A Consideration of Jeremiah 2:27

They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’
and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’
They have turned their backs to me
and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
‘Come and save us!’

Man has both a back and face. Man has the power to frown or to favor. Man may accept or reject. In Jeremiah’s time, Israel had forsaken her God, the fountain of living water (verse 13). And yet, in their distress, they would once again cry out to Him for salvation.

1. What is the attitude of God toward men? His face, not His back, is turned–

In pity and compassion, John 3:16.

In grace and entreaty, In Christ, God has made peace with the world (2 Cor. 5:19) and Isaiah 1:8 tells us that God is forever reaching out to man.

2. What is the attitude of man toward God? Either our face or our back is turned to Him. Those who face God are–

Seeking Him.  To search for Jesus, we need to be looking forward, looking for Him, John 12:21.  Those who seek after God, will find Him, if they seek Him with all their hearts, Jeremiah 29:13.

Trusting Him.  When you find the Lord, you can’t help but trust Him, for He has proved Himself time and time again.  To “believe” is to trust.

Serving Him.  When you learn all that Jesus did for you–and continues to do for you–serving Him becomes something you are compelled to do.  We have received so much; surely the Lord deserves the best of lives; the best of our service.

Sadly, there are those who have turned their backs to God.  Turning your back on a friend is the attitude–

Of indifference.  To not respond to God’s call is to not care what He did for you; it is to not care about God, at all.

Of worldly preference.  Turning your back on God is an act of open rebellion against the Ruler of the universe.  No good can  come from turning your back on God!  Note the words of Ezekiel 8:16-18.

3.  The cry of the craven.  They turn their back on God in prosperity and health and then have the nerve to  cry out God “Save me, save me!” when times get tough.  How many of us, I wonder, are expert in serving the world, but then seeking God’s help in times of trouble?  Folks, God is so patient, yet for each one of us, His patience will come to an end.  At some point, He will not come and help (Judges 10:13-14).

May we choose to serve God now, right now, with our whole heart.

A Study of Mark 1:9-15

We are told that John was a man “sent from God.” Anybody who has even been used by God, whether as a Sunday School teacher, a deacon or a minister, has at one time or another felt a deep sense of unworthiness. In fact, any believer who grows in grace and spends any time at all in God’s presence is often brought face to face with their own weaknesses and lack. It was Jesus Christ who so eloquently said, “I must decrease, He must increase.”

This brief passage of Scripture is full of importance. Mark’s gospel is like that; often a very few verses yield a treasure trove of information. Let’s notice some things about Jesus that day. He was:

1. Decided, verse 9. At this time, John the Baptist had achieved an almost celebrity status among the people. Folk from all over were coming to him to be baptized. But Jesus was not simply following the crowd to this popular desert preacher. Up to this point in our Lord’s life, this was the most decisive and important step for Him to take. It implied the forsaking of all earthly ties of human relationship; the perfect obedience and surrender to the will of His Father; and as His one and only Son, the public declaration of His character as a teacher sent from God, as as the perfect Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world.

From Nazareth to the river Jordan, Jesus took a solemn journey to God. Have you taken the journey? Have you yielded you your life to God? Have you decided to let God’s will be done in you? Is it the burning desire of your heart that your life should glorify the Father?

2. Accepted, verse 10. Jesus offered Himself to His Father, and He was immediately accepted of the Father, through the opened heavens. As sinners, we yield ourselves to be saved; as sons we yield ourselves to Him for service. Every unsurrendered son is robbing God of the fruit of his life.

Many believers think that their lives aren’t worth very much; that there isn’t much they can do for God. Never, ever think that. Your life was redeemed by the precious blood of God’s only Son! If you wish to see the heavens opened before you, present yourselves to God.

3. Anointed, verse 10. This anointing–the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, who empowers you for service–is available to all whose lives have been surrendered to Christ. All of Christ’s words and works were spoken and done in the power of the Spirit. This same baptism is for all children of God (Acts 1:8; 19:2).

4. Assured, verse 11. Like Enoch, Jesus walked with God, and also had this amazing testimony that He pleased God. This is another blessing that belongs to those who have dedicated their lives to God. The anointing of the Holy Ghost always brings with it the comforting voice of God; a sweet reassurance that our lives do indeed belong to God, the He is pleased with us, that He accepts us and that He loves us.

5. Impelled, verse 12. The word “send” is a very strong word in the Greek. The exact same word is used in John 2:15, where Jesus was so angry he “drove” the money changers out of the Temple area with a whip. The leading of the Spirit in the consecrated, dedicated life is an inscrutable but mighty controlling impulse. The leading of the Holy Ghost is not a “fancy,” not a “whim,” but the sovereign, governmental authority of God in the soul. As the wind impels the ship, so the Holy Ghost drives the life that has been launched on the ocean of God’s will. Driven by the Spirit! What a driver!

Who holds the reigns of your life? The Holy Spirit of God? Or the spirit that works in the hearts of the children of disobedience?

6. Tested, verse 13.

It is interesting that it was not until Christ was anointed with the Holy Ghost that the tempter came. This is something every child of God should take note of. The kingdom of Satan is in no danger until we are born again and filled with the Spirit of God. We are of no consequence to the Devil until we start serving God. At that time, we become Satan’s mortal enemies. The war against “principalities and powers” begins the moment our names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. No matter how fierce the battle may be, we have the firm and absolute promise in God’s Word that the Spirit of God within us is infinitely greater or stronger than the spirit of evil in the world!

