Hey, Everybody!
Soon after this post is published, I’ll be on a plane to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for this weekend’s Living Proof Live. I love going to the Dakotas so I am filled with joy over the privilege to serve there and anticipating God’s gracious and obvious (please let it be, Lord) presence crowded around us and welling up within us. Please pray for Jesus to be exalted, experienced, and enthroned there and for many to be saved and stunningly delivered.
My Scripture memory selection this week is springing up from my Monday morning reading there in my den at home. I’ve mentioned many times that I use a different translation for my devotional and prayer time so that the words will fall particularly fresh on me and so that, if the reading happens to be a familiar segment, I can’t anticipate it and unintentionally dismiss it. The translation I often use is The NET Bible. I’m going to give you the whole segment I read Monday morning so that you’ll see the verse I’ve chosen this time around in its context. This is Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NET):
17:5Â The LORD says,
“I will put a curse on people
who trust in mere human beings,
who depend on mere flesh and blood for their strength,
and whose hearts have turned away from the LORD.
17:6Â They will be like a shrub in the desert.
They will not experience good things even when they happen.
It will be as though they were growing in the desert,
in a salt land where no one can live.
17:7Â My blessing is on those people who trust in me,
who put their confidence in me.
17:8Â They will be like a tree planted near a stream
whose roots spread out toward the water.
It has nothing to fear when the heat comes.
Its leaves are always green.
It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought.
It does not stop bearing fruit.
If you are like me, you found the way the NET translates the very first verse (V.5) a little disturbing. You’ll be relieved to know this isn’t the Scripture I’ve chosen to memorize (smiling) but it still needs addressing so that we’re not too distracted by it to engross ourselves in the remainder of the segment. If you’re familiar with the passage, you are probably more accustomed to wording like the NIV: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man.” The fact that the NET makes God the one “putting” the curse on man makes us squirm. Before we let it tie us in a knot and throw us in a lake of fear, we have to remind ourselves of our position in Christ. We have the glorious benefit of living this side of the completed work of the Cross and resurrection.
Galatians 3:13 says to our great relief: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.'”
Jeremiah 17:5 is still tremendously relevant to us because it unfolds the misery of counting on mere flesh and blood. I wonder if the “curse” talked about in this verse is of the same ilk as the one in Genesis 3 that came directly from God to man after the fall in the Garden. If Adam and Eve were doing anything at all when they ate from that tree, they were shifting their trust from God to themselves – mere flesh and blood – by attempting to be God-like. Though the Cross of Christ bore the curse for us, we can still endure the desolation that invariably results from placing our trust and confidence in people rather than God. This gets us where we’re going in our post today. Look back at Jeremiah 17:6 because this is the part that totally captivated me.
“They will be like a shrub in the desert. They will not experience good things even when they happen.”
Read it again if you need to but don’t proceed until you’ve tried to absorb that second sentence. Have you ever been right in the middle of something good happening and yet missed the full experience and joyful impact of it? Surely you’ve said silently to yourself as I’ve said to myself, “I should really be happy right now. What is wrong with me??” You know the feeling. You’re in a celebration or service of some kind or a holiday gathering and yet you almost feel detached from it. You’re there. But you are somehow disconnected from experiencing it. You know “it” (the positive thing presently happening) but you can’t feel it. It’s a good thing but you don’t feel good about it…or in it. What on earth is that about?
Jeremiah would suggest that the experience of good can be disconnected from the good because we are in a season of shifted trust from God to man. When we’ve set our hopes for happiness in how well all our people are doing…getting along…flourishing…affirming us…satisfying us…and all-around-generally-blessing us, and we even get a glimmer of it, we can’t experience the good because we know down deep that we can’t hold onto it. As much as we love all our people, we know that, ultimately, they are not going to come through for us. One shoe will drop. Then the other. The disappointment will come. And the harmony we feel for this moment with our fellow humans could at any second flip upside down into complete mayhem.
Notice the part that says “they will be like a shrub in the desert.” Isn’t it ironic that the more we depend on flesh and blood to come through for us and to fulfill us, the more isolated we become? You’d think that numbers alone would insure company and community. In other words, why derive our strengths and confidences from one God when we could get infinitely more out of all these people? Out of all these communities? Out of all our fellow church members? Out of all our Facebook friends? Our fellow tweeters? Company is one click away.
But it never works that way, does it? We never can let down our guard completely and find any shred of real security from flesh and blood. The person obsessed with us today can turn on us tomorrow and we know it. The person who makes life worth living for us today could die on us tomorrow and we know it. I don’t mean to be morose. I just mean to point out the emotional tightrope we’re walking. Being vastly people-oriented rather than God-oriented always ends up taking us to a place of isolation because they’re invariably busy when we want to play, invariably distracted when we want attention, and invariably more taken with themselves than with us. And so, there we sit, with our trust and confidence in mere flesh and blood and we end up feeling like a shrub in a desert. Just as Jeremiah 17:6 says, “It will be as though [we] are growing in the desert, in a salt land where no one can live.”
Trust in man can seem a great place to visit but no one can really live there and come out calling it living.
