For Those Desiring a Deep Christian Faith...
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Daily Meditation
  • Past Daily Meditations
    • 2023 Meditations
    • June Meditations >
      • June 2
      • June 5
      • June 7
      • June 9
    • May Meditations >
      • May 2
      • May 4
      • May 6
      • May 9
      • May 12
      • May 14
      • May 16
      • May 18
      • May 20
      • May 22
    • April Meditations >
      • April 2
      • April 4
      • April 7
      • April 9
      • April 11
      • April 14
      • April 16
      • April 19
      • April 21
      • April 23
      • April 25
      • April 27
      • April 29
    • March Meditations >
      • March 1
      • March 16
      • March 18
      • March 21
      • March 23
      • March 25
      • March 27
      • March 29
      • March 31
    • February Meditations >
      • February 1
      • February 3
      • February 5
      • February 7
      • February 9
      • February 11
      • February 14
      • February 16
      • February 18
      • February 20
      • February 22
      • February 24
      • February 26
    • January Meditations >
      • January 1
      • January 4
      • January 6
      • January 9
      • January 11
      • January 13
      • January 15
      • January 17
      • January 20
      • January 22
      • January 24
      • January 26
      • January 28
      • January 30
    • 2022 Daily Meditations >
      • February 2022 Meditatons
      • March 2022 Meditations
      • April 2022 Meditations
      • May 2022 Meditations
      • June 2022 Meditations
      • July 2022 Meditations
      • August 2022 Meditations
      • September 2022 Meditations
      • October 2022 Meditations
      • November 2022 Meditations
      • December 2022 Meditations
    • 2021 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2021 Meditations
      • February 2021 Meditations
      • March 2021 Meditations
      • April 2021 Meditations
      • May 2021 Meditations
      • June 2021 Meditations
      • July 2021 Meditations
      • August 2021 Meditations
      • September 2021 Meditations
      • October 2021 Meditations
      • November 2021 Meditations
      • December 2021 Meditations
    • 2020 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2020 Archive
      • February 2020 Archive
      • March 2020 Archive
      • April 2020 Archive
      • May 2020 Archive
      • June 2020 Archive
      • July 2020 Archive
      • August 2020 Archive
      • September 2020 Archive
      • October 2020 Archive
      • November 2020 Archive
      • December 2020 Archive
    • 2019 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2019 Archive
      • February 2019 Archive
      • March 2019 Archive
      • April 2019 Archive
      • May 2019 Archive
      • June 2019 Archive
      • July 2019 Archive
      • August 2019 Archive
      • September 2019 Archive
      • October 2019 Archive
      • November 2019 Archive
      • December 2019 Archive
    • 2018 Daily Meditations >
      • December 2018 Archive
      • November 2018 Archive
      • October 2018 Archive
      • September 2018 Archive
      • August 2018 Archive
      • July 2018 Archive
      • June 2018 Archive
      • May 2018 Archive
      • April 2018 Archive
      • March 2018 Archive
      • February 2018 Archive
      • January 2018 Archive
    • 2017 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2017 Archive
      • February 2017 Archive
      • March 2017 Archive
      • April 2017 Archive
      • May 2017 Archive
      • June 2017 Archive
      • July 2017 Archive
      • August 2017 Archive
      • September 2017 Archive
      • October 2017 Archive
      • November 2017 Archive
      • December 2017 Archive
  • Special Bible Studies
    • Do you hold a grudge?
    • Have you actually asked for God's help?
    • Sin is the cause of all your problems
    • Amazing Grace!
    • Are you consumed by worry?
    • Is God punishing you?
    • Spiritual Warfare
    • Stubborn?
    • How often do you pray?
    • Have doubts?
    • Who are you listening to?
    • Emotional Black Holes
    • Unanswered prayers?
    • Have you compromised your faith?
    • Life in the pits...
    • Is your life in a rut?
    • Demonic Influences?
    • Let God Ease Your Burdens!
    • Danger of Success
    • Feeling alone
    • Are you broken-hearted?
    • Feel vulnerable?
    • Is God pushing you?
    • Do you lack faith
    • Being Tested
    • Your Place in Heaven
    • Does your past haunt you?
    • Is worldliness creeping into your life?
    • What is acceptable worship?
    • Angry?
    • Spiritual Radar
    • Can you be obedient to God?
    • Courage in the Face of Trials
    • Does Hell Exist
    • A Sin of Omission
    • When Life Gets Crazy
    • When God is Silent
    • Weakness
    • On Death and Dying
    • Feeling Guilty for no Reason?
    • Is wealth damaging your faith?
    • Satans Games
    • Death and Eternal Life
    • Depression
    • Family Problems
    • False Guilt
    • Food Issues
    • A Lack of Forgiveness
    • Frustration
    • Jealousy or Envy
    • Life out of Balance
    • Lying to Yourself or Others
    • Getting Married
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Prayer Life
    • Repentance
    • Sharing the Faith
    • Socialism
    • Stressed out
    • Impatience
    • Too Hard on Yourself
  • Uplifting Video for the Day
  • Videos for Reflection
    • Videos for Reflection 2
    • Videos for Reflection 3
    • Videos for Reflection 4
    • Videos for Reflection 5
    • Videos for Reflection 6
    • Videos for Reflection 7
    • Videos for Reflection 8
    • Videos for Reflection 9
    • Videos for Reflection 10
    • Videos for Reflection 11
    • Videos for Reflection 12
    • Videos for Reflection 13
    • Videos for Reflection 14
    • Videos for Reflection 15
    • Videos for Reflection 16
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Standing up for God
    • Jatya
    • Archbishop Mouche
    • Pastor Andrew Brunson
    • Our Coptic Christian Friends
    • Petr Jasek
  • Bible Challenge Gateway
  • Faith Issues in the Modern World
    • Preacher Arrested for Protesting Pride Event
    • Christians Attacked by ISIS in Mozambique
    • The Pope Changes Lord's Prayer
    • Museum of the Bible Washington DC USA
    • Persecution at All-Time High
    • Suicide Bombing in Pakistan Christian Church
    • Attack by Muslim terrorists against Egyptian Church
    • Underground Christians in China
    • More Persecution of Chinese Christians
    • The Growing Church in Iran
    • Christian Parenting Failing God
  • Video Studies
    • Video Bible Study Introduction
    • Prayer in the Bible
    • Faith Hebrews 11
  • Walls of Inspiration
    • Wall of Inspiration 1
    • Wall of Inspiration 2
    • Wall of Inspiration 3
    • Wall of Inspiration 4
    • Wall of Inspiration 5
    • Wall of Inspiration 6
    • Wall of Inspiration 7
    • Wall of Inspiration 8
    • Wall of Inspiration 9
    • Wall of Inspiration 10
    • Wall of Inspiration 11
    • Wall of Inspiration 12
    • Wall of Inspiration 13
    • Wall of Inspiration 14
    • Wall of Inspiration 15
    • Wall of Inspiration 16
    • Wall of Inspiration 17
    • Wall of Inspiration 18
    • Wall of Inspiration 19
    • Wall of Inspiration 20
    • Wall of Inspiration 21
  • Bible Helps
  • Stories of God's Power
  • Comments
  • Bible Challenge Badge Earners
  • Yearly Meditations Template

