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):
17:5 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.
17:6 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.
17:7 My blessing is on those people who trust in me,
who put their confidence in me.
17:8 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
Kimber, Panama City, FL
How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “H ow beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things !” (Romans 10:15 NASB)
Tammy lantana, TX.
“You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.” Psalm 73:24 (NLT)
Mary, Indian Head, MD
15. Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
Let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
Which surpasses all comprehension,
Shall guard your hearts and your minds
In Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)
Lyli, Fort Lauderdale:
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight” (Romans 12:16, ESV).
Margie Allen,TX
Truly,I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. Luke 18:17 ESV
We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thes 1:12
Becky, The Woodlands, TX “My blessing is on those who trust in ME, who put their confidence in Me.” Jeremiah 17:7 (The NET Bible)
Carolyn, St. Peters, MO
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
Carolyn, St. Peters, MO
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
Lori, Owasso, OK
Still working on memorizing Proverbs 31.. next verse 🙂
“Proverbs 31:21
New Living Translation (NLT)
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm clothes.”
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 NIV)
Jennifer from Leesburg, GA:
“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” Ephesians 6:19 NIV
Victoria – Salt Lake City, UT – Proverbs 31:12 (ESV)
“She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
Maureen, Utah:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
My 21-year-old sister passed away three weeks ago. She had this verse on her bulletin board and it has been giving me strength.
~ Heidi V ~ Oak Harbor WA.
The Angel of Your Presence Saved me
In Your Love &
In Your Mercy
You Redeemed me.
Isaiah 63:9 ~ ESV
Carol, Poplar Bluff, MO
Judges 5:21b NIV
March on, my soul; be strong!
Suzanne Houston, TX
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4 NKJ
Liz from Hilliard:
“Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16 (NASB)
Nedrea from Hoover, Alabama
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. I Corinthians 4:20 NIV
Kristin – Jacksonville, AL
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2 ESV)
Nancy, Junction City, Ar.
“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.” Psalm 147:3-5 NKJ
There is no fear in love.
But perfect love drives out fear.
1 John 4:18a
Carrie Jones
Ontario, Canada
Jana, Brenham, TX
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Sonya
Aurora, Colorado
As far as the east is from the
west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 (NIV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Alexia- Champaign, IL
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 NIV
Katie Swaney (McDonough, GA) – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (Philippians 2:3 NIV)
Cindy K., Rock Hill, SC
Whoever believes me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.
John 7:38 (NIV 2011)
Rachel – Nashville, TN
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” -James 1:17 (NIV)
Jamie, Holly Springs, NC
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Melissa, KY:
“My blessing is on those people who trust in Me, who put their confidence in Me.” Jeremiah 17:7 (NET)
Bev van Vuuren – South Africa – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galations 6: 22-23
Romans 8:15
New International Version (NIV)
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”
Lisha, Wetumpka, AL
Pursue the goal of peace along with everyone—and holiness as well, because no one will see the Lord without it.
Hebrews 12:14 CEB
Patrice in ABQ “In your anger, do not sin, do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. And do not give the devil a foothold”. EPHESIANS 5: 26 and 27 (NIV)
Avis, Lone Star, Texas
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17 NASB
Fredericksburg, VA
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. But in humility count others more significant than yourselves” – Philippians 2:3 ESV
Catherine S. ~ Grants Pass, Oregon
“Is anyone among you ill? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”
James 5:14-15 (NIV)
Abby Kaufman, Vacaville CA
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:12
Rachelle – Cedar Park, TX: Discipline your children while there is hope otherwise you will run their lives. Proverbs 19:18 NLT
Tessie Watkins. El Dorado Springs, MO
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice forever. Psalm 5:11. NIV
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deu. 6:5 HCSB
Meggie, Winnipeg, Canada
Better late than never :<)))
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 NLT
“My blessing is on those people who trust in Me, who put their confidence in Me.”
Jeremiah 17:7 (NET)
Marsha Gray, Jefferson, ME
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Galatians 6:8 NIV
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.”
Galatians 3:13 ESV
Peggy – Bangor, Maine
Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you;
He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22 NIV
Christy, Jonesboro,AR (I can’t remember if I posted for Aug 1)
(John 8:32 NIV)Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Isaiah 55:10 NIV: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
Linda S
McCalla, Alabama
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18 ESV