptures as being so bad that he pretty much caused the babylonian exile (and the destruction of the temple) because of his sins.  In Jeremiah 15:4 specifically it says: “And I will make them an object of horror among all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, because of what he did in Jerusalem.”.   Just another clear reminder that just because you come from good stock doesn’t mean you’re good.

            Moving forward to Luke 8, let’s talk about the woman who touched Jesus, as there are a couple interesting points to make here.  First let’s set the scene a little.  Jesus and the twelve are travelling about, preaching and healing people, along with a group of benefactor ladies (Luke 8:1-3).  Huge crowds are gathering to hear what this Jesus guy is saying, people are even being healed, so everywhere he goes there’s a crowd either curious to hear his words or maybe even to get lucky enough to be healed of an affliction.  Maybe even both.  Jesus got in a boat to get some peace, calmed a storm, cast out demon(s), and then returned.  When he got back, the crowds were waiting on him.

            So, did you ever wonder if Jesus obeyed Jewish law?  He did.  When the woman in the crowd touched Jesus and was healed, she touched what is commonly translated as “the hem of his robe”.  What she actually touched was the fringe (or tassel) of Jesus’ garment, which was the part of the clothing known as the “tzitzit” worn by faithful Jewish men in obedience to biblical commands (found in Num 15:38 and Deut 22:12).  So yes, our Messiah was a very faithful and law obeying Jewish man, just as it was prophesied throughout scripture that he would be.  The seed of the woman, an Israelite man which God would raise up from among his brothers “like Moses” who would be completely obedient, a genealogical descendant of David.

            When the woman touched Jesus’ tassel and was healed, he felt the power go out of him.  There’s an interesting discussion here in Luke 8:45-48, in which Jesus asks who touched him.  Once, while attending a “traditional, orthodox” church,  a teacher speaking about this event told me (and the rest of the class) “well, he actually already knew, because God is omniscient…”.  Let’s pause a moment there and consider that.  While I’d agree that omniscience is probably a trait of God (Yahweh),  it seems as if in addition to many of the other notable traits and characteristics that distinguish the son of God (Yeshua) from God Himself (Yahweh), Jesus did not share this trait.  To imply that Jesus, our Messiah, would intentionally dissemble and mislead seems rather silly to me, and ill informed and ungracious at best.  Jesus, as the man God sent, only spoke the words that God told him to speak (and that’s according to Jesus himself, see John 12:49) so I think we can safely rule that theory out completely and move on to the simpler, more honest, reading.

            We don’t know the woman’s name* who touched Jesus in the crowd, the bible doesn’t mention it.   We do know that she was suffering for 12 years from  a chronic bleeding condition, “a discharge of blood” (possibly menstrual), which would render her ceremonially unclean and socially isolated under Jewish law.  To even touch an unclean person under Jewish law meant that you became unclean too.  What’s the big deal though?

            It’s a bigger deal than you can possibly imagine.  In the ancient world, the Jewish people had at the core of their social identity as a people the common belief in the one God, the God who had saved them from Egypt and claimed them as a people, and there was only one place in Israel that it was acceptable to go and worship this God, and that was at the Temple in Jerusalem.  You could not enter the temple if you were unclean, not without a very specific (and time consuming) ritual cleansing.  If you had a chronic bleeding condition, you could never become ritually clean, and therefore you could never enter the temple.  You couldn’t make your sacrifices before God.  You were cut off, not only from your people, but from your God. 

            Put it in your own social terms.  Let’s say you live in a medium-sized town, and everybody in this town goes to one church.  Now imagine that nobody will socialize with you or even approach you, and the only place that you can go to that everyone else goes to is denied to you.  In addition, even though you want to serve God, the only place you’re allowed to do it is at this church, which you’re not allowed in.  Feel isolated yet?  It was exponentially worse for this woman, because the core of the Jewish identity centered around the temple, and the belief and worship of the one God, which could only ritually take place in the temple.  This woman had no friends, and couldn’t even officially approach God, not like the rest of the Israelites could.  Just imagine how that would make you feel.

