For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.
Job 19:25

The Innocence Project, founded in 1992, is dedicated to proving that wrongly convicted and imprisoned suspects are innocent. It uses DNA technology to establish innocence and also to find the truly guilty person.

Innocent people who are wrongfully convicted are desperate for someone to speak out for them. That was Job’s situation in the Old Testament. He was a righteous man (a sinner, but one who atoned carefully for his sins) who suffered greatly—a sign of guilt and divine judgment in his day. The book of Job is the record of his friends’ accusations of guilt and Job’s protestations of his innocence. Job longed for someone in heaven or on earth to be his defender, his advocate, his redeemer, and to declare his innocence (Job 9:33-34; 16:18-21). Ultimately, Job realized that if no one on earth would defend him, God Himself would. And even if it came after his death, he would “in [his] flesh . . . see God” (Job 19:26).

Job needed what we need—someone to redeem us from the guilt of our intentional and unintentional sins. Thank God that our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, lives—our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1)!

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
George Frideric Händel, Messiah

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 37 – 39

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

You . . . have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Revelation 5:9

“Immigration” is presently the hottest geo-political word in the world. America is trying to solve the question of undocumented aliens entering without legal permission. And Europe is wrestling with additional millions who are fleeing persecution and war in their Middle Eastern homelands.

Recommended Reading: Colossians 1:9-29

“Birds of a feather flock together” is a truism for a reason. Human beings prefer the comfort of familiarity to the discomfort of changing surroundings—including new languages, customs, and religions. But in heaven, God’s original vision for humanity will be restored. Humanity will be unified, on the basis of faith in Christ, as a physical body that manifests the spiritual body we are on earth. Christians will be redeemed “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” on earth. That doesn’t mean our “tribes” and “tongues” will be preserved in heaven. It does mean that the fears we have now of “others” will be erased as we are united in love for eternity.

Better to live now as we will live in heaven—immigrants united as one in Christ.

You must therefore live, in the present, as far as possible like you will live in the future. 
N. T. Wright

Read-Thru-the-Bible: Jeremiah 31 – 36

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

Recommended Reading

Psalm 27:7-14

How many times do you need to hear it?

“He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8). “I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). “Blessed be the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living” (Ruth 2:20). “The LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake” (1 Samuel 12:22). “He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 28:20). “God did not forsake us in our bondage” (Ezra 9:9). “You did not forsake them in the wilderness” (Nehemiah 9:19). “When my father and mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me” (Psalm 27:10). “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken” (Psalm 37:25). “We are…persecuted but not forsaken” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Only one person has been utterly forsaken. He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) Because of the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus, our Father in heaven will never forsake us; so don’t despair over anything today. You are not forsaken.

The enemies have more chariots, experience, and artillery? Yes, they are strong, but I am stronger still. And I will not leave you or forsake you.

Max Lucado in Glory Days

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Jeremiah 28 – 30

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.

2 Chronicles 20:12b

Recommended Reading

Psalm 25:12-15

Imagine landing a jet on the rolling deck of an aircraft carrier in the pouring rain—in the middle of the night. It’s complicated, but it boils down to a single request from the Landing Signal Officer to the incoming pilot: “Call the ball.” The “ball” is a round light shining toward the plane that the pilot uses to line his plane up with the carrier’s deck. When the pilot sees the “ball” and is confident of his path, he responds, “Ball.” From that point until he lands he has one lifesaving task: to keep his eye on the ball.

Think now of dark times in life when you’re looking for a port in the storm, a place to land safely and in one spiritual and emotional piece. Lots of things may help—friends, funds, family. But there is one thing absolutely essential: keeping your eyes on the Lord. When Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was surrounded by a vast army, the people of Judah came together. Jehoshaphat led in a prayer for God’s help, the last words of which were these, “Nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

You can only follow God if your eyes are on Him. The destination is wherever He leads.

It costs to follow Jesus Christ, but it costs more not to.

Unknown

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 22 – 24

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

Ephesians 1:11

Recommended Reading

Romans 9:11-18

When an adult does something surprising or unexpected, she may be asked, “Was quitting your job an impulsive act?” And the answer comes back: “No, I did it on purpose.” It was intentional, planned, and thoughtful. But when a child spills his milk, he may defend himself by saying, “I didn’t do it on purpose, Mommy!” It was an accident, something unplanned.

When the Bible speaks about God’s purposes, it never suggests that anything God does is accidental or arbitrary. Everything God does is intentional, planned, and thoughtful. Everything God does is on purpose. It is “predestined according to the . . . counsel of His will.” When we see the equivalent of spilled milk in life, it is important to view it through the lens of God’s purpose and God’s will. Trying to understand “why” is not the motivation. Rather, the motivation is developing trust and faith in God.

Look at life through purpose-colored lenses. See everything from God’s perspective. Trust that He is acting “according to the counsel of His will.”

If life is an accident, it cannot conceivably have any purpose, for accident and purpose are mutually exclusive.

