It began last week
on Thursday with a peak on Monday and now tapering off in frequency. A nasty,
congested, cough-up-a-lung cough coming in spells so strong as I saw stars and
would often be dizzy while trying to get my breath. THAT one is what I’m
talking about. Until Monday I woke each day with a sore chest and tough throat.
Sunday was the worst as I had to sing and preach (as usual) but do so while
trying not to cough. Several times while singing my voice stopped. It just stopped.
There was nothing to do but restart and see how it would go.
I made it through although
Barbara (my wife) said later that she was not sure on several occasions if I
would make it. I had my doubts as well. For the rest of the day I was quiet.
Hard to believe I know but true. I was done. Yet I had not had it as hard as
Jeremiah. I am in the middle of Jeremiah at chapter 22 now. I can’t read it
fast enough because it is hard to read. His task is to tell the nation of
Israel of the pending doom due to their adultery. It’s the same message time
and time and time again and by the 18th chapter the people have
begun to search for ways to get rid of Jeremiah. He takes it to God often and
is often rebuked by the Lord for one thing or another. I struggle reading it
because it is so dark and sad. The people were just so head-strong and
hard-hearted even as God told them of the doom coming. At the end of chapter 19
Jeremiah at the Lord’s instruction preaches
Then
Jeremiah left Topheth, where God had sent him to preach the sermon, and
took his stand in the court of God’s Temple and said to the people, “This is
the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies to you: ‘Warning! Danger! I’m
bringing down on this city and all the surrounding towns the doom that I have
pronounced. They’re set in their ways and won’t budge. They refuse to do a
thing I say.’” Jeremiah 19:14-15 The Message.
Jeremiah
was faithful to do as God told him yet look what happens to him.
The
priest Pashur son of Immer was the senior priest in God’s Temple. He heard Jeremiah preach this
sermon. He whipped Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks at the Upper
Benjamin Gate of God’s Temple. The next day Pashur came and let him go.
Jeremiah 20:1-2 The Message
A cough is aggravating, it
consumes your body (while coughing try to do anything else). Yet, it also can
consume your mind trying to find methods and medicines to stop it or at least
slow it down. It just becomes so tiring. However, it is just one of those
things. At times serving God is a struggle, tiring, frustrating, misunderstood,
without understanding. It’s just hard ask Jeremiah, Paul, Jesus? So it is with
us. In Jeremiah’s case it seems so pointless because God’s people would not
listen or change their ways. In fact they thought they were good with God and
sought ways to get rid of Jeremiah. Sound familiar in 2016? Paul has some words
for us following Jesus in tough times.
So we must not get
tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper
time if we don’t give up. Galatian 6:9 HCSB
In
HIS service and Yours,
BroG
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