            When Jesus found out who had touched him, he didn’t rebuke her.  He didn’t scold her as an unclean woman touching a faithful and ritually clean Jewish man.  He blessed her, and told her that her faith had made her clean.  From this point, all she had to do was to go and see a priest, serve out the prescribed time for purification, and then she could enter the Temple.  Jesus restored her ability to have a direct relationship to God.  He brought her back in to the tribe of Israel socially as well, and enabled her to be a part of the nation that was no longer isolated and excluded.

            No matter who you are, no matter what tribe you are from, no matter what the color of your skin is, what language you speak, or what nation you live in: Jesus offers us this same invitation.  A chance to remove our affliction, to restore us to our God, and to be a part of the kingdom.  An opportunity, for those of us bold enough and willing to just reach out and try to touch him.  Even if it’s just the hem of his robe.  All praise to the God who sent him, our king is a restorer, a mender of the breach, a repairer of what is broken.  Thank you, Jesus.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. Had you ever considered the social and spiritual ramifications of having a chronic bleeding illness in the ancient Israelite world, based on Jewish law?
  2. Had you ever considered that our king, Jesus, was a (Jewish) law abiding man, and what the ramifications of that are to us today?
  3. Had you ever considered the deeper implications of why Jesus didn’t know who touched him?

Prayer

Father God, thank you for sending us your son.  Please heal us.  Thank you for all of the blessings that you have given us, all undeserved and unwarranted on our part.  Please help me to glorify your name, to obey your laws, and to follow the teachings of the one you sent to us.  In Jesus name, Amen.

* It should be noted that later “church tradition” does identify her by name with some other interesting and apocryphal trivia about her, but like any church traditions that aren’t explicitly in scripture, they should be discarded with the waste water.

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False Prophets

*Jeremiah 13-14

Psalm 125

*Luke 8

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Luke 8 alone (ironically) has enough material for about 8 devotions all by itself by my reckoning, so please read it thoroughly as we’ll be moving along quickly to get to some other juicy bits today.  Aside from the (1)women supporting the ministry (see below), we have (2) the parable of the sower (hugely important concepts) and it’s explanation, (3) the parable of the hidden lamp (nothing is hidden that will not be revealed!), (4) Jesus’ mother and brothers (are the ones hearing and doing the word of God), (5) Jesus calms the storm (and teaches about faith), (6) Jesus casts out demons (into pigs, and gains a follower), (7) Jesus heals a woman who touches him (whose affliction would have kept her from going to the temple to worship), and (8) Jesus raises a dead girl (who he says has “fallen asleep”).  Whew.  Busy chapter, easily 8 full devotions worth.

            The first 3 verses here are interesting because after it mentions Jesus and his disciples (specifically “the twelve”) travelling about and preaching, it also says “certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, and then lists 3 specific names, but says that there were “many others” who were providing for them out of their own resources.

            Of the 3 ladies mentioned by name, Susanna has no other references in the bible, Mary Magdalene* has numerous other references in scripture, and then Joanna, who was married to Chuza, has no other mention in the bible.  An interesting note though: Joanna was Chuza’s wife, who was Herod’s manager.  This would be Herod Antipas, there were 5-6 Herods in scripture starting with “Herod the Great” (who was not so great, and was responsible for the massacre of infants in the Bethlehem area shortly after Jesus birth).  Herod Antipas was Herod the Great’s son, and is noted for his rule and roles in the executions of John the Baptist, and Jesus of Nazareth.  That Herod.  His manager’s wife was a noted follower of Jesus.  Interesting, isn’t it?  You’re welcome, history nerds!

            The Jeremiah reading today is going to be our focus.  In Jeremiah 13, God commands Jeremiah to buy a linen loincloth (skivvies).  The word used here can also be translated as “belt, waistband, or girdle”, but the idea is that it was a cloth that was worn close to the body around the waist.  He’s told to go bury the loincloth and then retrieve it “after many days” and when he does it’s worthless and gross, and this is to be a visual sign to Israel and Judah.  As visual signs and prophecies go, as gross as it sounds putting on a nasty ruined loincloth, in this instance Jeremiah could have had it a lot worse (See Isaiah 20 for comparison).  This visual prophecy, like most that God gives His people, is another attempt to guide them back to Him, which really speaks a lot toward the character of our loving and merciful God.

