The Gardener

I’ve been pondering the words of Jesus as recorded in John 15 for a little while. Specifically, verses 1-2 and then, probably in another post, verses 4-5. 

First, John 15:1-2: “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” (NLT2)

Now, let me process this for a moment. According to Jesus, He is the grapevine, and God is the Gardener, who cuts off the branches that don’t produce fruit, and the branches that do produce fruit, He prunes so they will produce even more fruit. 

If God did that to Jesus and if we are trying to follow Jesus, doesn’t it only make sense that God— the Gardener- would prune us as well? 

Wouldn’t He cut off the bad branches, the ones that don’t bear fruit; while the branches that do bear fruit, He will trim away at them until they produce even more fruit. 

I’m no gardener, so I am no expert on the subject, but I have seen my wife trim away at our garden and work away at her flower pots. I have seen her remove the old, dead— or dying— parts of whatever it is she is growing, and as she does this, it makes room for new blossoms, or new growth. It’s really quite something. (and, depending on if she is weeding the garden, can be quite filling… (stomach wise..)

With all of that said, no one likes pruning. We don’t like to be told that there is something wrong with our attitude, or the way we might be living….. but if we want to be like Jesus— and that is the goal by the way, people who claim to be Christians are to be followers of Jesus… then we will have to endure seasons of pruning. 

What does that look like? Well, it’s different for everyone. We’re all different. My pruning will look different that your pruning. 

Just because you might be undergoing a season of pruning and someone else is enjoying a harvest, doesn’t mean that God isn’t at work. In your life, or in the other person’s life. 

We’re all different, and God works in all of our lives at a different time. It’s a journey. 

My journey with Jesus looks different that my wife’s journey with Jesus. But she is on the journey, as I am on the journey, so you can be sure that at some point in time, one or the two of us is, have been, or will be pruned… 

But why? Well, Jesus kinda tipped His hand. He told us that the reason the Gardener prunes is to produce even more fruit. 

What kind of fruit? 

Love. 

Joy.

Peace.

Patience. 

Kindness.

Gentleness.

Goodness. 

Faithfulness.

Self control.

These are the fruit (of the Spirit) that God wants to grow in your life. However, this isn’t something that your can do on your own. You can’t grow this kind of fruit. It’s not mass produced somewhere. You cant even find it on Amazon. (trust me on that one)

Here is how the Fruit of the Spirit is “grown”: “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives.” (Gal. 5:22, NLT2) 

God’s Spirit is at work in the lives of the people who have called upon God for salvation so that He can grow them into the people He desires them (us) to be. 

That’s an intense statement. Read it again: 

God’s Spirit is at work in the lives of the people who have called upon God for salvation so that He can grow them into the people He desires them (us) to be. 

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you can be sure that God is at work in your life. He is cutting and trimming and pulling and weeding and planting.. He is making you more and more like His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Pruning can be painful, but, when the finish product is finally revealed, it also can be quite beautiful. 

God is at work in your life. God is at work in my life. We may not understand what He is doing right now, but let’s always remember the words of Jesus. God is cutting off dead branches, while pruning good branches so that we will bear much fruit. 

Keep your head up, He’s at work.

It's the end of the world as we know it....

Unless you’ve been living under rock you probably heard that the world was supposed to come to an end on September 23. 

I am writing this on September 25. Two days after the world was supposed to end. Needless to say, the world didn’t end two days ago, and it won’t end the next time some person makes an audacious claim that the world will end on such and such a date. There is a word for people like that, wrong. 

The fact is the world will come to an end. We just don’t know when.  But it will come to an end. Again, for the sake of clarity, we don’t know when the world will end. Only that it will end. 

Those of us who call ourselves Wesleyans, believe that the world will end, and that Jesus is coming back (are the two mutually exclusive? You tell me…)

Again, Jesus is coming back, but we don’t know when. All we know is that Jesus is coming back. But we don’t know when. 

The Bible is pretty clear on this issue. Well, sort of. It tells us that Jesus is coming back, we just don’t know when. You can read more here. Please, read it. It’s a great chapter. 

Wesleyans believe “in the imminent return of Jesus Christ.” What does that mean?  Let me try to illustrate it this way. 

I am currently awaiting my third liver transplant. yes, you read that right. 3rd. 

What that means is I am on an “active transplant list” 

Meaning that I could get a phone call at any moment telling me that i will have to leave to go to the Hospital and receive my 4th liver. I don’t know when this call will come, I only know that the call is coming. 