April 25


“Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 45:5, NLT)
Picture
Baruch attained a special place in ancient Jewish history.  He was the scribe for the prophet Jeremiah.  Jeremiah 36:18 explains that part of Baruch’s work was to write down the words “in ink” that Jeremiah dictated to him.   Often, these words were directed against sinful Israel by Almighty God.  Baruch got to see first-hand how God’s messages, sent to the prophet Jeremiah, came to perfect fruition. 
 
What is not well known among Christians or Jews who read the Bible is that Baruch was also acknowledged by the historian Josephus.  Josephus wrote that Baruch “was of a very distinguished family and thoroughly educated” (Begg and Spilsbury, Flavius Josephus, 258).   Because of this and other statements, it is believed that Baruch came from wealth, had a top-notch education, could read and write, and was highly respected.   But even though Baruch had so much going for him, and though he had first-hand access to Jeremiah and to God’s messages, he had one fault.  He was a little too self-centered.  The scripture for today from Jeremiah 45:5 contains one of God’s messages through the prophet Jeremiah.  This one was directed to Baruch.  God asked Baruch directly, “Are you seeking great things for yourself?  Don’t do it!” (Jeremiah 45:5).  God was about to bring destruction upon the people of Israel for their sin.  Baruch should not consider himself special just because he had an insider’s access to God through Jeremiah.  Baruch needed to be humble and obedient, not consider himself an elite and “holier than thou”.
 
One of the greatest dangers that can occur in your life is spiritual pride.  We are told in Proverbs that pride comes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18).  We are told in Isaiah 14:12-14 that prideful ambition led to the downfall of Satan.  Spiritual pride is not seen by many today as a real danger.  However, if these two passages don’t make you rethink that premise, you may be blind to pride’s effects.  Based on our scripture for today from Jeremiah 45:5, it seems that Baruch was flirting dangerously with spiritual pride and selfish ambition.   God’s warning to Baruch was meant to bring him back into a right relationship with heaven.
 
Pride has a way of damaging one’s spiritual connection with God.  It can cause you to be blind to God’s mercies and overlook God’s bounteous blessings.   Pride can cause you to question God’s actions or place your needs above the needs of others.   Pride surely goeth before a fall!
 