            Here’s what I’d like to focus on today, though.  In Jeremiah 14, false prophets have come among the people of Israel, telling them that everything is going to be fine and not to worry.  Jeremiah is upset about this, and mentions it to God, see below:

13Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You will not see the sword, nor will you have famine, but I will give you lasting peace and prosperity in this place.’” 14Then Yahweh said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I did not send them, nor have I commanded them, nor did I speak to them. They prophesy to you a lying vision, and worthless divination, and the deceptions of their own heart. 15Therefore this is what Yahweh says: As for the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, yet they keep saying, ‘Sword and famine will not be in this land,’ By sword and famine those prophets will be consumed. 16And the people they prophesy to will be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and they will have no one to bury them—them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters—because I will pour their wickedness on them. (REV translation)

            There are false prophets among the people, they are telling the people what they want to hear, but they are telling lies and God didn’t send them or tell them to say these things.  Sound familiar? The point of concern here though is that the people will still be held accountable!  God gave us His word as a template, by which we are to measure the words of men.  Why is it important to be discerning with your understanding of scripture? Because God has already told us: of His nature, of what is to come, of what our expectations are.  We change these precepts, ignore them, or listen to others who speak contrary to these things at our own peril.  We will be held accountable.

            There are false prophets today, too.  In 1 Timothy 4:1 it tells us that in the last days they’ll abound.  We generally think that we’re in the last days now.  Why would they do such a thing, though?  Well, we had a discussion about this just recently at church Saturday morning: it could be people seeking profit or gain, it could be people seeking fame or social status, and it could also be genuine people who themselves have been deceived and are now in all earnestness and good intentions deceiving others.  The point is, it doesn’t matter why.  If you allow yourself to be misled, you will be held accountable.  How then are we to discern what is truth, and what is a lie?

            Isaiah 8:20 “Turn to the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light of dawn in them.“  (REV translation used).  Think about it.  If you listen to someone who speaks against exactly (and only) what the Bible says, they don’t have a morning, and neither will you.  Be discerning.  Abhor tradition and teachings where it contradicts scripture.  In Ephesians 6:10-17 when speaking of the “Armor of God”, among all of the defensive items of armor listed there is only one offensive tool mentioned with which we can fight, and it is the sword of the spirit, the word of God, the scriptures.  If you don’t know how to wield it, there’s a good chance you’re going to get murdered.  Practice with your sword and read your Bible, for your own sake, and for the love of God.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. How many false prophets can you think of, off the top of your head?
  2. How many of these do you think are genuinely earnest people, who have themselves been decieved?
  3. How many times a day/week do you read your Bible?  Would you read it more if your life depended on it? (spoiler alert: it does.)

Prayer

Father God, you have warned us of those who have eyes but are blind, and those who have ears but are deaf.  Please Father, open our eyes, clean out our ears, and speak to us clearly so that we are not deceived.  Lead us and guide us, whisper to us and tell us the way in which we should go.  Have mercy upon your people, Lord God, for your own name’s sake.  Thank you, in Jesus name, amen.

* Since the rooting out and exposing of unscriptural church traditions has become something of a hobby for me, it should be noted regarding Mary Magdalene that the belief that she was a repentant sex worker or the sister of Martha and Lazarus stems from later church traditions and misinterpretations, not from scriptural text. She was however “healed of seven demons” and contributed to Jesus’ ministry financially, in addition to getting honorable mention in all 4 of the gospels, and being the first to arrive at the empty tomb of Jesus after his resurrection.

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Are You Keeping Your Promises? 

The devotion by Cayce Fletcher reflects on the nature of promises and covenants, highlighting humanity’s tendency to break commitments. It draws parallels between God’s covenant with Israel and our relationships today. Despite human unfaithfulness, God remains steadfast. Fletcher encourages readers to evaluate their promises and live faithfully, inspired by God’s unwavering commitment.

Jer 11-12

Ps 125

Luke 7

-Devotion by Cayce Fletcher

One of my favorite movies is the original animated Beauty and the Beast. In one of the scenes, Cogsworth is explaining how to ‘woo’ a woman, and he says you do it with “flowers, chocolates, promises you don’t intend to keep.”