So, I am living ready. I am trying to do what I can with no regrets, because I know there will come a day when I won’t be able to do anything but sit (lay) in the hospital and recover. But that’s another blog entry. 

I want to overemphasize again that I could get a phone call at any time telling me that my liver is in, I just don’t know when. 

Its the same thing with the Second Coming of Jesus. We know that He is coming back, we just don’t know when. 

What must we do? Get ready. Be ready. Live ready. Surrender your life to Lordship of Jesus Christ. 

Read the Word as recorded in 2 Peter: “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.

One of the reasons the world didn’t come to an end this past weekend; other than the dude who told us it was going to end was wrong, is because God is wanting more and more people to come into His family. He wants you, yes you, to come into His Family, so that when He does come back, or when the world does come to an end, you will be ready. 

While we wait for the Son to return—He is coming again, we just don’t know when— we’re to live Holy and Godly lives, so we will be ready when He comes back for us. 

Now, about that liver….

The Lost has been found!

If you read yesterday’s entry, you would know that Erica and I lost one of her arrows from her bow and arrow set. It was a small arrow, and we have a huge lawn, and it was getting on to dusk at our place, making the arrow hard to find. We eventually gave up for the night, but I told her that we would go back and look for it the next day. 

Well, the next day, as I said, I was out looking for this arrow. I was out looking for it at least 3 times. I would walk up and down my lawn, head down, making small steps, looking for this arrow. 

Come to find out, Beth and the girls also looked for this arrow before they went to school. No luck.

After the kids came home Erica and I were back outside looking, again, for the arrow. Eventually, the lost arrow was found. (We had walked past it several times; but it had dug in deep…. at least that’s my excuse.)

Why did we spend so much time looking for this arrow? Because it was lost. 

Reminds me of Jesus. 

Actually, what Jesus did for us. Jesus gave us His mission statement in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

This leads us to ask— and answer— a question or two. 

First of all, Who/what was lost?

Answer: We are/were. Lost in every area of life. Spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally. 

Sin has clouded our hearts and our heads. Only Jesus has the power to find and replace, heal and restore, what- who- was lost. Us. 

The Son of Man— a title Jesus reserved for Himself--came to this earth because we were/are lost. 

He left heaven to come into the earth He created to find us and bring  us back to God. 

Why? 

Because He loves us. In what is probably the most well known Bible verse in the world, we read these words: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” 

Our God gives because our God loves! He gives us the best Gift ever. A personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. 

All of us are like my daughters arrow. Lost. That is why Jesus came to this earth, to bring you and me back to God. 

have you been found by Jesus? If not, it’s as Simple— and as difficult as A-B-C

Admit you are a sinner

Believe that Jesus is the way to God

Confess your need for a Saviour and invite Jesus inside your life. 

If you have been found, who are you inviting on this Journey with Jesus?

Just as I had all my girls out looking for the lost arrow, we need to be involved in helping to find people who are lost. 

I was thankful when I found the arrow. I’m even more thankful that Jesus found me. You will be too, when Jesus finds you. 

I need help.

Have you ever been in a position where you needed a helping hand? 

Last night, my youngest daughter and I were outside trying out her bow and arrow. We successfully shot all 6 of them— not at the target mind you; just off in the distance somewhere—-When went to find them, we could only find 5  of the 6. the other one was long gone. 

It was getting dark, and we have a big lawn and we both are alike, so when we could not figure out where the arrow had landed, we both called out for help. “Mom”  Erica said.  “Beth” I said, “We need help finding the arrow…” 

Thankfully, my wife came outside to offer us some assistance. We looked and looked and looked, but came up short. We couldn't find the arrow. 

the point I’m trying to make today is simply this: At some point in time you are going to need help with something. 

Someday, somewhere, you will need help. There will be a time and place where you are unable on your own to do some thing, and you will need help. 

There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Ever. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you can't do something on your own, there is nothing wrong with asking someone to stop and help you out. 

What often stops us from asking for help is our pride. We want everyone to think that we are able to do anything and everything, and so when we actually do need help, we think our reputation is on the line and we don’t want to “cramp our style” and so we don’t ask for help. There is a word for that: Stupid. 

The Bible reminds is that “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 NIB84)

In this world of “me first”, let’s buck the trend and, when— not if— when we need help, let’s ask for it. There is nothing wrong with admitting you need help, nothing wrong with asking for help. In fact, you might be surprised at how easy as task turns out once you've asked for help. 

