God Himself Seems Stunned (Will We Be Slaves or Children?)

In Jeremiah 2 CEB, the weeping prophet records a sad situation, in that, God’s own people "have switched gods, though their new gods are not really gods at all." V. 11a

Jeremiah 2:8b CEB says: "…the leaders rebelled against Me; the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, going after what has no value."

Then in Jeremiah 2:11b CEB this idea of "switching gods" is accented even more: "Yet my people have exchanged their glory for what has no value."

God Himself seems stunned, seemingly by the words that follow in Jeremiah 2:12 CEB: "Be stunned by such a thing, you heavens; shudder and quake, declares the Lord." 

And these heart-wrenching words are heard in Jeremiah 2:13 CEB: "They have forsaken Me."

Let us pray: Lord, let us not choose to be slaves of worthless gods, when we are destined to be Your children, yes, the beloved sons and daughters of Holy Father God! Amen.

With gladness. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

John 1:4 -- LIFE… LIGHT…

Preaching from this verse on Sunday morning surely encouraged my own soul. i was really kind of beside myself with gladness as i proclaimed The Good News found in these words…

"The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone."John‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"The Word" is another title Jesus wears, of course. HE, THE WORD, gave LIFE to EVERYTHING and LIGHT to EVERYONE! 

Enough already! 

With gladness, indeed! 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Truths Mined from Ecclesiasties

While recently reading and saturating in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, i mined a few truths for my own soul:

Here’s one: "In a fallen world it makes perfect sense to me that we should expect to experience seasons, not only of gladness, but also times of pain, heartache, and suffering." 

And another truth: "If we somehow only knew happiness and managed to avoid totally all the trials and agony in this world, we would surely be ruined as human beings. We would be filled with only self-centeredness and spiritual shallowness. To know only happiness in a hurting world, we would without doubt be among the cruelest of characters, lacking true substance and tender sympathy." -kww

Indeed, "There is a time for everything…" Ecclesiastes 3:1a

Reminds me also of a New Testament truth penned by The Apostle Paul: 

"The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of His resurrection, and the participation in His sufferings. It includes being conformed to His death so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead." Philippians‬ ‭3:10-11‬ ‭CEB‬‬

With gladness… at all times.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Spiritual Leaders: Do We Even Know The Lord?

Today, during my quiet time, one simple yet profound portion of just one verse -- yes, God speaking through a few words penned by the weeping prophet in Jeremiah 2:8a CEB --stopped me as a spiritual leader in my own tracks for a soul-searching season of reflecting, repenting, reviving and refocusing. 

Hear the words: 

"The priests [the spiritual leaders] didn’t [did not] ask, ‘Where’s the Lord?’ Those responsible for the Instruction didn’t [did not] know Me." Jeremiah 2:8a CEB

How sad for God to have to say that His own people had forsaken Him and forgotten His faithfulness and that those entrusted to lead the people to God are first and foremost the guilty ones. Painful. God forgive. God forbid. 

Question: Pastors, spiritual leaders, do we ask, "Where’s the Lord?" Do those of us entrusted to point people to the Lord really know the Lord for ourselves? 

My mind quickly remembers similiar striking words of Jesus recorded in Matthew…

"Not everybody who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do the will of My Father Who is in Heaven will enter. On the Judgment Day, many people will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name and expel demons in Your name and do lots of miracles in Your name?’ Then I’ll tell them, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from Me, you people who do wrong.’" Matthew‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭CEB

Prayer: Lord, before i would ever dare to spiritually instruct others, i definitely want to spend my days and nights asking, "Where’s the Lord?" i must [and i do] desire to know You intimately for myself so that i might be finally trustworthy as Your witness to others. Amen. 

With gladness. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Tender Context of Jeremiah 29:11, A Beloved Life Verse for Many

Jeremiah 29:11 is among the life verse of life verses for many believers. At the South Jersey Nazarene Zone pastors prayer time this morning in Millville, New Jersey, our focus came from Jeremiah 29. Hear Jeremiah 29:11, today, in its tender context: 

"This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: "Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare." This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them," says the Lord. This is what the Lord says: "You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the Lord. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land." Jeremiah‬ ‭29:4-11, 13-14‬ ‭NLT

With gladness. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

My Never-Dying Soul’s Only Hope

Apart from Jesus Himself there would be no Hope for my never-dying soul. Apart from The Atonement He performed by shedding His own Blood on the Cross, my sins could not be dealt the death-blow necessary for me to know Holy God in a right relationship for forever and today. Therefore, my soul magnifies my Saving and Sanctifying Lord. Indeed, Hope has a Name. Jesus. -kww

"Come now, let’s settle this," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

With gladness. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Pray Pray Pray

Today, i invite you to pray, pray, pray with me. Why do i say “pray” three times? Because there are three specific areas i invite you to spend some time right now if possible to pray into.

Please…

1. Pray prayers for Protection. 

2. Pray prayers for Direction.

3. Pray prayers for Revelation. 

In The Name of Jesus. Amen. 

Thank you. 

With gladness.

Pastor Kerry Willis