Day 278 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Jeremiah 4:19–6:15; Colossians 1:18–2:7; Psalm 77:1-20; Proverbs 24:23-25
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Having Made Peace Through the Blood of His Cross
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 1:18-20
Now Hath He Reconciled in the Body of His Flesh Through Death, to Present You Holy
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Colossians 1:21-29
I Would that You Know What Great Conflict I Have for You
For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:1-3
Though I Be Absent in the Flesh, Yet Am I With You in the Spirit
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:4-5
Rooted, Built Up, Stablished, Abounding
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7
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If There Be Any that Executeth Judgment, that Seeketh Truth
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely. O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
Jeremiah 5:1-3
Will Ye Not Tremble at My Presence?
Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
Jeremiah 5:20-22
But This People Have Revolting and Rebellious Heart
But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Jeremiah 5:23-29
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Psalm 77 is a beautiful passage in the Bible that expresses the author’s struggles, doubts, faith, and trust in God. The author begins by pouring out his heart to God. He feels abandoned and forgotten. However, as he reflects on God’s past faithfulness, power, and goodness, he finds comfort and hope have replaced his despair. I hope you are blessed as much as I was.
I Cried Unto God with My Voice and He Gave Ear to Me
I Cried unto God with my voice, Even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
Psalm 77:1b
This will always be the case with God and those who seek Him. Never has God turned down the cry of a sincere and humble soul.
What Did the Psalmist Cry to God About?
– In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord (Ps. 77:2).
– My sore ran in the night
– My sore ceased not
– My soul refused to be comforted
– I remembered God and was troubled (Ps. 77:3)
– I complained
– I was overwhelmed
– I could not sleep (Ps. 77:4)
– I was so troubled I could not speak
– I considered the old days (Ps. 77:5)
– I considered past years
– I called to remembrance how I used to sing in the night (Ps. 77:6)
– I talked to myself and searched diligently
– I questioned my relationship with God (Ps. 77:7)
– I wondered if God would ever be favorable again
– I wondered whether God would ever be merciful again (Ps. 77:8)
– I wondered if His promises would ever come to pass in my life
– I wondered if He would ever be gracious again (Ps. 77:9)
– I wondered whether He had shut up His tender mercies forever
– I complained that this was my infirmity and lot in life (Ps. 77:10)
The End Result of Preoccupation with Self
You can see from the list above that the psalmist was preoccupied with self. The final result of any prolonged period of preoccupation with self is despondency. And the more one gives in to it the more despondent he will become. This is proved by the ever-deepening despair of the psalmist from Ps. 77:2-10a. His complaint ended with questioning and misery.
Now, make it personal. Isn’t this often a picture of me, and how I think and react?
I Will Remember the Years of the Right Hand of the Most High
Finally, the psalmist ceases his dejected self-preoccupation and becomes occupied with God. His despondency vanishes. Focusing on God is the cure for misery and despair (Ps. 77:10b-12).
– I will remember the years of God’s past blessings (Ps. 77:10b)
– I will remember the works of God (Ps. 77:11)
– I will remember His wonders of old
– I will meditate also of all His wonderful works (Ps. 77:12)
– I will talk about and praise God for His doings
If the cure for the despair of self-preoccupation is to remember, meditate on, talk about, and praise God, we should focus on His greatness and goodness now, just as the Psalmist did.
Who is So Great a God as Our God?
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is so great a God as Our God?
Psalm 77:13
– He is greater than all gods (Ps. 77:13)
– He does wonders (Ps. 77:14)
– He manifests strength among His people
– He redeems His people (Ps. 77:15)
– He controls the waters (Ps. 77:16)
– He makes the depths afraid
– He sends rain on earth (Ps. 77:17)
– He makes thunder in the heavens
– He causes lightnings to flash
– He makes His voice heard in heaven (Ps. 77:18)
– He lightens the world with lightnings (Ps. 77:18)
– He causes earthquakes
– He manifests Himself in the sea (Ps. 77:19)
– He manifests Himself in great oceans
– He travels and yet His footsteps are not known
– He leads His people like a flock (Ps. 77:20)
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These Things Belong to the Wise
These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; Him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.
Proverbs 24:23-25
