The trap of self-deception (Jeremiah 43)
Jer 43:1-13 Have you ever wondered why we often attribute the best intentions to ourselves, but assume the worst about others we don’t like so much? We do not just pretend, but often genuinely believe that our motives are pure.…
God’s way and our understanding (Jeremiah 42)
Jeremiah 42:1-22 Shortly after we moved from the UK to Auckland, I was sitting in a Sunday service listening to a sermon on the well-known passage, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your…
A new beginning needs a new heart (Jer 40:13-41:18)
Jer 40:13-41:18 Growing up in Communist Hungary as a child, my parents hammered into me never to sign my name on any petition, as the regime used such lists to weed out those it thought of as enemies of the…
God’s offer of a second chance (Jer 40:1-12)
Jer 40:1-12 One of the common impressions that I heard my students voice over the years is that ‘the God of the Old Testament’ is an impatient tyrant who smashes resistance to His will within an instant. Even the term,…
The challenge of taking God’s Word to heart (Jeremiah 39)
Jer 39:1-18 Distrust towards God and His Word seems to be programmed into our sinful heart. Like the serpent asked in the garden of Eden, ‘Did God really say…?’ (Gen 3:1). When God’s Word teaches something we do not like,…
Walking in the way of life (Jer 38:14-28)
Jer 38:14-28 When some people hear the gospel, their response is, ‘you mean, you need not do anything to merit God’s favour, that it is all grace? Isn’t that too easy?’. The truth is that for many, it can be…
How to stand up for the truth (Jer 38:1-13)
Jer 38:1-13 A pastor friend was once involved in a gathering with other pastors. One of them spoke up and swore using God’s name. My friend was shocked and confronted the swearer who resisted any correction. My friend felt that…
Hearers or doers of the Word? (Jeremiah 37)
Jer 37:1-21 During my career as Old Testament lecturer, I encountered a number of students who would come to me after their essays failed to make the mark. Some were belligerent, disputing their result, others asked lots of questions about…
What God’s perseverance says about Him (Jer 36:20-32)
Jer 36:20-32 In an earlier post I mentioned that my Dad taught me English in my teenage years. Day after day, he would come into my room and ask if we were studying tonight and if I said ‘not tonight’,…
What is the purpose of God’s Word? (Jer 36:1-19)
Jer 36:1-19 A few years ago, there was an initiative in my church to read through the Bible in one year. The plan involved reading several chapters each weekday (weekends allowed for catch-up). Afterwards, many commented on the way reading…