Jeremiah 20
Count the Cost!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, April 10.
Jesus was crucified for being faithful to God. Do you believe there will be no hardship when you take you up your cross and follow Jesus? Paul, who suffered greatly as an apostle (2 Corinthians 11:23-28), explained the grave danger that comes with being God’s chosen vessel, from 2 Corinthians 4:7-10:
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
The messengers of God have always suffered greatly for their faithfulness, often at the hands of the people they were sent to deliver their message. Jeremiah’s suffering was introduced in Jeremiah 20:1-2, “When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, Pashhur had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate, which was by the house of the Lord.” Jeremiah’s suffering was real, and it was at every level of his being. In Jeremiah 20:7-18, the prophet lamented his life, wishing he had never been born. As hard as it may be to accept, we are forewarned to expect such suffering ourselves. Peter, martyred for his faithfulness to Jesus, explained in 1 Peter 2:20b-21, “But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”
Seize the moment and count the cost of obedience to following Jesus (Luke 14:27-30).
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
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