Jeremiah 45:5: “‘And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,’ says the LORD. ‘But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.'”

August 12th, 2021 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary, was the one who wrote out all the words God had given to Jeremiah and then read them to the people (Jer. 32). We see in Jeremiah 51:59 that Baruch was an educated man. His brother was a high official under king Zedekiah, and his grandfather had been the governor of Jerusalem during Josiah’s reign. He came from a successful family and had high expectations for his own life. But his aspirations were affected by Jeremiah’s prophecy against Israel, and he was upset about it. Baruch was discouraged so God lovingly put His finger of conviction on his desires, telling him that he was seeking great things and he shouldn’t. But God also told him not to fear, even though the whole land was being destroyed, He would care for him and spare his life. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 16:25–26:

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Nothing in this world is worth getting if we have to exchange our eternal souls to get it. Psalm 75 tells us that in God’s time, He will decide who is exalted and who in humbled: “Do not lift up your horn on high; / Do not speak with a stiff neck. / For promotion comes neither from the east / Nor from the west nor from the south” (75:5–6).

A well-known missionary to Turkey was offered a consulship in one of the chief Turkish cities at a princely salary. “Why in the world did you not accept such a chance?” asked a young man in amazement. “Well,” was the quiet reply, “I declined to step down from an ambassadorship [for God] to a consulship [for Turkey].”

“Thank You, LORD, that there is no higher calling any person can aspire to than to be a slave to the Living God.”