John Blanchard

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 18 – 21

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2

The largest private home in the world is Istana Nurul Iman Palace, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. The home consists of more than 2 million square feet of space, 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, 5 swimming pools, a 110-car garage, air-conditioned stables for 200 polo ponies, a banquet hall, and a mosque large enough for 1,500 worshipers. It cost around $1.4 billion to build in the mid-1980s.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 23:6

Grand as it is, that mansion pales in significance to what Jesus is preparing for His followers. The home He is preparing is called the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation 21:2—and it is large. Shaped like a cube, it measures 1,500 miles in each of its three dimensions—length, width, and height (Revelation 21:16). It is built of precious stones and minerals, and its worth, in human dollars, would be incalculable. But more important than its worth in dollars is its worth in security and joy for all who dwell there for eternity.

When comparing man’s greatest with God’s greatest, there is no comparison. Make sure you have secured your reservation in the mansion Jesus is preparing.

The nearer to heaven in hopes, the farther from earth in desires.

William Gurnall, from The Christian in Complete Armor

Read-Thru-the-Bible: Jeremiah 9 – 14

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

Recommended Reading

2 Corinthians 4:1-9

Everyone knows what it’s like to be disappointed by someone we love or admire. Our husbands, wives, children, or parents sometimes let us down. Our heroes stumble. Our leaders falter. It can devastate us and damage our relationships because we place high expectations on those we love. Sometimes we forget they are broken people just like we are.

According to 2 Corinthians 4:7, we are all earthen vessels, jugs of clay, easily chipped. The Voice translates 2 Corinthians 4:7 like this: “But this beautiful treasure (the Gospel) is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us.”

God blesses us cracked pots in spite of our sinful, undeserving nature; and high on His list of blessings is forgiveness. As we look to Him alone, He gives us grace (He imparts a million blessings we don’t deserve) and mercy (He withholds a million judgments we do deserve).

If He gives grace and mercy to cracked pots like us, perhaps we need to extend the same to those we love.

Let us make sure that we are not so hard on others because if the shoe were on the other foot, we would want someone to understand our circumstances and help us to redeem ourselves.

Jesse R. Watson, Jr., in Morning Coffee

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 4 – 5

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

Psalm 4:1

Recommended Reading

Psalm 32:1-5

According to the federal government, Americans spent $135 billion on “behavioral health” services in 2005. That includes medicine, counseling, hospitalization, and more. Part of that big number represents people who just needed “someone to talk to.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated in 2010 that there were 156,300 mental health counselors—so the amount spent on face-to-face counseling is no small number.

And it can be money well-spent. Professional counselors can be objective and clear when life feels subjective and confused. But let us not forget that we have a “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6, NASB) in the person of Jesus Christ. Prayer to the Father through our Advocate-Counselor should be our first step when we lose clarity in life. The Spirit of God is also a Counselor (John 15:26; 16:7, NIV). Father, Son, and Spirit are available at any hour and for any reason with infallible guidance. The only cost is time in prayer.

Talk to friends and counselors when necessary. But don’t fail to talk to God in prayer and seek His counsel first.

Most Christians learned at an early age how to talk to God, but they did not learn to listen as well.

Gordon MacDonald, from Men of Integrity

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 1 – 3

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.

Psalm 119:71

Recommended Reading

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

We have grown used to unboxing new digital appliances and using the “trial and error” method to discover how they work. Most of these tools and toys don’t even come with instruction booklets, opting instead for built-in “Help” menus. When we do eventually read the directions, we usually wish we had done so sooner.

Trials can drive us closer to God’s “instructions.” The psalmist learned that lesson, saying it was good to go through trials in order to learn more of God’s ways (Psalm 119:67, 71, 92). Throughout Scripture the same message is repeated: Trials build godly character (James 1:2-4), drive us to call on God for wisdom (James 1:5), build our faith (James 1:6), and give us the opportunity to display the character of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). For those reasons and more, we should “count it all joy when [we] fall into various trials” (James 1:2). But only if we want to discover more of God’s Word, will, and ways, and be conformed more to Christ’s image (Romans 8:28-29).

Don’t try to figure life’s trials out on your own. Read and follow life’s biblical instructions. You’ll be glad you did.

None of us can come to the highest maturity without enduring the summer heat of trials.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Isaiah 64 – 66

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

Recommended Reading

Ruth 1:11-18

“The Pasture” was one of Frost’s first poems, published in 1915 in the introduction of his first American collection. Afterward when Frost gave public readings, he often opened with “The Pasture,” inviting his audience to come along on his journey.

Sometimes our friendships become frosty because we don’t practice Frost’s advice. Why not invite someone to join you on a little journey, for a little chore, at a needful time in his or her life? Sometimes our friends don’t need our opinions. They just need us. They need to be included.

If you’ll look around today, you’ll probably find someone in a bit of adversity. Why not say, “I’m going out to clean the pasture spring. You come too!”

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.

Dale Carnegie

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Isaiah 44 – 46

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

He made the stars also.

