Pastor Bob DuPar
October 11, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Jeremiah 16:16-18:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 25:6-7

Observation

Jeremiah 17:7-8 sounds a lot like Psalm 1,

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; …For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7-8

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18


Application

Jeremiah 17:9-10 is a reminder that we can’t always trust our heart even though the world often says, “Just follow your heart!” All too often our heart cries out for things that are against God’s will.

Paul recommends living a quiet life, minding our own business, and working hard with our hands so that we are not a burden to others or overly dependent; and, so that we will be a strong witness to outsiders (unbelievers). Unfortunately, I know many Christians who are exactly the opposite: loud, in everyone else’s business, and always looking for someone else to pick up the tab. Paul identifies these factors as either assets or liabilities for sharing our faith.

Prayer

“Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
October 10, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Jeremiah 14:11-16:15; Thessalonians 2:10-3:13; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 25:1-5

Observation

“When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God Almighty.” Jeremiah 15:16

“We thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13

“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy. …Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; 3:7-8

Application

God’s Word becomes a joy to us when we internalize it, not when we merely admire it from a distance. Too often we treat God’s Word as the “word of men” rather than the “Word of God which is at work in (us) who believe!” It is God’s Word which empowers us to stand firm in the midst of persecution and to confidently look forward to Christ’s return.

Prayer

“Lord, help me to consume Your Word – not just to read it, study it, preach it, but to live it.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
October 9, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Jeremiah 12:1-14:10; Thessalonians 1:1-2:9; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 24:30-34

Observation

“Why do the wicked prosper? Why do the faithless live at ease? …You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.” Jeremiah 12:1b, 2b

“…you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”
1 Thessalonians 1:9

“We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. …We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”
1 Thessalonians 1:4, 8

Application

Too often God is on my lips but far from my heart – my walk doesn’t match my talk. I need to allow others to hold me accountable on this and give them permission to challenge me and ask hard questions.

Ministry is more than just sharing the gospel (huge part); it is also sharing of our lives. For me this means forming deep relationships with believers and unbelievers.

Prayer

“Lord, continue to give me opportunities to form relationships with those that need to know You, as well as with those that You choose to use to grow and develop me.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
October 8, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Jeremiah 10:1-11:23; Colossians 3:18-4:18; Psalm 78:56-72; Proverbs 24:28-29

Observation

I thought that Jeremiah 10:5 was amazing,

“Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”

“I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6

“Epaphras… is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” Colossians 4:12

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Psalm 78:72

Application

We would never bow down and worship a scarecrow or consult it for decisions; but, it’s amazing how many worthless, lifeless things of this world we/I turn to for answers and satisfaction.

Jeremiah 10:23 reminds us that it is not for us “to direct our steps.” This reminds me of James 4:13-15,

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

It also brings to mind Proverbs 16:9,

“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

I need to conduct myself in wisdom around unbelievers (Greek: literally – “redeeming the time).

I would like to pray for others like Epaphras – literally “agonizing’ in prayer for them. I have a long way to go before my prayer life reaches that level of intensity.

Prayer

“Lord, help me to shepherd people with integrity of heart, and to lead them with skillful hands.”

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.”