Doing it again

Doing again that which we’ve already done, can be unpleasant, but sometimes it’s necessary.

Jeremiah 36 27 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,

28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

Are you willing? Can He count on you?

We mustn’t delay but obey and promptly.

How many times have you been let down and you really thought you were doing what you were supposed to be doing, just to find out it didn’t work!? Know this: Just because you do what you’re supposed to be doing, doesn’t mean that others will respond correctly or do what they should. Everyone doesn’t cooperate with Gods plan, purpose and will. Jeremiah is proof that some do.

God had given him a word that was to be written and given to King Jehoiakim. Jeremiah obeyed and had Baruch write it all down. It finally got to King J but he didn’t like those words very much and what the Lord had to say. So he burned the scroll piece by piece as the words were spoken…. They simply didn’t align with his own purpose, plan and will. He didn’t like the truth; Gods truth mind you.

Reminder: Not everyone will like you, what you have to say or what Gods doing in you. Especially if they are living contradictory to truth. God is the only truth and sometimes that truth hits a nerve, especially when we’re living contrary to it.

God told Jeremiah to do it again. Jeremiah did. We don’t even see where he questioned it. He just did it. We don’t see where he hesitated but did it. It was a hard task no doubt. Note that the king was very angry but also note that the Lord hid Jeremiah and his writer, Baruch (36:26). When the Lord tells you to do something even if unpleasant, He will also protect you. His provision goes where His will sends. He doesn’t tell you to do what He doesn’t equip you for.

It could have seemed to Jeremiah that this task was all in vain and for nothing but God’s obvious hand was upon it, or it wouldn’t have angered the King so much. Sometimes friction can mean you’re doing the right thing. Don’t discount what the spoken or written word of God can do. If God ask you to do something multiple times or even just one time, and it seems to profit nothing - it’s simply not true. You may not see it or know why now, but it’s a seed. Seeds take time to grow after they’re planted. Words can take time to penetrate the heart. God says that His Word WILL NOT return void but IT WILL ACCOMPLISH the very purpose for which He sent it. That’s one thing we can count on. Gods word is truth! The whole purpose of the message was to warn the people so that they would repent.

Jeremiah could have pouted but he didn’t. Remember Jonah who was told to do a particular thing and ran from the very assignment God gave. He didn’t think the people were worthy of what God wanted to do, but that wasn’t up to him. Eventually he did it. We can run but we can’t hide. His only job was to submit and obey and ours is too. The outcome isn’t up to you, only the surrender.

Back then they didn’t have i phones, i pads, computers, type writers or even pens and paper like we do. It was no doubt a process and a lengthy one at that. It took a lot of time and effort to write all this down…

The Lord said:

“Take thee (yet) again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.” Jeremiah 36:28

King J might have burned it all up but the Lord had something to say. He’d get the kings attention and he’d either obey or not obey. That wasn’t up to Jeremiah. His job was to simply obey what God had told Him to do and he did. Nothing more and nothing less. We must stop being so concerned on the outcome, and controlling the situation and focus more on the assignment - doing our part and leaving the rest up to God. Letting His Spirit move and intervene as it will. Letting Him convict and arrest hearts. The Holy Spirit only and alone can do that part. Don’t Interfere and don’t delay... Just obey. That’s the harder part. I’ve messed up too many times and every time I realize, I am powerless to do what only God can do. It ultimately didn’t end well for King J because he didn’t surrender, but it can end well for you if you will just obey. Again, the outcome of what others do or don’t do isn’t up to you, but what He ask of you is. God works all the working parts out for good to those who love and follow Him.

Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words. Jeremiah 36:32

I know you’re tired and weary, possibly frustrated or maybe on the brink of giving up/ feeling hopeless defeat. But, if God said it, then God will do it. Maybe you want to give up on a loved one or feel let down by a boss. Maybe your child has gone astray and you’re tired of praying for them. I don’t know what the case is, but He does. Maybe you started a business and it doesn’t seem to be panning out. Maybe you made the move and nothing seems to be working out. Maybe you minister in song week after week, teach or preach the word of God with what seems to be no response. You’ve exhausted all efforts. You’re doing your part but you see no effect. Your burned out but you don’t feel God calling you to stop. Do it again. Reposition and realign yourself with God and what He ask of you. Ask Him to see people and things in the light of the lenses in which He views it all through…

We must let Him be God and leave the outcome to Him. It’s hard not to worry if we care. But we can give our every worry and cast our every care and concern onto Him. What does worry do anyway? It wears us down but changes nothing else. He can take and carry our load. He can handle the weight but you can’t bear it alone. He’s in you, He helps you, although He doesn’t take it all away from you. He will take the worry. He helps us bear the weight. His yoke is easy and His burden light.

When an ox is yoked in with another ox, they share in the weight and then the weight they can pull. The weight has a purpose in it and an assignment to accomplish. Or else why would the farmer had given the ox a load to pull in the first place? Don’t discount what God is going to do in using you. Keep going and do it again and again if you have to, but don’t stop or give into discouragement and weariness. Look to God in you. His purpose. His plan.

What is He asking of or prompting you to do? What do you feel in your heart that you possibly resist? Don’t ignore it but instead act on it and watch what God will do when you do it again.