With this reproach Jeremiah had to... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them.
Jeremiah 45:5.

With this reproach Jeremiah had to admonish Baruch. He had proved his faithfulness to God in standing by Jeremiah despite the enmity of many Jews. Baruch had recorded in writing all that the prophet had said. But he found no recognition for it either from the king or from the people. This rebuff he sensed deeply: "Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I found no rest" (v.3).

Have we been discouraged? Did we expect great things? Were they for God, or for ourselves? If we have expected them for God, we shall not be discouraged. God has done great things for His own honour in ways that we had not imagined. He sent His beloved Son, who died for us. Through His death countless souls have been saved. God raised Him from the dead and gave Him the place at His right hand.

It may be that a believer has wished for nothing from the godless world. Yet he can fall into a snare, wanting to do great things for God, thereby achieving fame!

The Lord's disciples fell into this trap: they discussed who was the greatest among them. The Lord then placed a child in their midst and corrected their attitude. But shortly before the Lord's crucifixion this egoistic argument broke out once again. The Lord had to tell them such ambition was commonplace in the world. He Himself, however, had not come to show His greatness, but to be the One who serves (cf. Luke 9:46; 22:27).

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 16:1-14 · Revelation 4:1-11