Often, pride will not only affect your view of the world, but it will also seep into other areas of your life.  There it will cause all kinds of emotional and spiritual turmoil.  One good way to know if pride is snaking its way into your spiritual life is to look at your prayers.  When you pray, do your words sound like a laundry-list of things you want or desire?  Do you spend more time inn prayer asking for things than giving praise and thanks and confessions to God?   Do you pray most often when you have a want or need?  Do you ever ask God to do things your way? 
 
The apostle James spoke of prayers that are stuffed with selfish wants and personal reward.  In truth, James discovered that too many Christians “do not receive” things from God because they “ask wrongly, to spend it on their own passions” (James 4:3).   Based on this conversation in the letter of James, it is clear that when you “seek great things for yourself” (like Baruch!), you “do not receive” God’s blessings.  
 
Even when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing his own mortality, he did not pray selfishly.  He prayed for “God’s will to be done” (Luke 22:42). Are you content to pray the same?
 
A man came to his priest and asked for a few moments.  The priest gladly offered him a seat in the rectory living room.  There, the man broke down in tears saying, “Father, my twin brother has cancer of the lung.  I know he smoked a lot.  I know he drank a lot.  But he’s a good guy!  He means a lot to me!  I give a lot of money and time to this parish. I want you to say special prayers for his healing!”  Throughout the conversation, the priest was surprised at the man’s insistence.  He was more concerned with his brother’s being cured from cancer than the fact that his brother cared nothing about God!  And, the man had the belief that his offerings to the parish gave him special access to the priest and to God.  The man had convinced himself that his offerings meant God would hear his prayers over the voices of others!  The man also was convinced that the priest owed it to him to pray for the health of his brother.  In so many ways, this man was clueless to the fact that he was being very spiritually prideful.  Based on James 4:3, he even risked God NOT hearing the prayers on his brother’s behalf because he “asked wrongly”!  This man had no understanding how spiritual pride and selfish ambition were keeping him from seeing and experiencing real blessing!
 
Because of Jeremiah 45:5, I ask you today the same question God asked Baruch long ago, “Are you seeking great things for yourself?”  Don’t do it!   Prideful ambition goes a long way to stifling blessing and grace and salvation and so much more!

