Anglican Devotional 16 August 2023 – Repent Today

anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 16 August 2023 – Repent Today

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TOPIC: Repent Today

READ: Jeremiah 6:1-22 (NKJV)

“O you children of Benjamin, Gather yourselves to flee from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, And set up a signal-fire in Beth Haccerem; For disaster appears out of the north, And great destruction.

I have likened the daughter of Zion To a lovely and delicate woman.

The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her. They shall pitch [their] tents against her all around. Each one shall pasture in his own place.”

“Prepare war against her; Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us, for the day goes away, For the shadows of the evening are lengthening.

Arise, and let us go by night, And let us destroy her palaces.”

For thus has the LORD of hosts said: “Cut down trees, And build a mound against Jerusalem. This [is] the city to be punished. She [is] full of oppression in her midst.

As a fountain wells up with water, So she wells up with her wickedness. Violence and plundering are heard in her. Before Me continually [are] grief and wounds.

Be instructed, O Jerusalem, Lest My soul depart from you; Lest I make you desolate, A land not inhabited.”

Thus says the LORD of hosts: “They shall thoroughly glean as a vine the remnant of Israel; As a grape-gatherer, put your hand back into the branches.”

To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear [is] uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.

Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD. I am weary of holding [it] in. “I will pour it out on the children outside, And on the assembly of young men together; For even the husband shall be taken with the wife, The aged with [him who is] full of days.

And their houses shall be turned over to others, Fields and wives together; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD.

“Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone [is] given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely.

They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When [there is] no peace.

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the LORD.

Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way [is,] And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk [in it.’]

Also, I set watchmen over you, [saying,] ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’

Therefore hear, you nations, And know, O congregation, what [is] among them.

Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people — The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words, Nor My law, but rejected it.

For what purpose to Me Comes frankincense from Sheba, And sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”

Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people, And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them. The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”

Thus says the LORD: “Behold, a people comes from the north country, And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.

THE MESSAGE:

Prophet Jeremiah foretold the great destruction which would soon befall the city of Jerusalem and her stubborn and unrepentant people. Jeremiah warned both Judah and Jerusalem about the approaching judgment of God and pleaded with them to repent in order to escape the fast approaching destruction. However, they turned deaf ears to his messages. Unfortunately, the anger of God came heavily upon them in Jeremiah’s lifetime.

As it was in Jeremiah’s time, so it is today! Every message received from seasoned and true men of God is a call for action in the right direction. You must not take the Words of God for granted and believe all is well. Repentance is a must if you must escape the judgment of God. Delay is dangerous!

THOUGHT: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).