Resting Where the Word Gives Life
19 Thus said the Lord to me: “Go and stand in the People’s Gate, by which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, 20 and say: ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. 21 Thus says the Lord: Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22 And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction.
Jeremiah 17:19-23
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Resting Where the Word Gives Life
Jeremiah is sent to the gates of Jerusalem to call God’s people back to the Word. The heart of the command is not mere outward rule-keeping, but trusting the Lord who gives rest. The people were tempted to carry on business as usual, even on the day set apart for hearing God’s Word. This command protects faith: when the Word is neglected, the heart grows restless and idolatrous. So it is with us. We are no different. We fill our days, even Sundays, with what we think we must do, and we forget that life is received, not achieved. Christ Himself enters our restlessness. He bears our burden of disobedience to God’s Word at the cross, and by His resurrection He gives true Sabbath rest. In Him, we are forgiven and freed to hear, receive, and rest in His promises for our salvation.
Jeremiah 17:19-23
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Resting Where the Word Gives Life
Jeremiah is sent to the gates of Jerusalem to call God’s people back to the Word. The heart of the command is not mere outward rule-keeping, but trusting the Lord who gives rest. The people were tempted to carry on business as usual, even on the day set apart for hearing God’s Word. This command protects faith: when the Word is neglected, the heart grows restless and idolatrous. So it is with us. We are no different. We fill our days, even Sundays, with what we think we must do, and we forget that life is received, not achieved. Christ Himself enters our restlessness. He bears our burden of disobedience to God’s Word at the cross, and by His resurrection He gives true Sabbath rest. In Him, we are forgiven and freed to hear, receive, and rest in His promises for our salvation.
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2026
January
In The GardenBy Your Own LawA Kingdom Not From HereThe King Who Bears Witness to the TruthWhich Jesus Will You Have?Behold the King We MockedBehold the Man, Lifted for YouAuthority from Above, Glory from the CrossBehold Your King, Lifted Up to JudgeThe Place of the SkullIt Is WrittenEvery Promise KeptStabat MaterIt Is FinishedThese Three TestifyA True TestimonyA Quiet Courage at the CrossThe Empty Tomb and the Wounded SaviorSeeing, Believing, and the Linen Left BehindCalled by Name in the GardenDo Not Cling, Go and TellPeace in Wounded HandsThe Wounds That Speak PeaceYou May Have LifeMy Lord and My GodFishingIt Is the LordThey KnewFeed My LambsFollow HimFollowing Jesus, Not Comparing Paths
February
The Testimony That Is EnoughBefore Kings, Before the CrossBefore You Were Born, the Word Was GivenSet Like FlintRemembering First LoveForsaking the FountainBroken Cisterns and the Living CrossAshamed of Our False RescuesForgottenWe Have SinnedLift Up Your EyesLike SisterReturn to the LordThe Gift of ShepherdsOur Only HopeShame That Leads to SalvationCircumcised HeartsBlow the Trumpet in the LandWhen Wisdom FailsThe Storm We Have SummonedThe Sound of the TrumpetWhen Wisdom Becomes FollyThe Earth Shall MournCan You Find One?There Is No DifferenceThe Lord Must InterveneSpeak TruthEnduring Nation
March
A RemnantA Deaf People, a Faithful GodFlee to the StrongholdCut Down to Be HealedNo Superficial PeaceStand at the CrossroadsRefined by Fire, Redeemed by the CrossTrust in the Lord, Not in Your HandsHe Flipped TablesPoured Out on JesusYou Are His PeopleTruth Has RisenSilence in the CitiesWhat Have I Done?Not a Bone Shall Be BrokenWhen Wisdom Becomes FoolishnessBitter MedicineThe Hiss of Judgment, the Promise of the CrossThe Wound of Sin and the Healing of ChristIs There No Balm?Truth at the CrossRefined by the LordScatteredRuinedDeath Has ComeBoast In The LordLike ScarecrowsNone Like Our GodGods That PerishWounded, Yet Not ForsakenDisciplined, Not Destroyed