Jeremiah 1; Jeremiah 2; 1 Timothy 3

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Jeremiah 1

1 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah. He belonged to the family of priests who lived in the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
2 The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah.
3 The Lord also spoke to Jeremiah while Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah and during the eleven years that Zedekiah son of Josiah was king of Judah. In the fifth month of his last year, the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives.
4 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
5 "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 Then I said, "But Lord God, I don't know how to speak. I am only a boy."
7 But the Lord said to me, "Don't say, 'I am only a boy.' You must go everywhere I send you, and you must say everything I tell you to say.
8 Don't be afraid of anyone, because I am with you to protect you," says the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth. He said to me, "See, I am putting my words in your mouth.
10 Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will pull up and tear down, destroy and overthrow, build up and plant."
11 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying: "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I answered, "I see a stick of almond wood."
12 The Lord said to me, "You have seen correctly, because I am watching to make sure my words come true."
13 The Lord spoke his word to me again: "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a pot of boiling water, tipping over from the north."
14 The Lord said to me, "Disaster will come from the north and strike all the people who live in this country.
15 In a short time I will call all of the people in the northern kingdoms," said the Lord. "Those kings will come and set up their thrones near the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. and all the cities in Judah.
16 And I will announce my judgments against my people because of their evil in turning away from me. They offered sacrifices to other gods and worshiped idols they had made with their own hands.
17 "Jeremiah, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything I command you to say. Don't be afraid of the people, or I will give you good reason to be afraid of them.
18 Today I am going to make you a strong city, an iron pillar, a bronze wall. You will be able to stand against everyone in the land: Judah's kings, officers, priests, and the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you, but they will not defeat you, because I am with you to protect you!" says the Lord.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Jeremiah 2

