Thought for February 3

 History:

• 1834: Wake Forest University founded
• 1863: Samuel Clemens first uses "Mark Twain"
• 1882: PT Barnum purchases Jumbo the elephant
• 1887: To avoid disputes, Congress adopts Electoral Count Act--didn't work
• 1913: 16th Amendment ratified--income tax
• 1943: Troopship SS Dorchester torpedoed and sunk near Greenland with 600 lives lost. Among the dead, four chaplains who gave their life jackets to soldiers--Clark Poling [Dutch Reformed], George Lansing Fox [Methodist], Father John Washington [Catholic], Alexander David Goode [Jewish Rabbi]
• 1953: J Fred Muggs [chimp] becomes a regular on the Today Show. I'll keep my thought to myself about the talking heads.
• 1959: Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper die in a plane crash--the day the music died
• 1967: Jimi Hendrix records "Purple Haze"
• 2020: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan with 3700 passengers--Covid
• Born: Ferdinand Magellan, Felix Mendelssohn, Horace Greeley, Elizabeth Blackwell [1st woman to receive medical degree in US], Gertrude Stein, Norman Rockwell, Pretty Boy Floyd, James A Michener, George Nissen [invented the trampoline], Joey Bishop, Henry Heimlich, Fran Tarkenton, Carol Mann, Bob Griese, Retief Goosen, Joe Biden, Jr.
• Died: Johannes Gutenberg, Woodrow Wilson, John Cassavetes, Nancy Kulp [Miss Jane Hathaway on the Beverly Hillbillies], Audrey Meadows, Charlie Sifford

Thought:

Still in Jeremiah 1 this morning. A lot here. Just focused on 1:10 this morning. The last couple of days, we have read that from the womb, God knew us, set us apart for His service and gave us an assignment. While we may make excuses, God reminds us that the important thing is He sent us, He goes with us, He will deliver us and He will tell us where to go and what to say. All we need to do is go. In verse 10, God describes the assignment He is giving us. 

• Pluck up: Notice that the first 4 assignments seem to involve destruction. Perhaps this is what Paul tells us to do--put aside lying, stealing, unwholesome words, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, malice. [Ephesians 4:25-32] Or simply dying to the flesh and the deeds of the flesh. The symbol of the Babylonian army that was threatening Israel was the eagle. God appointed Jeremiah to disclose the enemy, strip away the dressing. Today, we are called to strip away all the deception of the evil one and present the truth. 
• Break down and destroy and overthrow. Sometimes we have to get to the very bottom before we look up. And this would happen to Judah when they were defeated by the Babylonians. But this verse also takes me to 2 Corinthians 10:5--we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 
• Build and plant. Now we are ready to build and plant. Last month our pastor talked about breaking up the hard ground of our lives. Ground that had become dry from lack of the word. Ground that had been hardened by lack of attention and disobedience. God tells the people that they must be broken down before He can rebuild and replant. Our assignment is personal first--die to self, confess sin, lay aside our old self [something we have to do daily]. Then build upon the foundation which is Jesus Christ. Grow in His love, grace and mercy. Grow more like Him. And our assignment is to tell others and help others tear down and rebuild their lives. 

Today, Lord show me the places I need to pluck, break down or destroy--thoughts, attitudes, words, actions. Then Lord help me build on the sure foundation and grow into the likeness of Christ.

Blessings

Larry