October 20

Jeremiah 35:1-36:32, 1 Timothy 5:1-25, Psalm 89:14-37, Proverbs 25:25-27

Pray: Father, clear my sleepy head and fill my mind with expectation. Awake my slow body and energize my heart with love in action. Ignite my spirit and set this day on fire with promise. Make the ordinary extraordinary. Engage me; show me Your kingdom alive. Help me to see that every waking moment is full of promise because of You. Amen.

Read: In Jeremiah we see what total dedication looks like.  (Notes from the Life Application Study Bible) “The Recabites’ code of conduct resembles that of the Nazirites, who took a special vow of dedication to God (Numbers 6). For 200 years they had obeyed their ancestor’s vow to abstain from wine. While the rest of the nation was breaking its covenant with God, these people were steadfast in their commitment. God wanted the rest of His people to remain as committed to their covenant with Him as the Recabites were to their vow. God had Jeremiah tempt the Recabites with wine to demonstrate their commitment and dedication.  God knew they wouldn’t break their vow.” Would you be able to stand up against such temptation? In the face of everyone else around you doing the very things you knew were not pleasing to God, could/would you stand up and not give in?

Edify: According to a publication on peer pressure by Parent Further, only 10 percent of teenagers surveyed said that they had not been influenced by peer pressure. In that same group, 28 percent of teenagers agreed that giving in to peer pressure improved their social standing and nearly half of those surveyed admitted to picking on someone only after a friend picked on that person.

Peer pressure is not only a problem for children and adolescents, but it is also a major issue for adults. We may not want to call it peer pressure but the reality is that adults are just as susceptible to being pressured into doing things they know are not appropriate. It is critical to be able to be so strong in your beliefs and your confidence in who you are that you can stand up against the pressure from outside forces to do something that is not in line with God’s will. Just as the Recabites stood strong on their vow to abstain from wine for over 200 years, we too must stand strong to live for those things that are pleasing to God even in the face of opposition.

Practice: Spend time today in service to your fellow man. Find one way that you can make someone else’s day a little brighter.