Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Daily Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 30-32
Daily Focus Passage: Jeremiah 32
The prophet Jeremiah demonstrated his faith in the Lord and trust in the Lord's promise by purchasing a field while facing the reality of defeat at the hands of the Babylonians. The Lord declared that the people of Isreal would face a time of exile because of their disobedience. This message came to the people through the prophet Jeremiah. We recognize that the people hated this message because Jeremiah was imprisoned. While in prison and facing the reality of the victory of Babylon, the prophet Jeremiah chose to purchase land and place the deed in an earthen vessel. Jeremiah put his money where his mouth was and demonstrated his faith in the Lord.
The prophet Jeremiah served as the ambassador of the Lord. He declared the message of the Lord to the people. This message presented the coming defeat and exile. At the same time, the prophet said the presence of hope amid the difficulty and pain. Jeremiah affirmed his belief in the Word received from the Lord by purchasing land while in prison and facing the onslaught of Babylon. Jeremiah put his money where his mouth was.
Jeremiah continued demonstrating his faith in the Lord by having the deed to the land placed in an earthen vessel. This placement served as a place of security for the deed. Jeremiah knew the land faced the occupation of the Babylonians but trusted in the promise of the Lord for the day of return. Thus, he showed his faith in the Lord by placing the deed in the vessel for the future. Again, Jeremiah put his money where his mouth was.
Today, believers must seek to demonstrate their declared faith in the Lord through their actions. We must strive to live in a manner that looks to the future promised by the Lord. We must find hope for our future in the Lord and not in the dynamics and situations of this world. We must pursue a life of putting our money where our mouth is. We must live what we believe.
We live in a land that rejects the ways and Word of God. The people attempt to silence the Word of the Lord. Believers must serve as representatives and ambassadors of the Lord as we deliver His Word to the nations. We must allow our actions to affirm the message and point people to the Lord. We must live with our "deeds in earthen vessels" because we rest in the promised eternity for God's people. Are you living like Jeremiah and putting your money where your mouth is?