It’s so odd to me that the more drawn I feel to God and the more taken I become with His Presence, the freer I am to love other people and the less I hold them responsible for me. Community with God increases our “experience” of good in a community of people. It is its own paradox.
And all of this brings us to the verse I have chosen for my memory work this time around:
Beth, Houston. My blessing is on those people who trust in Me, who put their confidence in Me. Jeremiah 17:7 The NET Bible
And what earthly difference would that make? Well, let’s see…
“They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit.”
Notice a very intriguing contrast hidden in Jeremiah 17:8 – “It has nothing to fear when the heat comes.”
Reflect back on 17:6b – “They will not experience good things even when [good things] happen.”
When we place our confidence in mere flesh and blood, we are shortchanged even when good things happen. When we place our confidence in God, the Immortal Invisible, we have nothing to fear even when hard things happen. The former leaves us a dry shrub. The latter makes us a fruit-bearing tree.
We never get this lesson learned once and for all, do we? Or maybe it’s just me. I still get so tempted to put my confidence in people and to think that, if all my loved ones were safe, well, and flourishing, I could be so happy. The truth of it is, I do want those things for my loved ones but God alone can come through for them and for me. Anyway, at the end of the day, I could have everything this world could offer and all the good that man could possibly do me and still sit back and think, “Why doesn’t it feel better than this?”
My blessing is on those people who trust in Me, who put their confidence in Me.
Let’s hear your verses, Sisters!
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Dayla, Springfield, MO
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Cyndi Munson, Oklahoma City, OK
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” –Ephesians 4:2, NIV
Lakeisha, Mays Landing, NJ
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 NIV
Kelley from Houston:
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Kristin, Searcy. My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me. Jeremiah 17:7 (NET)
Janice in Abbeville
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Bethany, Frisco, TX.
Matthew 7:7 (NIV) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Lynda, Monterey,CA:
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (The Message)
“On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days so that we won’t take anything for granted.”
Pauline Richardson, Eau Claire
My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Psalm 139:15 NKJV
Peggy, Yorktown, VA
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9
Desiree, Calgary Alberta,
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Ronda, Tulsa OK: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jerimiah 29:11 NIV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV)
Judy from Lake Charles, LA
“But their swords will pierce their
own hearts and their bows will be
broken.” Psalm 37:15(NIV)
Marie, Post Falls, Idaho –
“The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”
– 2 Timothy 2:24 (NIV)
Marianne in Carrollton, TX
Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NET)
LaGlace, Alberta, Canada
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
II Peter 3:18 (NIV)
Yey Lovella, my friend!!!
Traci from Evansdale, IA
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141:2 NIV
Diane from Littleton, CO
Colossians 4:2 NIV
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Sarah, Montrose, CO:
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Collierville TN
Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.
(1Samuel 3:9) NIV
Lauren from Conyers, GA
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.
Colossians 1:10 NLT
Kathy Hazlehurst, Ms
My blessing is on those people who put their
trust in me,Who put their confidence in me.
Jeremiah 17:7 NET
Andrea, Gardendale
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James1:2-3
Megan, St. Louis
…”but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31, ESV
Maggie, Seattle, WA
“the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” -Psalm 103:8 (NIV)
Amie, Honolulu, HI “But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive!” Psalm 54:4NIV
And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 ESV Cheryl H., Huntington, WV
Cheryl, Kokomo,Indiana
If we live, we live for The Lord . If we die, we die for The Lord . So whether we live or die, we belong to The Lord .
Romans 14:8 NIV
Jodell, Frankfort, “Blessed is the man who trusts me, GOD, the woman who sticks with GOD.” Jer. 17:7 MSG
Quita from Trenton,Tx
KJV
Ps.94:19
In the multitude of my thoughts within me
thy comforts delight my soul.
My blessing is on those people who trust in me,
who put their confidence in me.
They will be like a tree planted near a stream
whose roots spread out toward the water.
It has nothing to fear when the heat comes.
Its leaves are always green.
It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought.
It does not stop bearing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NET
Megan, Stow, OH, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Ps 19:14, NLT
Lu, Garner Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart, and be thankful. –Colossians 3:15 (NET)
Don’t be afraid for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah41:10 NLT
All of the promises are yes and amen through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20
Molly, Cypress, TX
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is in the LORD.”
Jeremiah 17:7 ESV
Dianne Jones, Fairfield, CA – For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV)
Joan Portage, MI
“Render services with a good attitude, as to the Lord & not to men.” Ephesians 6:7 HCSB
Joan (Coppell, TX): Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes with wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For when you have envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes for heaven is first of all pure, then peaceloving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18 NIV 1984
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (KJV)
Angie. Belleville,IL. Mark 10:43b MSG
“Whoever wants to be great must be a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave.”
Pam Hendersonville, NC
“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart, all ye that trust in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24 KJV
from Stanley, WI
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17: 7
Vicki, Wilmington NC
Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Psalm 24:9 NKJV
“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.” 1Thess 4:11 NLT
Vanessa from Victoria, TX
Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. Psalm 86:11 NIV
Annie
Dallas, TX
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”
Romans 8:17
NIV
Anne, Minneapolis
1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Sheila,
Guyton, GA
“My blessing is on those people who trust in Me, who put their confidence in Me.”
Jeremiah 17:7 NET