Pride will lead to destruction. Humility will not. So, ask for help! 

What are you doing this afternoon? I’ve got an arrow to find! 

Blocked Doors

Have you ever felt like you shouldn't do something? You couldn't put your finger on what exactly “it” was, but you knew at the time, that you shouldn't do that thing you want to do. 

It’s happened to me a few times. Once time in particular, I remember my wife was wanting to go to town when our kids were way younger than they are now… (we were serving in Havelock at this time, so it was a while ago) and she asked me if I was going to go to the office that day or stay with her. I told her that I felt like I needed to go with her, I have absolutely no idea as to why I was to go with her, but it was abundantly clear to me that I was not to stay home that day, that day I was to go to town with my wife and two small kids.  

Nothing at all happened. We went into town, did whatever we needed to do for that day, and then came home. But I felt very strongly that I needed to be with her that day, and not stay home. 

Max Lucado, in his book “More to your story” refers to these types of events as “blocked doors”. You wanted to do something, but you were being held back because it wasn't the right thing for you to do. 

Paul faced a blocked door as well. We're told about it it Acts 16: “Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.” (NLT2)

Paul and company were machines. They were taking the Good News of Jesus Christ to the new world, and He had wanted to go into a certain spot, but the Holy Spirit, had prevented them from travelling there. 

After that plan didn't pan out, Paul and company tried to go to another location, but again, the “spirit of Jesus” prevented them from going to Bithynia. 

Paul had encountered more than one blocked doors. He had tried twice to enter to different locations, but felt by God not to go there. He came face to face with a blocked door. 

you may feel that you've been come face to face with a blocked door as well. You’ve wanted to do one thing, but felt best if you did something else. slam. 

You wanted to continue on with your education, but life happens and kids showed up. Slam.

You wanted to continue on in your job, which you loved, but, due to heath concerns, door closing. 

When one door closes, it shuts. hard. 

But, if the life of Paul teaches us one thing, its that when a door closes, another one will open up. 

Go back to Acts 16: 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

While Paul had encountered a closed door, twice, he went through another door, and this time walked all the way through the door and welcomed the first European disciple: 

11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.” (Acts 16, NLT2)

Because Paul was obedient and listened to the Lord and did not try to ram through a blocked door, God led him through another door, a door that was ripe for the Harvest. 

When God closes a door in your life, chances are He has something better for you. I can’t honestly say what that might be, but if God has chosen it, then you can be assured that it will be just what He has in mind for you. God’s blocked doors are proof that something much better is just beyond the other door. 

Yes you can!

I’ve been doing some thinking. Obviously. Otherwise, you wouldn't be reading this blog entry… but, I digress… 

Like I said, I have been doing some thinking about… Temptation. 

Not in a I’m going to give in to temptation; but how can the follower of Jesus come through a temptation unscathed? Is this even possible? Well, lets look at a few scripture verses to see if being victorious over temptation is in fact possible. 

But, before we do that, I want to mention that being tempted is not wrong. Giving in to the temptation is wrong, but its not wrong to be tempted. Everyone is tempted. Even Jesus. More on that in a moment. 

Also, we must remember that God does not tempt us. I once read/heard/saw/read something that said: “God test us to get get the best out of us, but satan tempts us to get the worst out of us.” James, the bother of Jesus would agree with me. He wrote: “13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:13-15)

God does not do the tempting. Temptation comes to us when we see something we can't have, or want to do something we shouldn't do, and we dont walk away from it.. when we don’t walk away from it and give into temptation, then we’ve messed up and we need to turn to God and ask for His forgiveness and mercy. 

But, is it possible to stand up in the face of temptation. It sure is. Let me give you two scripture verses that assure me that victory over temptation is possible. 

the first is the temptation of Jesus. (Good place to start) 

It’s found in Matthew chapter 4. 

Notice that This account happened immediately after Jesus’ Baptism. Just after a “mountain top experience with God”. Jesus had just had one of the best days spiritually ever, and then, immediately He was: “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,

    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.

And they will hold you up with their hands

    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God

    and serve only him.’”

11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. (NLT2)

Jesus was hungry. Just was tired. Jesus probably wanted to get out of the dessert. This was the time when the devil came to tempt Him. (This is also the same strategy the devil uses on us; only I can add two more times when the devil comes to tempt us: Angry, Lazy, Hungry and tired.)

The devil promised Jesus the world. Literally. 

The devil promised Jesus more food than He could ever imagine. 

The devil promised Jesus Protection… But Jesus stood tall against the schemes of the devil. 

