After doing devotions and eating, I walked over to princeton review and studied there until evening. Every hour or so I took a photograph out the corner window of the room. If I ever do this again, I'm going to take pictures at higher frequencies as the sun is going down. The change from day to night is too fast.

In the evening I went home for dinner, then went back to princeton review and studied with joseph, sean, and aaron.

Devotion time questions:

Jeremiah 12

Who are the people that Jeremiah had problems with? Why did he have such strong reaction against them?

The wicked people around him who seemed to be prospering and successful. Though they did not trust in or follow God, they lived in ease with seemingly comfortable lives. He as angry at the fact that the people thought they could reject God in their hearts yet still prosper in their lives.

What was the people’s view of God such that God “was always on their lips but far from their hearts”? In what ways can I be committing the same sin against God?

They held a weak view of God, and considered him a God that is satisfied with outward appearances of piety without considering the motivations or thoughts of the person. Though they probably knew the story of Cain and Abel well, they continued to live the way Cain did and not the way Abel did. Though God was always on their lips and they had trained themselves well in the art of "appearing righteous", their hearts were laid bare before God, and unacceptable to him.

I need to always remember to consider whether my heart is right towards God, in order to avoid situations in which my actions do not reflect the true nature of my heart. I need to always have the right motivations for everything I do, and be sure not to do anything "for God" in order to seem outwardly righteous though inwardly unrighteous.

What are some of the difficulties Jeremiah faced in living in obedience to God’s calling for his life?

He was hated and persecuted by all the people he desired to turn back to the LORD. It's difficult even to confront a single person about a wrong in their live, so to confront a whole nation regarding a long history of disobedience towards God was a seemingly impossible task for one man to accomplish. This was worsened by the fact that the people were self-deceived, believing they were living upright and godly lives.

Are there situations that I am facing right now that might be equivalent to “[stumbling in a safe country]” compared to “[managing] in the thickets by the Jordan,” i.e. greater challenge that God maybe preparing me for in the future?

Thoughts omitted here.

I need to steward all the small ways God has called me to be faithful to him well, such as devotions and prayer. If I stumble in faithfulness towards God in relative comfort and security at this stage in my life, I cannot expect to fare better if God calls me into a life that brings difficulty or persecution.

What can I learn from God’s response to Jeremiah’s question?

Though we might think we see injustices in the way God is dealing with situations or people, everything is according to his perfect plan, and therefore we are called simply to persevere and trust in him through the hardships we will face in life.

Are there some specific situations that I am facing right now where I need to heed God’s response to Jeremiah and trust Him?

Thoughts omitted here.

The world offers many roads towards false pleasure, happiness, and fulfillment that are contrary to God's will for us. Though people all around us are on these roads and seemingly prospering in sinfulness, I need to stay committed to God's moral laws for all of us. People all around us might steal and become wealthy, cheat and become successful, live immoral lives for pleasure and seem happy, and do all sorts of sinful things for apparent benefit and no apparent loss, but I cannot let this cloud my view of the way God has called me to live. I just need to continue to put my trust in God despite these things.

What can I learn from God’s lament towards his people, “his inheritance” that “roars at [Him]”?

The people outwardly worshipped God, but they lived lives contrary to their confession and persecuted the prophets God sent to them. God never deals with us unfairly, but always justly as our actions deserve. When the people turned their backs on God and become hostile towards him by sinning and being hostile towards his messengers, God gave them the desires of their hearts. God never deals wrongly with anyone who does not deserve to be dealt with.

What have they gained as a result according to this passage?

They gained eventual destruction, for they were surrounded by nations that were ready to attack and devour her, just as the nation of Israel is today.

What does this passage say regarding what it’s going to require for God’s people to be His prophet in this world (John 15:18-21)? In what ways can I cultivate emotional strength against hostility and persecution because of my commitment to God?

I can learn to always turn to him in times of difficulty in order to avoid being led astray by the ways of the world. Even if our own family betrays us, we can take refuge in God.

What is God like as revealed in his prophecy regarding the wicked nations?

God has love and compassion on his creation, and allows even foreign nations to be established among his people if they turn to him as he desires for his people to do. As long as they live in accordance with God's will for his own people, he will bless them as though they were his, but if they reject God and do not listen to him, he will deal with them just as he dealt with sinful Israel.

"I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right."
Acts 10:34-35