A promise is supposed to be something that is lasting. That you are committed to upholding. But, unfortunately, today, promises are viewed as disposable. 

From the covenant of marriage, to the relationships between family members, to simple contractual obligations, everyone seems to be breaking their word. It’s almost like the human bent is to break our promise. 

In today’s passage, we read of a similar story: God is reminding Israel of their covenant promise, but Israel refuses to listen. In Exodus (through Deuteronomy), God establishes the Mosaic covenant with His people. In Deuteronomy 30, he presents to them a choice: Choose life and keep the covenant, or choose death and reject it. 

Jeremiah reminds the people of the covenant that was made in the wilderness, which the people continue to break (Jer. 11). God continually called them back, but the people continued to reject Him. 

The old covenant has given way to the new covenant, which we are under today in Christ. The curtain is torn (Matt. 27:51), the old covenant is done away with, and through Christ we are able to enter into the Most Holy Place (Heb. 10:19). We don’t have to wear bells and fear dropping dead; instead, the very Spirit of God has come to dwell in us as His temple (1 Cor. 6:19). 

The story of Israel reminds us just how easy it is for people to make promises to God and then slowly wander away from them. We can sing the songs, say the prayers, and profess our devotion—and then live as though those promises have little bearing on our everyday lives.

But God is not like us. He does not make “promises He doesn’t intend to keep.” Throughout Scripture, even as His people prove themselves unfaithful again and again, God remains faithful.

And because He has been faithful to us, we are called to be faithful to Him.

So take some time to consider the promises you have made. Are you living faithfully in your covenant relationship with God? Are you keeping your word to your spouse, your family, your church, and the people around you?

In a world where promises are increasingly treated as disposable, let us be people whose word means something—because we belong to a God who always keeps His.

Cayce Fletcher is a wife and mom of three. In addition to homeschooling and other ministry projects, she writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, motherhood, and theology. 

Reflection Questions

  1. Why is keeping promises important? Why is it so hard to keep promises? 
  2. How are covenants similar to and different from promises? 
  3. What is so unique about the New Covenant that we have in Christ?

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the New Covenant that we have in Christ—that we can enter into the most holy place and not be afraid. We praise you and honor you with our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

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Words That Are Seasoned With Grace and Truth

Cayce Fletcher reflects on the power of words, emphasizing their impact on relationships and the importance of truth in speech. Drawing from scripture, she warns against deception and advocates for gracious communication rooted in honesty. The message encourages readers to align their interactions with the truth of God to foster genuine connections.

Jer 9-10

Ps 124

Luke 7

-Devotion by Cayce Fletcher

We have probably all experienced quick jabs that left a lasting mark. Growing up, many of my friends viewed this kind of trait as something worth having. You need to be quick on your feet and thick-skinned. The person who can make the remark that makes others laugh the most (at someone else’s expense) is the one who gets the most ‘brownie points.’ 

I’ve realized that this is a foolish way to live. I’ve been on the receiving end of those comments that have ultimately ended relationships because of how hurtful they were. 

Words have power. 

I keep coming back to this idea over and over. Through the Word of God, the world was created. The Word is what we call his message to His people. Through the reading of His Word, we believe that real, lasting change can happen in our hearts. Jesus is the embodied Word.

Our words cannot create the cosmos, but they still have power. 

Jeremiah speaks of the power of words in our passage today. In Jeremiah 9:3, it says, “They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies.” Later on, it says, “Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning” (Jer. 9:5). 

One of the central sins was a sin of deception. Because they had exchanged the ultimate Truth of God for a lie, every one of their interactions became characterized by lies. 

Jeremiah 9:6 says, “‘You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,’ declares the Lord.”

The way that we interact with others shows the importance that we place on our relationship with God. If our interactions are characterized by deception, lying, and deceit, what does that show us? 

Proverbs speaks of this. Proverbs 26:18–19 says, “Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, ‘I was only joking!’”

If our speech with others is not rooted in truth, we become like this maniac. We are spreading death around without care of who gets shot. 

What should our speech look like in contrast? 

Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.”

We should be gracious—but this does not mean that we just allow sin and deception to reign. Instead, our speech should also be seasoned with salt (reminiscent of Matthew 5). This salt is truth. 

