Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet to Judah. He lived about 60 years after the prophet Isaiah. His message would be direct and offensive, but it was needed to bring the kind of warning God desired to a people who had become idolatrous and disobedient. They would not listen, but they were warned. Many people today in our country ignore God and His Word. We live in the same disobedience and will reap the same end.

Jeremiah 1:10, "See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant."

It is important to recognize the full scope of what it takes spiritually to build our lives for God. The same principles apply in gardening or in building a structure such as our church building. You don't simply put plants in the ground, you work the soil, you pull the weeds, you take the necessary steps before you plant and grow crops. In our building, we spent a couple of years preparing the site for a building. We just didn't begin putting a building up. We prepared the infrastructure for the building. We put in storm drains, retention ponds, moved dirt for proper drainage, brought water and sewer to the site, etc.

Let's notice the order of building spiritually as mentioned in today's verse. The order is clear, and the words descriptive: root out, pull down, destroy, throw down; then we can build and plant. People today don't like the kind of preaching necessary to build spiritual lives. They like things to be easily acceptable and palatable. As a matter of fact, Paul told Timothy people would have itching ears, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:1-4) People are okay as long as their itch is being scratched. But when the preacher begins to preach against sin that is in their own life, they get angry and defensive. Preaching needs to both root out and build up.

Thank God for His call upon the life of Jeremiah. Pray for preachers to preach in a manner that brings glory to God and helps build people spiritually.

Have a great day rejoicing in the Savior. 

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. Do you see America living in obedience or disobedience to the Lord? How do you think this will work out for our nation?

2. Describe what you think is meant in the words “root out” “pull-down” “destroy” and “throw down?

3. It takes much effort and preparation to see spiritual results. Where should we begin in reclaiming our lives and our country for the Lord?