By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Galatians 6:8-9
For the one who
sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the
one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let
us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do
not give up.
(ESV)
While 24-hour news keeps
us informed about news in our world as it happens, it can also become a barrage
of negativity bringing sorrow, pain, weariness, and lack of rest. The result is
people having no hope and even living in despair. When Barack Obama won the presidential
election in 2008, he ran on a promise of hope and change, a message appealing
to a majority of voters lacking hope after seeing the negativity of the world
around them. While the message of hope is appealing, people were placing their
hope in a man instead of in God. Jeremiah 45:1-5 is a message to a man living
in sorrow, pain, and despair bringing his focus back to God something everyone
reading this could benefit from.
During the fourth year of
Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, Jeremiah dictates a word from the
Lord to Baruch, instructing him to write it in a book. This is not the first
time Baruch has served Jeremiah as the one taking the word from the Lord
dictated by Jeremiah and writing it down but this time the word from the Lord
is for Baruch (Jeremiah 45:1). The word from the Lord begins with the Lord
telling Baruch He has heard what he has said. Baruch has been saying “Woe is
me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain.” Baruch is weary from his groaning
and finds no rest (Jeremiah 45:2-3). The Lord then tells Baruch he is breaking
down what He has built and plucking up what He has planted (Jeremiah 45:4). Jeremiah
45:1-5 ends with the Lord asking Baruch if he is seeking great things for
himself and if He is, not to seek them for the Lord is bringing disaster on all
flesh. However, God promises to give Baruch’s life as a prize of war wherever
he goes, sparing his life (Jeremiah 45:5). God is giving hope to Baruch during a
time of trouble, promising life.
Galatians 6:9 reminds us
not to grow weary in doing good by focusing on the reward God has in store for
his people. Baruch has served Jeremiah as the one dictating the words from the
Lord, given to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:4). In addition to serving as a scribe to
Jeremiah, he also read the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah when leaders
banned Jeremiah from going to the House of the Lord (Jeremiah 36:5-8). With the
rejection of the word of the Lord dictated to Baruch (Jeremiah 36:27), Baruch
may have suffered persecution like that suffered by Jeremiah (Jeremiah
37:11-21). Jeremiah 45:1-5 is a message of encouragement to Baruch as he
suffered sorrow and pain at what was happening to him and his people. The
purpose of this word from the Lord is to take the focus of Baruch off his
situation and on to God and a promise of life wherever he would go.
The constant barrage of
negativity from 24/7 news inflicts sorrow and pain, especially for God’s people
as they see sin and evil become acceptable in the world. Focusing on this
barrage of negativity will wear one down, causing a loss of hope and eventually
despair. Unlike Baruch, Christians have the full canon of Scripture available
to them but do we focus on the promises and truth of the Bible or continue to
focus on the barrage of negativity spewed from the news? I want to encourage
everyone reading this to spend less time focusing on the barrage of negativity
spewed by the news and internet and more time focused on the truths of the
Bible.
If you are reading this
post and have never made a profession of faith in Jesus as your Savior, I
encourage you to do so now by praying with me,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my
sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe you died, spent
three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord
of my life.
May God challenge and
bless everyone reading this post.
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