“Yes”, you might say, “but He's Jesus, I’m not”.

You are correct. He was Jesus. We are not. 

hence, Paul’s writing. We read this in 1 Corinthians 10: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT2)

We all face temptation. From me wanting to put me first, to taking that second glance, no one is immune from temptation. Because this is true, we need a way out from temptation. and Paul reminds us that We have one! God will provide a way out of the temptation. 

Sometimes that means walking away from a compromising situation. Other times that might mean that we have to pick up the phone and ask someone for help. Other times God will intervene in our lives and provide assistance; but it is possible for us not to give in to temptation. 

the primary way that we can not give in, is as Jesus said: “pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41)

It is possible to have victory over temptation. It is possible because God is faithful. 

If you're struggling with something today, I want you to know that God sees you and He is ready and willing to help you through your time of temptation, will you take the help that He has to offer? 

Don’t be afraid to reach out and talk to someone either. We're in this thing called life together, and we’re supposed to help each other out, so pick up the phone can ask for help. You’ll be glad you did.

Cling to God

I have been, very slowly, reading my way through the entire Bible.  I have come across some interesting selections of Scripture, one of them being the one I would like to share with you. It’s taken from the book of Jeremiah.

But, first a little bit of background. 

Jeremiah was a “major prophet during the decline and fall of the southern kingdom of Judah. He prophesied during the reigns of the last 5 kings of Judah.” (NIBD)

The book of Jeremiah is not a particularly happy book. Jeremiah “was destined from the very beginning to be a prophet of doom”

“All of Jeremiah’s life was wrapped up in the knowledge that God was about to bring an end to the holy city and cast off His Covenant people”

The book of Jeremiah is extremely difficult to follow and understand. “Most of the other prophetic books have a chronological arrangement (to them) but not the book of Jeremiah.

“Prophecies delivered in the final years of his ministry may appear at any point in the book, followed by messages that belong in other periods of his life.” (NIBD p.644)

The Book can be confusing, but there is a central message to the book—the impending destruction of Judah. 

Jeremiah has been called “the weeping prophet”, because he wept openly for the sins of the nation. (see Jer. 9:1).

At times Jeremiah was depressed because of the lack of “progress”. The

more he preached against the people, the less things happened to the people.

In fact, the more Jeremiah preached, the more things happened to him... the people put him in a cistern, they threatened him with death, they put him in jail, and the king burnt what the prophet wrote….

Eventually, Jeremiah words came true, and in 586, the nation of Judah fell to the nation of Babylon. Judah was punished because of its sin and disobedience.

While that’s a small reader’s digest overview of the Book of Jeremiah, there is one chapter in particular that I would like for us to look at.

It’s an unusual parable, but I believe it has an important lesson. Our text is Jeremiah chapter 13.

“This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it on, but do not wash it.” 2 So I bought the loincloth as the Lord directed me, and I put it on.

 3 Then the Lord gave me another message: 4 “Take the linen loincloth you are wearing, and go to the Euphrates River. Hide it there in a hole in the rocks.”

5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates as the Lord had instructed me.

6 A long time afterward the Lord said to me, “Go back to the Euphrates and get the loincloth I told you to hide there.”

7 So I went to the Euphrates and dug it out of the hole where I had hidden it. But now it was rotting and falling apart. The loincloth was good for nothing.

8 Then I received this message from the Lord: 9 “This is what the Lord says: This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.

10 These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing!

11 As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.” (NLT2)

Interesting passage this is…. And I believe that there is an important lesson for us to learn… but before we learn that lesson, we need to understand what is taking place.

God had instructed Jeremiah to go and purchase a “linen belt” (NIV) a “linen loincloth” (NLT2) a “linen sash” (NKJV) and put it on, but not let it touch the water.

God then instructed Jeremiah to take his Fruit of the Looms—or Haines—Underwear-- and take them some 400 miles to the Euphrates and dig a hole and hide them.

After a good long time, God asked Jeremiah to return to the Euphrates and dig up the undergarment, and upon his arrival, Jeremiah found that this garment was unbearable. 

It had rotted away; it “…was good for nothing” (Jer. 15:7, NLT2)

Naturally, God spoke to Jeremiah and told him that this garment represented Judah.

God had created her and she belonged to Him. Judah was God’s pride, His joy. She was created to “cling to God”.

“As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name….” (Jeremiah 13:11a, NLT2)

God had created His people to cling to Him, to be close to Him, to find life in Him they were to follow His ways, they were to depend upon Him for their very life.

