Re-appearing Emails

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 36

Scripture Focus: Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them. (Jeremiah 36.32)

Devotional Thought:  Often people in positions of power want to hide what they've said in the past.  We get things like disappearing emails, "bleached" computers, and smashed phones.  At other times, powerful people want to suppress what others say.  We get things like biased fact-checking, de-platforming, and outright lies.  We may think this is a new problem, but in reality, it existed over two millennia ago.

Jeremiah was preaching unpopular things.  Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, tried to shut down the prophet by denying him access to the temple and by destroying the scroll he had written. 

In recent years, we have seen increased efforts to suppress and distort the truth.  What can we do?  The prophet's response is instructive:

·       Initiation.  Jeremiah didn't wait for someone else to do something.  He "took another scroll" to get his message out.  We need to be proactive in our testimony.

·       Dictation.  Jeremiah enlisted the help of Baruch who re-recorded what the prophet dictated.  We need some re-appearing emails!

·       Cooperation.  Jeremiah received help from other officials who were sympathetic to his cause.  Christians do not agree about everything.  But, we must join forces with one another (and even with like-minded secular groups) to proclaim the truth.

·       Restoration.  Jeremiah did not moderate his message, restoring "all the words" that had been destroyed.  Let us not compromise the truth.  I saw a billboard the other day that said, "Facts do not equal Truths."  I was puzzled as to what it meant, but one thing I know, "facts" are true.  Someone may not consider them "truths”, but they are true.

·       Expansion.  Jeremiah then took advantage of the actions of those in power to expand his message.  May the light of Christ shine brighter and brighter through us!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the truth of your Word.  Help me to not only believe it, but to also live it in such a way as to spread your message of love and peace and hope.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 119.65-72

65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.

71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.