Genesis 1:16

According to National Geographic, the most mind-boggling thing we can do is gaze into the starry night. On a clear night we might see 3,000 stars with the naked eye, but no one knows how many stars exist. Our universe probably contains more than 100 billion galaxies, and each galaxy may have more than 100 billion stars. What is 100 billion times 100 billion? We don’t really have a word for a number that large. We simply say ten billion trillion.1

Recommended Reading: Psalm 8

The Bible frequently tells us to stargaze. The Lord told Abraham, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them” (Genesis 15:5). He told Job, “See the highest stars, how lofty they are!” (Job 22:12) The psalmist praised God when he considered the moon and the stars, which God ordained (Psalm 8:3).

It’s harder than ever now to see the stars—we have too much light in our cities. But sometime during this summer, find a dark place, look up, count the stars, and praise the God who created them and who calls each of them by name (Isaiah 40:26).

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, / Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Stuart Hine

Read-Thru-the-Bible: Isaiah 32 – 37

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:6-7

Recommended Reading

2 Timothy 4

Paul the apostle focused on Christ to the end. His final words are found in 2 Timothy 4, apparently written shortly before Nero’s soldiers beheaded him. Three things occupied Paul’s mind.

First, Paul wanted to continue God’s work till the last moment. He told Timothy, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry” (verse 11). Second, Paul wanted to study God’s Word as long as possible, telling Timothy to bring “the books, especially the parchments” (verse 13). Third, he wanted God’s will to perfectly unfold in his life with every passing minute and forever. He wrote, “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me.… And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (verses 17-18).

We stay centered in Christ when we focus on His Word, His will, and His work. When we keep the core of our souls strengthened, we can withstand Nero’s threats. Whatever comes, we can praise the Lord saying, “To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (verse 18)

Men who are strong are always men who are fixed somewhere, who have a conviction from which they cannot be separated…. The fixed heart is the secret of courage.

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan

Read-Thru-the-Bible Isaiah 12 – 14

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Peace, be still!

Mark 4:39

Last year, officials of Washington’s Reagan National Airport received more than 8,600 complaints about noise. Imagine their surprise when they discovered 6,500 of them came from the same person! Some unidentified neighbor was incensed enough to call, on average, 18 times every day of the year.

Recommended Reading: Mark 4:35-41

Airports are some of the loudest places on earth, but they don’t have a corner on noise pollution. We live in a loud society and it’s hard to find peace and quiet anywhere. That’s why noise-cancelling headphones are so popular.

We need a quiet retreat—that is, we need to retreat to zones of silence every day. Zephaniah 1:7 says, “Be silent in the presence of the Lord God.” The psalmist said, “My soul, wait silently for God alone” (Psalm 62:5). Habakkuk 2:20 says, “The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

It takes discipline to find a quiet place, turn off our electronics, and meditate quietly on the Lord. We have to work at quietness, but it makes “quiet” a difference in our lives. Our souls are strengthened by stillness and steadied by solitude.

Be still and know that He is God.

I cannot be the man I should be without times of quietness.

Charles R. Swindoll

Read-Thru-the-Bible: Isaiah 4 – Isaiah 11

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.

Proverbs 1:33

Recommended Reading

Proverbs 1:20-33

Is there a better word than “insecurity” to describe how many people feel today? The economy, world events, the breakdown of cultural norms and traditions—none of those contribute to feelings of security. Is it possible to feel secure in the modern world? According to Solomon, yes.

The first nine chapters of the book of Proverbs are words of advice from a father to his immature son. The teachings, principles, and exhortations are designed to turn a naïve youth into a wise man (or woman). “Wisdom” is personified in Proverbs 1:20-33—she is given her own voice as she speaks to the simple and foolish young men of the day. She warns them against ignoring her wise words, saying she will ignore them in their day of trouble if they don’t heed her advice. But if they do listen and obey, they will “dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” In other words, it is possible to live in security regardless of what happens around us. Security comes from listening to, and obeying, what God says about walking in His ways.

There is no better way to live in peace and security than to live according to the precepts of God’s wisdom and teachings.

Salvation is a happy security and a secure happiness.

William Jenkyn

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Isaiah 1 – 3

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God….

Psalm 42:1-2

According to travel experts, the most beautiful river in the world is the Caño Cristales in Northern Colombia. Though only sixty miles long and sixty feet wide, its colors are kaleidoscopic, created by pockets of algae that bloom during the summer. Nicknamed the “Liquid Rainbow,” the Caño is enhanced by pools, rapids, and waterfalls. The only problem is reaching it. It’s in the Colombian jungle, far from easy transportation sources.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 42

The Bible speaks of a river more beautiful than any on earth and easily accessed by the Christian—the inner flow of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” He was speaking of the Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39). While we’d love to travel to earth’s most beautiful spots, how much better to develop an inner thirst for the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Believe in Jesus and let the Spirit flow through you, until that day when we’ll meet on the banks of the most beautiful river of all—the Crystal River that flows by the throne of God (Revelation 22:1, NIV).

Oh, that we all may drink of these life-giving heavenly streams, drink again and again, drink deeply and really satisfyingly!

1. Sidlow Baxter

Read-Thru-the-Bible: Proverbs 30 – Ecclesiastes 4

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/