1 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
2 "Go and speak to the people of Jerusalem, saying: This is what the Lord says: 'I remember how faithful you were to me when you were a young nation. You loved me like a young bride. You followed me through the desert, a land that had never been planted.
3 The people of Israel were holy to the Lord, like the first fruits from his harvest. Those who tried to hurt Israel were judged guilty. Disasters struck them,'" says the Lord.
4 Hear the word of the Lord, family of Jacob, all you family groups of Israel.
5 This is what the Lord says: "I was fair to your ancestors, so why did they turn away from me? Your ancestors worshiped useless idols and became useless themselves.
6 Your ancestors didn't say, 'Where is the Lord who brought us out of Egypt? He led us through the desert, through a dry and rocky land, through a dark and dangerous land. He led us where no one travels or lives.'
7 I brought you into a fertile land so you could eat its fruit and produce. But you came and made my land unclean; you made it a hateful place.
8 The priests didn't ask, 'Where is the Lord?' The people who know the teachings didn't know me. The leaders turned against me. and worshiped useless idols.
9 "So now I will again tell what I have against you," says the Lord. "And I will tell what I have against your grandchildren.
10 Go across the sea to the island of Cyprus and see. Send someone to the land of Kedar to look closely. See if there has ever been anything like this.
11 Has a nation ever exchanged its gods? (Of course, its gods are not really gods at all.) for idols worth nothing.
12 Skies, be shocked at the things that have happened and shake with great fear!" says the Lord.
13 "My people have done two evils: They have turned away from me, the spring of living water. And they have dug their own wells, which are broken wells that cannot hold water.
14 Have the people of Israel become slaves? Have they become like someone who was born a slave? Why were they taken captive?
15 Enemies have roared like lions at Israel; they have growled at Israel. They have destroyed the land of Israel. The cities of Israel lie in ruins, and all the people have left.
16 The men from the cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes have disgraced you by shaving the top of your head.
17 Haven't you brought this on yourselves by turning away from the Lord your God when he was leading you in the right way?
18 It did not help to go to Egypt and drink from the Shihor River. and drink from the Euphrates River.
19 Your evil will bring punishment to you, and the wrong you have done will teach you a lesson. Think about it and understand that it is a terrible evil to turn away from the Lord your God. It is wrong not to fear me," says the Lord God All-Powerful.
20 "Long ago you refused to obey me as an ox breaks its yoke. You broke the ropes I used to hold you and said, 'I will not serve you!' In fact, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
21 But I planted you as a special vine, as a very good seed. How then did you turn into a wild vine that grows bad fruit?
22 Although you wash yourself with cleanser and use much soap, I can still see the stain of your guilt," says the Lord God.
23 "How can you say to me, 'I am not guilty. Look at the things you did in the valley. Think about what you have done. You are like a she-camel in mating season that runs from place to place.
24 You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert and sniffs the wind at mating time. At that time who can hold her back? Any male who chases her will easily catch her; at mating time, it is easy to find her.
25 Don't run until your feet are bare or until your throat is dry. But you say, 'It's no use! I love those other gods, and I must chase them!'
26 "A thief is ashamed when someone catches him stealing. In the same way, the family of Israel is ashamed -- they, their kings, their officers, their priests, and their prophets.
27 They say to things of wood, 'You are my father,' and to idols of stone, 'You gave birth to me.' Those people won't look at me; they have turned their backs to me. But when they get into trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'
28 Where are the idols you made for yourselves? Let them come and save you when you are in trouble! People of Judah, you have as many idols as you have towns!
29 "Why do you complain to me? All of you have turned against me," says the Lord.
30 "I punished your people, but it did not help. They didn't come back when they were punished. With your swords you killed your prophets like a hungry lion.
31 "People of Judah, pay attention to the word of the Lord: or like a dark and dangerous land? Why do my people say, 'We are free to wander. We won't come to you anymore'?
32 A young woman does not forget her jewelry, and a bride does not forget the decorations for her dress. But my people have forgotten me for more days than can be counted.
33 You really know how to chase after love. Even the worst women can learn evil ways from you.
34 Even on your clothes you have the blood of poor and innocent people, but they weren't thieves you caught breaking in. You do all these things,
35 but you say, 'I am innocent. God is not angry with me.' But I will judge you guilty of lying, because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
36 It is so easy for you to change your mind. Even Egypt will let you down, as Assyria let you down.
37 You will eventually leave that place with your hands on your head, like captives. You trusted those countries, but you will not be helped by them, because the Lord has rejected them.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Timothy 3

1 What I say is true: Anyone wanting to become an elder desires a good work.
2 An elder must not give people a reason to criticize him, and he must have only one wife. He must be self-controlled, wise, respected by others, ready to welcome guests, and able to teach.
3 He must not drink too much wine or like to fight, but rather be gentle and peaceable, not loving money.
4 He must be a good family leader, having children who cooperate with full respect.
5 (If someone does not know how to lead the family, how can that person take care of God's church?)
6 But an elder must not be a new believer, or he might be too proud of himself and be judged guilty just as the devil was.
7 An elder must also have the respect of people who are not in the church so he will not be criticized by others and caught in the devil's trap.
8 In the same way, deacons must be respected by others, not saying things they do not mean. They must not drink too much wine or try to get rich by cheating others.
9 With a clear conscience they must follow the secret of the faith that God made known to us.
10 Test them first. Then let them serve as deacons if you find nothing wrong in them.
11 In the same way, womenn must be respected by others. They must not speak evil of others. They must be self-controlled and trustworthy in everything.
12 Deacons must have only one wife and be good leaders of their children and their own families.
13 Those who serve well as deacons are making an honorable place for themselves, and they will be very bold in their faith in Christ Jesus.
14 Although I hope I can come to you soon, I am writing these things to you now.
15 Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.
16 Without doubt, the secret of our life of worship is great: He was shown to us in a human body, proved right in spirit, and seen by angels. He was preached to those who are not Jews, believed in by the world, and taken up in glory.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.