Making A Difference Daily

Today’s Passage –  Jeremiah 18 – 22 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here  to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Acts 13 – 15; Psalms 91 – 95; Proverbs 19)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 51:11

Read the “0819 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s reading – “The Potter’s House,” and “Men at Best”

“24 As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; 25 And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. 27 But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return. 28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? 29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. 30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.” (Jeremiah 22:24-30)

If you study the genealogical record of the Lord Jesus from Matthew 1 and Luke 3, you will find that this man Coniah (also known as Jeconiah, Jechonias or Jehoiachin) is listed in Matthew’s list but not Luke’s. The reason for this is simple. Matthew traces the legal lineage of Christ through his adopted father Joseph. Luke’s gospel traces the biological lineage through His mother Mary. Jesus was the “seed” of Mary, but not the seed of Joseph. Jeremiah prophesied long ago in this passage that anybody that descended biologically from Jechoniah would be “disqualified” from being the King of Israel. Any of Joseph’s biological children was disqualified, but Jesus was not Joseph’s biological child. Mary was Jesus’s biological mother, but Mary did not descend from Jechonias. Study it out. It is amazing how accurate our Scripture is.

By the way, we do not know much about this man Jechonias, but we do know that “he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 24:9; 2 Chronicles 36:9). We also know that the next (and final) king of Judah was not Jechonias’s son. He was his uncle (2 Kings 24:17). 

Here is the genealogical record from Matthew’s Gospel, which traces the lineage of Jesus from David through Solomon and Jechoniah:

“6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:6-16)

This is the legal line of Christ. Mary’s husband, Joseph, was the legal father of Jesus, but not his biological father. Joseph was in the lineage of the kings that descended from David. He was a descendant of both Solomon and Jechoniah. However, Jeremiah tells us that none of the “seed” of Jechoniah would sit on the throne of David. If Jesus was biologically the son of Joseph, He would have been disqualified to sit on the throne of David.

Here is the genealogical record from Luke’s Gospel, which traces the lineage of Jesus from David through Nathan”

“23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, 25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, 26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, 27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, 28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, 29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, 30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,“ (Luke 3:23-31)

This is the biological line. Jesus was biologically the child of Mary. Mary descends from David through Nathan, not Solomon. Jesus was both the biological son of David through Mary as well as the legal son of David through Joseph. But Jesus was not the biological seed of Jechoniah.

Note – there was also a false prophet in Jeremiah’s day, Hananiah, who prophesied that Jeconiah would return again to Jerusalem and that he would prosper. However, his prophecy never came true (see Jeremiah 28). Jeremiah was right. A lot of people say a lot of things, some of which may be true, but also much of it is false. Jeremiah was a true prophet in that everything that he said as a prophet of God came to pass exactly as he said it would. It is the same with all the Scripture. It is completely accurate and trustworthy. What God says He will do, He will do.

Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 7 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Acts 4 – 6; Psalms 76 – 80; Proverbs 16)

Read the “0816 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.” (Jeremiah 8:5)

Good morning. Here are some statistics for you to read while having your breakfast. These are approximate, and for the United States, in 2022…

There were 630,000 deaths from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (5,000 in 2012).

There were 22,820 deaths from Homicides (16,238 in 2012).

There were 49,300 deaths from Suicides (30,000 in 2012).

There were 1,048,710 deaths of Aborted Babies (1,210,000 in 2012).

There were 13,000 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, which represents over one-third of all driving fatalities (10,322 in 2012).

There were 107,000 deaths from drug overdoses (41,502 in 2012).

And there were 1,200,000 deaths by Natural Causes (1,480,000 in 2012).

Well, praise the LORD there was a decrease in abortions. And there is a decrease in death by natural causes, but that is only because STD deaths, Homicides, and Suicides have increased. America is on a downward spiral. It is going down, getting further away from God and closer to Hell. Why? For the same reason Jerusalem did: because of their perpetual backsliding: they hold fast to deceit, and refuse to return to God and His ways. But…

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

But we hold fast to deceit, and refuse to return to God. There are 630,000 deaths from Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Did you know that the virus that causes AIDS is so small that it can easily slip through the pores of your “protection?” It also is possible for the AIDS virus to live outside the body for several weeks. Although no AIDS cases have been linked to outside body contact, it would be better to be safe than sorry. The Bible says…

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God…” (1Thesselonians 4:3-5)

There are 22,830 deaths from Homicides. And we can see by what the Bible says about the first Homicide, the murder of Able by his brother Cain. Cain wanted to worship God with the works of his hands, Able worshiped God with a blood sacrifice…

“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” (Genesis 4:3-8)

Cain refused to return to the ways of God, and in his anger, murdered his brother. Maybe if we as parents, here in the USA, discipline our children the way we should, and train them up in the way they should go, they would understand that there is a penalty to pay for their rebellious actions.

There are 49,300 deaths from Suicides. All over America, millions were saddened by the death of Robin Williams in 2014. Maybe if someone had told him about Jesus he would not have been in such despair as to take his own life. Jesus said…

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 1633)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

There are 1,048,710 deaths of Aborted Babies in the U.S. per year. One is too many. Babies are not just a blob of flesh turning into a baby inside of you. They are living human beings,

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

“And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” (Luke 1:39-44)

And then there are 1.2 million deaths by Natural Causes in 2022. This is the only one that should exist: all the others are brought on because of the the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Death by natural causes is because we are all sinners; and the wages of sin is death…

“Wherefore, as by one man [ADAM] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” (Romans 5:12)

If you do not fall victim to any of the crimes mentioned above, you will die of natural causes: sin. There is only one cure for sin: the Lord Jesus Christ. What you do with Him will determine where you will spend eternity.

