The Living Water – Christ Apostolic Church Daily Devotional Guide
Date: Friday, October 2, 2020 [International Day of Non-Violence]
Topic: Persecuted For Truth
Read: Jeremiah 20:1-2
[1]Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
[2]Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
MEMORISE: Then Pashur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the Lord (Jeremiah 20:2)
EXPOSITION
Jeremiah spoke to the people about what he heard from the Lord. For that, he didn’t get any praises for being courageous in speaking the truth; instead he was beaten and locked up, so that he could be silenced. Yet, when Jeremiah was released from the prison, the crying prophet did not stay mute. Instead, he prophesied about the destruction of the one who jailed him as well as the bleak destiny of Israel. Jeremiah was persecuted because the words that came from his mouth were not soothing to itching ears. Jeremiah was persecuted because what he prophesied wasn’t the words that the people wanted to hear. How sinful our hearts can be! We know the truth but chose to suppress it by becoming more sinful.
There are some who claim that they are followers of Jesus Christ but choose to have itching ears. They choose what they want to hear and discard that which does not suit their current lifestyle. They could even persecute those who dare to speak forth the truth; especially truths that make them uncomfortable. Yet, our Lord Jesus is not one who “minces His words” or tries to be “politically correct” (a term which has unfortunately crept up in the Church). Quite often, He spoke boldly and plainly against the hypocrisies of the religious leaders, spoke about the evil and destructiveness of sin as it is and made very “threatening” statements with regards to discipleship.
Have we in anyway, persecuted anyone for the truth? We might not have put prophets into the prisons; but we might have encaged God’s faithful servants in the jail of our hearts. When someone is used by God to speak forth the truth into our lives; how have we responded? Have we responded in humility? Or have we chosen to persecute the messenger in the fear that we have to change? May the Lord help us to confront our inner man and bring to the feet of Christ whatever that holds us back from following Him all the way.
PRAYER POINTS
1. O Lord, strengthen Your ministers to remain hold and courageous in the face of persecution.
2. Set free, O Lord, Your children that have been held captive by the enemies because of their profession in You.
3. O Lord, through Your power, let the doors of salvation be opened to those persecutors of Your people.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Song of Solomon 4 – 8
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