May all our words point people back to the Word of Life: Jesus!

Cayce Fletcher is a wife and mom of three. In addition to homeschooling and other ministry projects, she writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, motherhood, and theology. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What does deception in speech look like? Where do you see people spreading deception?
  2. Have you ever experienced someone who spread deception? What was the outcome? 
  3. How can you be more intentional about speaking with grace and truth in your interactions? 

Prayer

Dear Lord, you are the source of all truth. May our lives reflect your truth. May we reject deceptions and seek to glorify you in all our interactions. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

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What kind of fruit are you producing? 

In Jeremiah, God calls for reform in ways and actions, emphasizing the importance of genuine faith over mere ritual. The teachings remind us to pursue justice, avoid idolatry, and maintain moral integrity. Jesus highlights that one’s heart influences life’s outcomes, urging us to nourish our spirits with good influences for fruitful living.

Jer 7-8

Ps 124

Luke 6

-Devotion by Cayce Fletcher

Reading through the books of the prophets can sometimes feel like you’re hearing the same things on repeat. But rather than become desensitized to what you read, remember this: If it’s repeated, it’s important. 

What themes have we seen hit on again and again through these opening chapters of Jeremiah? 

Jeremiah 7:3–4 says, “Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!’” This call from God summarizes what has been repeated across all the preceding chapters. 

We learn: 

  1. God desires relationship with us. He wants to live in communion with us, but that can only happen in keeping with his holy character. 
  2. We have to reform our ways and actions. We come just as we are, but we cannot stay that way. 
  3. The natural bent of people is to soften sin and ritualize it. We live with fake religion, acting like if we just go through the motions of religion, that will be enough to ‘make God happy.’ 

Of course, nothing that we can do is ultimately enough to balance the ledgers of sin and righteousness in God’s book. Jesus paid it all, and all to him I owe. 

After we have accepted Jesus and committed to following after him as Lord of our lives, what then must we do? 

Jeremiah describes the types of things expected from us: 

  • We must “deal with each other justly” (v. 5–7). This looks like not being a bully to the people weaker than us—whether that’s the foreigner, widow, or fatherless. We cannot pervert justice and shed innocent blood. 
  • We must not “follow other gods to your own harm” (v. 7). Pursuing idolatry may feel good and right in the moment, but it will only result in pain in the end. God created in his perfect wisdom. When we choose to go our own way, we are choosing to reject that wisdom—which often just results in pain. 
  • We must not “steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury” (v. 9). What may look like a random collection of sins is actually a reference to ‘the big 10.’ Jeremiah is reminding us that we have to take a high view of the gravity of sin and avoid it at all costs. 

From this passage we learn that we must treat each other rightly, be faithful to God, and pursue holiness (rejecting sin). 

How do we have a life defined by these principles? In Luke 6, we read Jesus’ words: “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (v. 43-45).

Out of what we have stored up in our heart comes the fruit of our lives. If we want to have good fruit and live in the way that God is calling us to, we have to be feeding ourselves good things. Then from the good stored up, we will produce a life of lovely fruit. 

What does it practically look like to feed ourselves good things?

  • Spend time in Scripture before the world gets the first word. We are constantly being discipled by something. Make a habit of reading God’s Word—not simply to check a box, but to allow it to shape what you believe is true, good, and worth pursuing.
  • Pay attention to what you consume. Think about the music you listen to, the shows you watch, the books you read, and especially what you scroll through. Ask yourself: What is this teaching me to love? What is it teaching me to laugh at, desire, envy, or accept? Not everything we consume has to be explicitly Christian, but we should notice what is shaping our hearts.
  • Surround yourself with people who point you toward God. We need relationships where we can talk about more than schedules, work, kids, and what happened this week. Spend time with people who will remind you of truth, encourage you toward faithfulness, and lovingly correct you when you need it.
  • Fill the ordinary moments with good things. Listen to Scripture while you drive. Put on worship music while you clean. Memorize a verse and think about it throughout the day. Talk about what you’re learning with your family. Small choices repeated over time determine what gets “stored up” in our hearts.

We cannot expect to continually fill our hearts with what is shallow, worldly, or sinful and somehow produce godly fruit. What we store up matters.

