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Aug 16, 2022

JEREMIAH 50:
Finally after hearing messages prophesying against so many nations, always telling or implying that the Babylonians would be God’s instrument to punish them, now this long chapter tells how Babylon will finally be judged as well, and God will return to take pity on Israel.

PROVERBS 10b:
Here is an example of Hebrew parallelism from today’s 2nd half of  Proverbs 10:

Pro. 10:23 NLT Doing wrong is fun for a fool,
but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

‘Fool’ and ‘the sensible’ oppose each other. “Doing wrong is fun for a fool,” and it seems like ‘fun’ would only be temporary. Whereas the sensible who live wisely receive ‘pleasure’, which is much longer lasting than the ‘fun’ the fools get.

1JOHN 3:19—4:
Chapter 3 of 1John circles around the theme of being children of God. There are important verses at the end of chapter 3 which can provide assurance and power when we pray. If our consciences do not condemn us— which is strongly related to living the way John has urged us in this chapter, then we can boldly come to God in prayer and have courage to ask for ‘whatever’. I have met people with overactive consciences. If you are the kind of person who always feels guilty even though you have just finished asking God for forgiveness, this passage helps you too! Verse 20 says “God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.” He knows if you are having trouble believing that Jesus would forgive you, or if evil spirits are whispering false guilt messages to you. Read the chapter again and see how you are doing in the areas John mentions.  Pray asking the Holy Spirit to remove false guilt, or to reveal any reason you keep feeling guilty. Here is just one of many: If there are people you have harmed, make restitution. THEN, when you have done this homework, pray with boldness, because you have done everything needed to have a clear conscience.

NLT Translation notes:
1Jn. 4:13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live [joined together with//in] him and he [joined together with//in] us.
15 All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live [joined together with//in] God.
16 We [have come to] know how much God loves us, and we have [believed fully//put our trust] in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.