Pastor Bob DuPar
October 7, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Jeremiah 8:8-9:26; Colossians 3:1-17; Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 24:27

Observation

Jeremiah 8:10-11 is repeated from earlier (6:13-14). God is obviously concerned about how the leaders take care of His people,

“…Prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of My people as though it were not serious.”

“Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush…” Jeremiah 8:12a

“…They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.” Jeremiah 9:5b

“This is what the Lord says, ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

“…For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.” Jeremiah 9:26b

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
“In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of His wonders, they did not believe. So, He ended their days in futility and their years in terror.”
Psalm 78:32-33

Application

We know that we’ve sunk to the depths of spiritual depravity when we ceased to feel shame over our sin; when it doesn’t even cause us to blush. I don’t want to ever reach a point of callousness where I am insensitive to the conviction of God’s Spirit.

What a waste of energy when we “weary ourselves” sinning!

True circumcision in God’s eyes (“a setting apart”) is not an external act but an internal transformation. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

How often I forget that Christ “is my life.” (Colossians 3:4) Too often I live like I can find life apart from Him; and this leads to “futility” as Psalm 78:33 mentioned.

Prayer

“Lord, help me to set my heart and mind on the ‘things above’ not on ‘earthly things.’ I ‘have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy.” (1 Peter 4:3)

Pastor Bob DuPar
October 6, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Jeremiah 6:15-8:7; Colossians 2:8-23; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 24:26

Observation

“Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury …and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My name, and say, ‘We are safe – safe to do all these detestable things?’ ‘…But I have been watching declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 7:9-11

“Am I the One they are provoking? declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves to their own shame?” Jeremiah 7:19

“I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle.” Jeremiah 8:6

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:8-10

“…Reality is found in Christ.” Colossians 2:17

“What we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. …So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.” Psalm 78:3, 6-7

Application

Sometimes we/I do things as if no one is watching, especially not God. God’s response is that “we harm ourselves to our own shame.” Too often I am like that horse, charging into battle, pursuing my own course. (Jer. 8:6) I need to remember that reality is found in Christ, not the things I chase after independently of Him. His fullness lives within me! O that I would live like it!

Passing the baton of faith to the next generation needs to be more than a verbal exchange. It needs to be something which is lived-out. It reminds me of the old saying, “Faith is better ‘caught’ than ‘taught.”

Prayer

“Lord, once again I pray for consistency in my walk. I want to follow You consistently. I want to obey You consistently. Please grant me strength, determination and discipline to be faithful.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
October 5, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Jeremiah 4:19-6:14; Colossians 1:21-2:7; Psalm 77:1-20; Proverbs 24:23-25

Observation

Sometimes I am surprised by what I find in Scripture. Jeremiah 5:7-9 is an example of one of those passages:

“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife. Should I not punish them for this?’ declares the Lord. ‘Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?”

Jeremiah 5:25b is surprisingly powerful and succinct,

“Your sins have deprived you of good.”

Jeremiah 6:13b-14 is a sad state of affairs, and unfortunately sounds like our present times,

“…Prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of My people as though it were not serious.”

“The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints …is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Colossians 1:27

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

I have never noticed Psalm 77:19-20 before, but it sounds like a reference to God leading His people through the Red Sea,

“Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”

Application

I wonder how often my sins deprive me of good. It’s a powerful thought. Obviously sin always deprives us of good. But, sometimes we feel/live like there is no consequence for sin.

I wonder if the reference to prophets and priests dressing the wounds of God’s people as if they were not serious is an indictment of how sin is handled. It sounds like God is saying that His leaders minimize the effects of sin upon His people.

What a thought that “Christ in me” is the hope of glory! And, that “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ!” This should affect the intensity and passion with which I seek after God!

Prayer

“Lord, help me to seek after You like buried treasure.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
October 3, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Jeremiah 1:1-2:30; Philippians 4:1-23; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 24:17-20

Observation

“The Word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5

“Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror,’ declares the Lord. ‘My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
Jeremiah 2:11-13

“Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord your God when He led you in the way? …Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of Me,’ declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty. …Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.”
Jeremiah 2:17,19, 28

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“…the evil man has no future hope…” Proverbs 24:20

Application

I forsake God all too often and seek for satisfaction in things that are broken and empty. I need to consistently come to God to meet my needs and stop looking for worldly quick fixes.

Often I present my requests to God without praise or thanksgiving, but I’m struck by the fact that the “praise/thanksgiving” precedes the “peace” in Philippians 4:6-7.

I am not content enough. In fact, I’m discontent with how content I am! No seriously, my emotions are too dependent upon good circumstances. I need to seek for the joy which God provides rather than the happiness which merely results from good “happenings.”

Prayer

“Lord, help me to learn to draw upon Your strength and not my own. Help me to trust You to provide for all my needs.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
October 2, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Isaiah 66:1-24; Philippians 3:4b-21; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 24:15-16

Observation

Paul’s words in Philippians 3:7-14 are both beautiful and challenging,

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Paul’s words in Philippians 3:20-21 about the nature of our true citizenship are a healthy reminder and source of encouragement,

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”

Application

How much have I given up in order to follow Christ? When Paul says, “For whose sake I have lost all things,” I’m convicted because my personal sacrifice has been minimal. I want to press on toward the prize of Jesus. I don’t want to look back or live life with regrets. I don’t want to live life in the rearview mirror. Knowing God and pursuing Him has to be my highest priority and greatest ambition.

Prayer

“Lord, may I pursue You with even a fraction of the passion and intensity with which You pursue me. May I count all things a loss in order to obtain You and know You more intimately.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
October 1, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Isaiah 62:6-65:25; Philippians 2:19-3:4a; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 24:13-14

Observation

Paul’s description of Timothy in Philippians 2:20 is not just high praise but also a model for Christian service,

“I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

In Psalm 73 David is honest about his jealousy/envy of the wicked. He verbalizes what many of us feel at times, but don’t dare to articulate. Why do the wicked seem to prosper? Why is it that they don’t appear to suffer consequences for their sin? They just seem healthy, wealthy and struggle-free. And, their attitude is insulting. They act like God has no knowledge of their behavior and activities (73:11). This leads David to exclaim,

“Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.” Psalm 73:13

This was David’s mindset and perspective until he “entered into the sanctuary of God.” Then, he understood “their final destiny.” (73:17)

Finally, I love the words of Psalm 73:23-28,

“Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds.”

Application

I hope I have genuine interest in the welfare of others and that I’m not just wrapped-up in self-absorption. Paul’s teaching is that to have the interests of Christ is to have a heart for others.

Psalm 73 teaches me that I find perspective when I come into God’s presence. I don’t find perspective by immersing myself deeper in the ways of the world. I need to spend more time in God’s presence: in His Word, praying, times of solitude when I just listen…

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for Your abiding presence in my life. Thank You for Your nearness, Your guidance, Your counsel – for being my portion. Thank You for securing my eternal destiny. You are awesome and good.”