how many times can you spot the letter b in:
john hagee sends out a great daily devotional that covers this statement. i found it to be interesting.
jeremiah 8:8- 9:26 outlines the jews’ unfaithfulness and god’s disappointments in their behavior. this confused me, forgive me, father if i am guilty. i had to read the colossians 3:1-17, psalm 78 and proverbs 24:27 before i understood the connection. we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
first, in jeremiah, it is god talking. this surprised me. god is bemoaning the fact that the hebrews are not following directions. i was encouraged to think about it in the opposite form. so if god did not like what they were doing, what would he like them to do? then it makes perfect sense. they have committed abominations, he wants them to follow directions. they were foolish, he wants them to be wise.
they are liars, he wants them to write the truth. they were fearful, he wants them to be bold. they do not listen to him, he wants them to accept his word. they were foolish, he wants them to be wise. their lives are falling apart, he wants the law of the lord to be with them. they are losing their families and their homes, he wants them to keep their loved ones and prosper.
they are panicking, he wants them to be generous. they are worshiping other things, he wants them to put him first in their days. they know they are doing wrong, so do what is right. do not forget about god, be humble and ask for his advice and then take it. instead of fear you will have peace instead of dying young, you will have good health. instead of ignoring him, spend time with god, get to know him.
colossians 3:1-17 talks about seeking those things which are above. it says to set your mind on things above not on the things on the earth. we are to put on the new man. that’s the born-again, mind re-generated, new-creature in christ. we are to bear one another, that’s bear their burdens, and be forgiving. he tells us we are holy and beloved and we should put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering. and he says that above all these things we are to put on love which is the bond of perfection. and we are to let the peace of god rule in our hearts to which also we were called in one body and to be thankful.
psalm 78 is the story of god’s wrath against the incredulous and disobedient. it is very moving. it shows how patient our heavenly father is and how he agonizes over our mistakes and gives us so many advantages.
it goes on to list all the things god did during the 40 years in the wilderness, because they believed not in god, and trusted not in his salvation. though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven. and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. man did eat angels food: he sent them meat to the full.
in proverbs 24:27 i read all the different translations that my cell phone listed. it says to do your work, and then prepare your house. so you’re supposed to concentrate on that which you can do, and provide, and be influential in your community before you think about actually creating a place of rest for yourself. it reminds me of what my grandmother used to say, make hay while the sun shines. get your work done now. you can rest later.
i think my inspiration on this group of scriptures started out when i realized that in the jeremiah selection, god was speaking. then thinking about the opposite of what god was listing for the jews shortcomings would be exactly what he would want us to do.
it is wonderful to see how the old testament and the new testament can be read together, it means so much more than reading one selection alone.
user
There are forty-one "b"s in the text you provided.
assistant