click here to view other april Daily Meditations
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Daily Meditation
  • Past Daily Meditations
    • 2023 Meditations
    • June Meditations >
      • June 2
      • June 5
      • June 7
      • June 9
    • May Meditations >
      • May 2
      • May 4
      • May 6
      • May 9
      • May 12
      • May 14
      • May 16
      • May 18
      • May 20
      • May 22
    • April Meditations >
      • April 2
      • April 4
      • April 7
      • April 9
      • April 11
      • April 14
      • April 16
      • April 19
      • April 21
      • April 23
      • April 25
      • April 27
      • April 29
    • March Meditations >
      • March 1
      • March 16
      • March 18
      • March 21
      • March 23
      • March 25
      • March 27
      • March 29
      • March 31
    • February Meditations >
      • February 1
      • February 3
      • February 5
      • February 7
      • February 9
      • February 11
      • February 14
      • February 16
      • February 18
      • February 20
      • February 22
      • February 24
      • February 26
    • January Meditations >
      • January 1
      • January 4
      • January 6
      • January 9
      • January 11
      • January 13
      • January 15
      • January 17
      • January 20
      • January 22
      • January 24
      • January 26
      • January 28
      • January 30
    • 2022 Daily Meditations >
      • February 2022 Meditatons
      • March 2022 Meditations
      • April 2022 Meditations
      • May 2022 Meditations
      • June 2022 Meditations
      • July 2022 Meditations
      • August 2022 Meditations
      • September 2022 Meditations
      • October 2022 Meditations
      • November 2022 Meditations
      • December 2022 Meditations
    • 2021 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2021 Meditations
      • February 2021 Meditations
      • March 2021 Meditations
      • April 2021 Meditations
      • May 2021 Meditations
      • June 2021 Meditations
      • July 2021 Meditations
      • August 2021 Meditations
      • September 2021 Meditations
      • October 2021 Meditations
      • November 2021 Meditations
      • December 2021 Meditations
    • 2020 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2020 Archive
      • February 2020 Archive
      • March 2020 Archive
      • April 2020 Archive
      • May 2020 Archive
      • June 2020 Archive
      • July 2020 Archive
      • August 2020 Archive
      • September 2020 Archive
      • October 2020 Archive
      • November 2020 Archive
      • December 2020 Archive
    • 2019 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2019 Archive
      • February 2019 Archive
      • March 2019 Archive
      • April 2019 Archive
      • May 2019 Archive
      • June 2019 Archive
      • July 2019 Archive
      • August 2019 Archive
      • September 2019 Archive
      • October 2019 Archive
      • November 2019 Archive
      • December 2019 Archive
    • 2018 Daily Meditations >
      • December 2018 Archive
      • November 2018 Archive
      • October 2018 Archive
      • September 2018 Archive
      • August 2018 Archive
      • July 2018 Archive
      • June 2018 Archive
      • May 2018 Archive
      • April 2018 Archive
      • March 2018 Archive
      • February 2018 Archive
      • January 2018 Archive
    • 2017 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2017 Archive
      • February 2017 Archive
      • March 2017 Archive
      • April 2017 Archive
      • May 2017 Archive
      • June 2017 Archive
      • July 2017 Archive
      • August 2017 Archive
      • September 2017 Archive
      • October 2017 Archive
      • November 2017 Archive
      • December 2017 Archive
  • Special Bible Studies
    • Do you hold a grudge?
    • Have you actually asked for God's help?
    • Sin is the cause of all your problems
    • Amazing Grace!
    • Are you consumed by worry?
    • Is God punishing you?
    • Spiritual Warfare
    • Stubborn?
    • How often do you pray?
    • Have doubts?
    • Who are you listening to?
    • Emotional Black Holes
    • Unanswered prayers?
    • Have you compromised your faith?
    • Life in the pits...
    • Is your life in a rut?
    • Demonic Influences?
    • Let God Ease Your Burdens!
    • Danger of Success
    • Feeling alone
    • Are you broken-hearted?
    • Feel vulnerable?
    • Is God pushing you?
    • Do you lack faith
    • Being Tested
    • Your Place in Heaven
    • Does your past haunt you?
    • Is worldliness creeping into your life?
    • What is acceptable worship?
    • Angry?
    • Spiritual Radar
    • Can you be obedient to God?
    • Courage in the Face of Trials
    • Does Hell Exist
    • A Sin of Omission
    • When Life Gets Crazy
    • When God is Silent
    • Weakness
    • On Death and Dying
    • Feeling Guilty for no Reason?
    • Is wealth damaging your faith?
    • Satans Games
    • Death and Eternal Life
    • Depression
    • Family Problems
    • False Guilt
    • Food Issues
    • A Lack of Forgiveness
    • Frustration
    • Jealousy or Envy
    • Life out of Balance
    • Lying to Yourself or Others
    • Getting Married
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Prayer Life
    • Repentance
    • Sharing the Faith
    • Socialism
    • Stressed out
    • Impatience
    • Too Hard on Yourself
  • Uplifting Video for the Day
  • Videos for Reflection
    • Videos for Reflection 2
    • Videos for Reflection 3
    • Videos for Reflection 4
    • Videos for Reflection 5
    • Videos for Reflection 6
    • Videos for Reflection 7
    • Videos for Reflection 8
    • Videos for Reflection 9
    • Videos for Reflection 10
    • Videos for Reflection 11
    • Videos for Reflection 12
    • Videos for Reflection 13
    • Videos for Reflection 14
    • Videos for Reflection 15
    • Videos for Reflection 16
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Standing up for God
    • Jatya
    • Archbishop Mouche
    • Pastor Andrew Brunson
    • Our Coptic Christian Friends
    • Petr Jasek
  • Bible Challenge Gateway
  • Faith Issues in the Modern World
    • Preacher Arrested for Protesting Pride Event
    • Christians Attacked by ISIS in Mozambique
    • The Pope Changes Lord's Prayer
    • Museum of the Bible Washington DC USA
    • Persecution at All-Time High
    • Suicide Bombing in Pakistan Christian Church
    • Attack by Muslim terrorists against Egyptian Church
    • Underground Christians in China
    • More Persecution of Chinese Christians
    • The Growing Church in Iran
    • Christian Parenting Failing God
  • Video Studies
    • Video Bible Study Introduction
    • Prayer in the Bible
    • Faith Hebrews 11
  • Walls of Inspiration
    • Wall of Inspiration 1
    • Wall of Inspiration 2
    • Wall of Inspiration 3
    • Wall of Inspiration 4
    • Wall of Inspiration 5
    • Wall of Inspiration 6
    • Wall of Inspiration 7
    • Wall of Inspiration 8
    • Wall of Inspiration 9
    • Wall of Inspiration 10
    • Wall of Inspiration 11
    • Wall of Inspiration 12
    • Wall of Inspiration 13
    • Wall of Inspiration 14
    • Wall of Inspiration 15
    • Wall of Inspiration 16
    • Wall of Inspiration 17
    • Wall of Inspiration 18
    • Wall of Inspiration 19
    • Wall of Inspiration 20
    • Wall of Inspiration 21
  • Bible Helps
  • Stories of God's Power
  • Comments
  • Bible Challenge Badge Earners
  • Yearly Meditations Template