7. He testified, verse 14. Luke, in his gospel, tells us that Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit. He came back from the conflict against the Evil One victorious, as we can be! When He returned, Jesus began to preach; to testify about the Kingdom of Heaven. Here, too, we are to follow in His footsteps.

If the power of the Holy Ghost has come upon us; if He resides within us, it is that we might be witnesses for Him! The early disciples filled Jerusalem with their testimonies; let us do the same.

Genesis 22:1—14

 2  Peter 1:1 tells us that faith is precious.  Reading through the great Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11, we see what faith has done.  Yet the trial of faith is more precious than gold, 1 Peter 1:7.  In this regard, let’s notice— 

The sacrifice of faith.  “Take your son, your only son, Isaac.” (verse2).  This phrase means that Isaac was Abraham’s “all in all.”  In service to God, we must give God our all, Matthew 19:21; Romans 12:1,2 ; 15:3. 

The obedience of faith.   “He set out for the place God had told him about.”  (verse 3).  By faith, Abraham obeyed (Heb. 11:7).  Faith does not stop to ask questions, faith doesn’t always reason.  Faith obeys the Word of the Lord, John 2:5.

The expectation of faith.  “We will come back to you.”  (verse 5).  Abraham believed that God would raise his son up, Heb. 11:9.  God’s promise could not fail, Gen. 21:12. 

The work of faith.  “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.”  (verse 6).  The work of faith is often difficult, sometimes solemn, sometimes confusing.  Christ’s work of faith was all of that:  “He bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24). 

The assurance of faith.  “God himself will provide.”  (verse 8).  On the path of obedience many a question will arise (verse 7) which only faith can answer (Acts 27:25).

The persistence of faith.  “He bound his son.”  (verse 9).  The faith that fails in the hour of trial is no faith at all (Mark 4:40).

The victory of faith.  “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son.  Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide.”  (verses 12, 13).  Abraham was willing to give his son, but the Lord provided a way of escape for the boy, and an offering was made and Abraham’s faith was rewarded (Rom. 9:33; Mark 9:25; 1 John 5:4).

Mark 10:17-22

The day this young man came face-to-face with Jesus Christ, was the most critical moment his life. This is always the case when anybody faces the Lord. There are many layers in this story, not the least of which is the earnestness with which this person approached Jesus. Here was a genuine person; I think it is safe to say this man caught the Savior’s attention because of his genuineness. However, is sincerity enough? Is that what it takes to please God? In our story we will see that it is not. In the passage under consideration, we see that the spring time of privilege passed with the seed of the Word, which would have taken root in the man’s heart and grown into eternal life. And so, the moment after meeting Jesus, this man passed into the desolate winter of a hopeless future. No wonder Paul told the Corinthians,

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:2)

1. The Love of Jesus, verse 21

This is not an insignificant statement. Jesus did not just look at this man, the idea is that Jesus divinely probed this man’s inner being. Jesus peered into the man’s very heart and soul, and He was filled with love and compassion for this man. Jesus saw:

That he was sincere. The text says that he came “running” to Jesus! No merely walking, but at a determined pace.

His humility. The man finally reached Jesus and “fell at Jesus’ feet.”

His important request. He asked Jesus, “What must I do?”

His genuine goodness. He told Jesus, “[A]ll these (laws) I have kept since I was a boy.”

Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt? He was a man who had kept the Law. Here was a man who was sincere, genuine and notice that Jesus not once contradicted the man in his claim that he had kept the Laws. Yes, this man was obedient indeed. Notice also that Jesus “loved him.” Now, this is an amazing statement; we don’t see if very often in the Gospels. Think of how many unfortunate people came to Jesus for help, yet here is the one time where Jesus acknowledged His love for one of them. It was not the man’s sincerity or earnestness that Jesus loved, it was him, the man himself. The love of Jesus goes far deeper than the trappings of our humanity. Jesus sees deep into a person’s spirit.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2. A Startling Statement, verse 21

Jesus told the young man that he lacked one single thing. Now, there were many things this man did not lack: he had plenty of desire and sincerity, and he had enough wisdom to recognize who Jesus really was! This was something even the disciples didn’t have for a while. There was no lack in his beliefs and believed all the right things. And yet our Lord saw the fly in the ointment of his life. It’s amazing how Christ can see into the inside of a man. And this man was like a compass, perfect in every way, except but lacking the finger of direction; and without that, the compass is worthless. Jesus, the Great Physician, put his finger right on the problem. One thing was lacking in this man’s life, the love of God which constrains a man to give his all to Him. When Christ looks at you, what does He see? Are you lacking anything?

3. A Testing Call, verse 21

What call it was, too! Imagine, Jesus telling this man to sell everything he had. This call was–

Severe. The Word of God is sharp and penetrating (Hebrews 4:12). Put yourself in this young man’s position, and think of how you would pass the test.

Needful. This man needed to be convinced of his own self-satisfied condition. We are all insensible to the pride of our own hearts. Only the sharp edge of the Lord’s sword can cut deep enough. But if the wound is deep enough, the Great Physician will offer healing.

4. The Sorrowful Departure, verse 22

Where did this man go? Would his possessions be a precious as they were before? What a choice: treasures on earth, but not rich towards God. He was convicted but not converted. He was so close to the Kingdom of Heaven, yet he stepped back into his old life. He preferred the things of this life; the things that can be seen and the temporary things, over the things which are unseen and eternal. How different it was with Moses (Hebrews 11:24-26).

If you turn away from the demands of Christ, you turn into the paths of sin and death. Yet, despite this, Christ still loves you.