Jer 35-37 Having/Hearing a voice

August 22nd, Jeremiah 35-37

       In a story of national upheaval and systemic religious failure along comes a family that's very different. Jonadab is the son of Rechab, their family has been faithful, listened and obeyed, generation after generation. A strange subset in the midst of all that is wrong...strange for doing right. It's always a little reminder of the irony of being a rebel. Most people are rebellious by being like everyone else. What's rebellious about that? If you really want to be a rebel, do what's right...it's a small irritating crowd.
       Speaking of irritating...Jeremiah dictates letters and seeks out meetings with kings to speak clearly and plainly. It's a high stakes game in general to speak the truth, much less to speak the truth to people who can deal with you as they wish. Of all the ways we could go with that thought, today I simply ask us to pray for people who will take a tough stand today and speak the truth. Maybe it's an intervention, maybe a missionary, maybe a friend, maybe a king who will hear tough words today. Pray that God would speak through bold voices that are led by the Spirit. That the promise of God to give people words to speak would ring true and by God's power lives would be changed.
       I pray for you. Maybe today you have words to say or words you need to hear. May people like Rechab and Jeremiah be our role models today.