“But they would not listen to me.” (Jer. 13:11b, NLT2)

Judah and Israel allowed themselves to be influenced by the people around them. They polluted themselves, and became like the nations around them.

One Bible commentary states: “They rejected worship of the one true God and turned to pagan gods instead. Immorality, injustice…and corruption prevailed throughout the land.” (NIBD.p646)

These people, at one time, were close to the Lord, but now they found themselves on the outside looking in.

Judah allowed herself to be polluted by idolatry, and “instead of clinging to her God in faith and love, she destroyed herself” (Zon. Com. Pg.1185)

Judah and Israel were created to cling to God. This was the reason God made a Covenant with them. They were God’s chosen people.

You know dear friends, if you profess to be a disciple of Jesus Christ; it’s your job to cling to Him. To be so close to Him that you are covered with His dust.

“Biblical scholar Ray van der Laan, notes that first-century Jews had a blessing that beautifully expressed the commitment of a disciple to stay in the presence of the one he followed: “may you always be covered by the dust of your rabbi” That is (to say) “may you follow him so closely that the dust his feet kicks up is what cakes your clothing and lines your face.”

Like a baby duckling whose image of its mother has been imprinted on its brain, disciples never wanted to let the rabbi out of their sight.

What mattered was not so much the particular activity they were doing. What mattered was being with their rabbi whatever was going on.

Every activity was an opportunity to learn from the rabbi how to be like the rabbi.” (John Ortberg GICTYT, 54)

  John Ortberg reminds us that “The decision that makes us disciples is choosing to be always with Jesus so we can learn continually from Jesus how to be fully like Him.”

We are supped to be “Little Christ”. 

To be so close to Him that His dust covers us; to cling to Him “As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist….” (Jer. 13:11a, NLT2)

 We are to be like that loincloth… to cling tightly to God; we’re the ones that need salvation, we’re the ones that need redemption, we’re the ones that need sanctification, we need all this and more… and we can only get these things if we cling to God.

The Bible reminds us that “…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1Pe 2:9, NIV)

Jesus said: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last…” (John 15:16, NIV)

We are God’s chosen people. We are His Plan “A”…

It’s our job as disciples of Jesus Christ to cling to Him, to let Him transform us. We did not choose God, He chose us, and because He chose us, we find life by clinging to Him.

 So I ask all of us to consider our relationship with God… are we like the first linen loincloth—undefiled, or are we like the loincloth that has been defiled by the environment?

  If we are not spending time “near the cross of Jesus…” (John 19:25, NIV) then we will be unable to hear what God wants from us.

God said that the people of Judah would be cast away because they refused to listen to His words… “These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing! (Jer. 13:10, NLT2)

The constant refusal to listen to the Lord is what caused God’s people to be sent into exile. 

I read recently about a group of dolphins that got stranded on a beach near Boston, several years ago. 

Scientists felt that they may have run aground because of a hearing problem.

 The animals, which use sound waves to judge depths, were found to have worms clogging their sinus cavities and inner ears, possibly making them hard of hearing.           

Those beached dolphins may have something to teach us… there are some of us who are not functioning properly, because we are unable to hear properly.

   The problem of beached Christians may be similar to the problem of the beached dolphins; we may be hard of hearing.

 Jeremiah said in verse 15: “Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.” (Jer. 13:15, NIV)

The dolphins were unable to gauge the depth of water in which they were swimming, they thought they were in deep water, but found themselves stranded on the beach.

 This is one of the results of being hard of hearing. There are those who think that things are fine, but if you refuse to hear and listen to what God is saying, you will be beached.

The only cure of course, is to dig out the worms. To remove the obstacles that may be hindering you from hearing the Lord.”(Adapted from the prairie overcomer, 1974, my files)

The prophet Jeremiah was sent to the people of Judah to remind them that they were created to cling to God, but they wouldn’t listen.

 May you, may we, not find ourselves in the same position. May we choose to cling to God. May we choose to be so close to The Rabbi that we are covered with His dust.

 Know dear friends if you are not where God intends for you to be, you can always come back.

You can always find your way back into the arms of Jesus, but it will involve you surrendering, it will involve you coming to the Cross of Jesus and admitting that you are not doing what you were created to do. 

 Jeremiah 15:19 reminds us that “…If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.” (NIV)

 God is always ready to welcome you back into His family. He is always ready to cleanse you and have you cling to Him…

We were created to cling to God, the only question is: are we.