Poor Choices

Poor Choices

This is what the Lord says. Jer 38:2

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Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah Thrown Into a Cistern

1 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, 2 "This is what the LORD says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will escape with his life; he will live.' 3 And this is what the LORD says: 'This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.' "

4 Then the officials said to the king, "This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin."

5 "He is in your hands," King Zedekiah answered. "The king can do nothing to oppose you."
6 So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

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Jesus put it this way as He first taught His disciples: “Blessed are those who
are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” (Mt 5:10) Jeremiah had not sought to be
God’s prophet and he surely could not have sought out the role of bringing bad
news to the people. However, that is what happened and Jeremiah was subsequently
thrown into a pit as punishment. The people did not want to hear God.

There have been many times when I have marvelled at the determination of
friends of mine as they have endured hardship, misunderstanding and
significant emotional stress in their determination to honour Christ
through their service within the Christian Horizons family.

It could be that you are feeling such stress right now as you read this devotional.
You don’t have to be working within Christian Horizons. Pastors know the feeling.
Youth leaders face the struggle of being held accountable for young people during
their most challenging years. Parents, students, supervisors, employees, married,
single, young or old… there are no safe ages, places or roles for people
who are determined to follow Jesus.

If we are suffering for our own poor choices, there is not much blessing to be earned.
However, when we seek to know and follow God’s revealed will in our lives, there is
the promise of God that our efforts for Him will not go unnoticed.

Another interesting thing that I have learned is that even when my immaturity led
me to proceed in a foolish manner, God still was most concerned about my heart’s
motivation. It seems that it wasn’t the activity that I pursued that determined
God’s favour. God was interested in my sincere intent to honour and
worship Him through my choices and efforts.

So, take heart. God knows. He understands that you are paying a high price at the
moment for your loyalty to Him and for your determination to do His will.

It might be helpful to seek counsel from someone whom you respect as a mature
Christian. Maybe you are making some poor choices that are motivated by guilt or
that may be self-serving in some self-destructive way.

Make a commitment to find a place and time each day to meditate on Scripture and
to chat with God in prayer. There is no better means of maintaining your
perspective and for growing mature in Christ.

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Heavenly Father, I have met some people who have really been hurt in their lives.
I wonder how some of them are as well adjusted as they are. I don’t know what
I would be like if I had traveled the same path. Help me to be sensitive to their
challenges and may I be used by You to bring healing. Help me to brave the
storms of life and not to spend life safely tied in the harbour. Amen.

- Noel Churchman

Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.