What are we storing up in our hearts? And what kind of fruit is it producing in our lives?

May we be a people who pursue what is good, holy, and righteous. For we are judged by our fruit. 

Cayce Fletcher is a wife and mom of three. In addition to homeschooling and other ministry projects, she writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, motherhood, and theology. 

Reflection Questions

  1. Look through the list of things we can learn from this passage in Jeremiah. Where do you see yourself excelling or falling short? 
  2. What kind of fruit is your life producing? Think about your attitude and actions. What are you leaving in your ‘wake’? 
  3. What is one practical way that you can add more ‘good things’ to your life this week? 

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for being a God who always calls us back no matter what our current circumstances are. You are a good and holy God. May our actions reflect your character. Please fill our lives with the good things that produce good fruit—and please let us produce fruit that is in keeping with those good things. Soli Deo gloria. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

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Guilt, Shame, and Conviction

Jer 5-6

Ps 123

Luke 6

-Devotion by Cayce Fletcher

When I was in elementary school, I sat by a girl in one of my science classes who I became close friends with over the course of the year. In the midst of kid-friendly science experiments (probably involving something edible), she mentioned something she told me in confidence. 

And something that I soon told someone else. 

Somehow, word got back to this girl that I had spread this secret around. She confronted me and told me how it made her feel. Ultimately, sharing this secret was something that she couldn’t forgive so easily, and our friendship wasn’t the same. (She moved at the end of the year.)

I still remember the way that I felt at the end of our conversation. When she first brought it up, it was like my stomach dropped. I was afraid, and I could feel my cheeks get hot. It was a Friday, and as I went home, I kept thinking about it—wishing I could take it back. And I knew that I shouldn’t have shared what I did. 

All of these emotions were unfamiliar to me. It was the feelings of guilt and shame. 

Shame was not something we were originally created with. With the introduction of sin, we also were introduced to shame. Adam and Eve hid from God when they knew they did wrong. We still want to hide. 

This elementary school conversation was one of the first times I navigated these feelings—but it has definitely not been the only time since. 

Guilt and shame are inevitable in a world marred by sin, but what I find interesting in this passage is the lack of shame exhibited by the people. Their faces are like stone (Jer. 5:3); they are unapologetic about sin (Jer. 5:7–8); and they take a low view of sin (Jer. 5:12).  

In the garden, Adam and Eve had a childlike impulse to literally hide what they were doing, but today, we have become so desensitized to sin that we don’t even try to hide what we are doing. In our pride, we hide our hearts from the gravity of sin. We say that it’s not a big deal.  We say that everyone’s doing it. We say that it’s good to go our own way. But truly, this is just the path to destruction. 

God was calling the people back to Him, but that call required a right understanding of sin. 

When we have a wrong view of sin, we minimize it and justify ourselves. We compare ourselves to others. We make excuses. We tell ourselves that what we are doing isn’t really that bad. Instead of allowing conviction to change us, pride hardens our hearts and allows us to continue down the same path.

But when we have a right view of sin, conviction leads us to repentance. We recognize sin for what it is: rebellion against a holy God that damages the relationship we were created to have with Him. Instead of defending ourselves or hiding from Him, we confess our sin and turn back to God.

The answer to sin isn’t to live buried beneath guilt and shame. It is to let those feelings alert us that something is wrong—and then respond to God’s call to return to Him.

Guilt and shame—also known as conviction—are a clue that we need confession and repentance. 

We don’t have to live in the land of guilt and shame forever. Christ has made a way for us to break free from those shackles and step forward into freedom. Praise God! 

Cayce Fletcher is a wife and mom of three. In addition to homeschooling and other ministry projects, she writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, motherhood, and theology. 

Reflection Questions

  1. How does sin impact our relationship with God? 
  2. Do you have a low view or a high view of sin? How serious are you about sin and its effects? 
  3. What is one area where you feel shame (aka conviction), and how might you practice confession and repentance in that area? 

Prayer

Dear Lord, we know you are a holy God. We also know that we fall short. When we face these feelings of shame, may we not grow prideful or distant from you. Instead, please let these feelings draw us closer to you through the practices of confession and repentance. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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