“And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:8-13)

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

America does not have to go down, but it chooses to do so by holding fast to deceit, and refusing to return to God and His ways. But there is always hope. As Yogi Bearer said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

God says…

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)

Peace.

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 44 – 47 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – John 11 – 12; Psalms 41 – 45; Proverbs 9)

Read the “0809 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)

There is no God, but our God. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; the First and the Last; the Beginning and the End.

“Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:8)

Our Great God who chooses to use His people to be witnesses of His great power.

“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:5-6)

The Loving God who supplies our every need. There is nothing that can compare to the One True God.

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:18)

The Almighty God who created everything, and has the power to sustain His creation. There is none else.

“Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:21-22)

The Only God who left His home in Heaven, and put on flesh, was born of a virgin, and shed His blood to pay the price for the sins of the world. He is Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. He is Jesus Christ.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me…” (Isaiah 46:9)

Peace.

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 14 – 18 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 21 – 22; Psalms 6 – 10; Proverbs 2)

Read the “0802 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Good morning. Have you checked your To-Do list today? I’m sure the devil checked his. He knows his time is running out. In as few as seven years from now, he will be cast into a bottomless pit: held captive there for one-thousand years. Then the devil will be released (but not for good behavior) and deceive the nations once again, and then he is cast into the Lake of Fire that was prepared for him. So he knows his time is short. If we know what is on the devil’s To-Do list, maybe we could help him not to get anything on the list done. So here it is…

1) Devour someone.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1Peter 5:8-9)

It is not just you that the devil wants to devour, but your brothers and sisters in Christ from across the street and around the world. We must resist him: stand on our faith in Christ…

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

2) Steal God’s Word.

“Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” (Matthew 13:18-19)

And no wonder they do not understand with all the perversions of the Bible available today. Many verses have been changed or left out; words have been changed or left out. God said he would preserve His Word…

“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalm 12:6-7)

But the devil is smart, he even steals parts of verses. If you have an NIV (non-inspired version) bible (small ‘b’ on purpose) God’s Bible should only be capitalized), and you were trying to cast out a demon and found you could not do it. You would look for an example in your NIV bible. You would be led to find Matthew 17 and the account of the disciples failing to cast out a demon. You would read verse 20, and then find the passage jumps to verse 22. But where verse 21 should be, the NIV tells you to see Mark 9:29. You turn to Mark 9 and it says…

“He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

You sadly walk away, saying, “But I did pray. What went wrong?”

What went wrong? The devil stole a verse and some words…

“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21)

“And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)

We can’t afford to be led astray by perverted translations of God’s True and Holy Word. Stand on the King James Bible – it’s the only Authorized Version.

3) (NOTE to self: Save this one for last!) Bow the knee, and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)

So submit yourself to God, and stand on His preserved Word for the English speaking people: the King James Bible. Then you can sit back in Heaven and watch #3 happen. You should also bring others with you to see this great event: the devil hates soul winning too!

Peace!

Today’s Passage – Ecclesiastes 5 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 7 – 8; Psalms 120 – 125; Proverbs 26)

Read the “0726 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?” (Ecclesiastes 7:13)

“And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:34-35)

“For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ecclesiastes 12:25)

Good morning. Did you wake up this morning? Good. It’s all part of God’s perfect plan. Everything goes according to God’s plan. If He wants something to be crooked, it is crooked; and remains crooked until He makes it straight again: but we ourselves cannot make the crooked straight (see Ecclesiastes 7:13). God is sovereign: He does everything according to His will (see Daniel 4:34-35). And whatever He says He will do, He will do (see Ecclesiastes 12:25). This is why we can trust in God’s Word: He will perform it.

There are may prophecies given in the Word of God. One in particular, I got from NBC news. Back in 2014 there were two executions that took place within two weeks of each other. The first was a convict in Ohio. The doctors shot the two deadly chemicals into the man’s arm. Halfway through the procedure, he woke up screaming in agony. It took that convicted murderer a half-hour to die. A few days later, another execution was about to take place in Arizona. The convict was injected with the same two drugs used in the Ohio execution. after a few minutes, his body started to convulse. This time it took over two hours for that man to die. People protested the use of lethal drugs for executions, other’s were glad he suffered and suggested that Drano be used. As I read through the article, I clicked on a link. There in big bold letters was the headline I knew we would see one day…

Appeals Judge Says Guillotine ‘Probably Best’ for Executions By Tracy Connor

When you think of all the ways we have to execute people, the Guillotine seems to be the most humane. It would also fit in with God’s plan for those saved during the tribulation period…

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4)

God’s plan, and purpose: He will preform it.

Peace.

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 13 – 15 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 9 – 10; Psalms 91 – 95; Proverbs 19)

Read the “0719 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2Timothy 3:1-5)

Good morning. Here is what God says about some of the issues going on in these perilous times.

Child Abuse…

“…Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” (Matthew 18:3-7)

Sodomites and Lesbians…

“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Romans 1:24-27)

Murder…

“And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Genesis 9:5-6)

And the list goes on, but…

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

The wages of sin is still death, whether saved or unsaved: Christian or non-Christian. If you sin, God may choose to take you home to Heaven if you are a Christian: a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; or if you never received Jesus as your personal Saviour this is what is waiting for you…

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

America is in deep, deep trouble. But righteousness will exalt a nation. There is no righteousness in a government that lies. There is no righteousness in those who abuse children, use them in pornography, or leave them in hot cars to bake. There is no righteousness where you could be sitting on your porch and someone drives by with a gun and puts a bullet in your head. Where there is no righteousness, there is sin. And sin is a reproach to any people. We are all affected by sin. America is in trouble, and Jesus is the only solution. I’m going to end with this last verse…

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Peace.