The Daily Plunge!

Priest Ezra Arrives (Ezra 7:1–26). Ezra is a priest who is devoted to God’s Word and teaches his people so they can become faithful believers. Even the king understands the blessings that will benefit the community if the people live obediently to the LORD. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Ezra

Doubling Down Darius (Ezra 6:1–22). The royal records show the Persian empire did encourage religious belief in order to bless the kingdom. King Darius orders the opponents to provide for the construction of faith life for God’s people. This edict is the hand of God moving human hearts. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Ezra

Tattletale Antagonistic Tattenai (Ezra 5:1–17). Prophets Haggai and Zechariah stir up God’s people to resume their temple rebuilding for the LORD to whom they belong. They encourage them not to be intimidated by opponents who are but a breath. (not book of Zechariah) #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Ezra

Uncommitted Smorgasbord Worshippers (Ezra 4:1-7, 11–24). You cannot to someone else God’s commission given to you. Do you commit to the worship life of your church? Recognize the worldly powers that hate our dedication to God and will do anything to distract us. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Ezra

Toppling False Altars (Ezra 2:68-3: 13) God’s people are sent back to build up the place of worship. Before they start, they have to tear down an altar to false gods. What false altars needs to be torn down in you before you go to worship? Do you have space in your life dedicated to worshipping God? #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Ezra

God Moved People (Ezra 1:1–11). Fulfilling prophesy, a pagan king is moved by God to underwrite the God’s people rebuilding their worship in Judah. Not every one went. Only those whose heart God had moved laid aside comfort to take on the challenge. Does God move your heart? #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Ezra

Praise In Calamity (Lamentations 3:37–58) God is covered with righteousness which appears as pitiless wrath because we are unrighteous. We struggle to repent not wanting to bend to God. When we are crushed fresh faith opportunity emerges. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Lamentations

God’s Great Faithfulness (Lamentations 3:1–12, 19–33). To see God when you’re in the pit of affliction is to see God truthfully. Unrighteous sin thins our lives. God himself will take on our bitterness to be our redeemer. We have hope because God is faithful. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Lamentations

Ocean Deep Wound (Lamentations 2:11-22). Their wound is deep, tormenting, and heart breaking. Their preachers did not give them the Law to expose their sin. Pagans scoff and mock the demise of God’s nation of priests. No human effort, not even the Church, can save them. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Lamentations

Stretched Measuring Line (Lamentations 2:1-10). Israel is not confused about the source of their national disaster. The Lord has hurled us down. We failed and God is humbling us. The ultimate punishment is that God forgets that we belong to Him. Will we sit on the ground head bowed? #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Lamentations

Faithful Complaining Prayer (Lamentations 1:12–22). The people of God stretch out their hands, but no help comes. The city of God has become an ugly, abhorrent ruin because I rebelled against him. Complaining to God in the midst of travail is a faith-filled form of worship. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Lamentations

Mourning Conceded Mistakes (Lamentations 1:1–12). They admit that God’s people were covered with filthiness and shame because they sinned against God. So their pagan enemies pursued and preyed on them in their weakened state and traipsed through the temple. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #Lamentations

Messianic Easter Egg (Jeremiah 52:1-34). As prophesied, all the bronze of the temple is melted down and carted away because God’s presence is gone. Yet, a former king is released from prison after 37 years. In the last chapter is the Davidic seed of hope.  # dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Lean Concrete Hope (Jeremiah 45:1-46:12). The Lord reminds a faith exhausted Baruch I have rescued you so your life itself is precious gift when all around you is disaster. Egypt, the ever constant enemy of God’s people, will be defeated by God. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Comfort Over Covenant (Jeremiah 44:15-30). Men abandoned their spiritual leadership. Their wives are worshipping a goddess idol. They resent the prophet for meddling. God says you keep your goddess and I will keep my Word too. Whose word will stand? ? #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Idolatrous Pagan Disaster (Jeremiah 44:1-14). You saw the disaster that came upon Jerusalem for worshipping idols. Why would you flee into Egypt just to take up their gods? Do we trade in the LORD for gods we don’t know who have no word or covenant? #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Continuing Wrong Direction (Jeremiah 43:1-13). We dismiss God’s Kingdom word as partisan politics when it disagrees with our arrogant agenda. We insist on going our own way. Rather than come under God’s discipline, we are eager to work ourselves out of our own problems. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Worthless Surviving Schema (Jeremiah 42:1-22). A ramshackle group of remnants seeks a word from the LORD. May the LORD be a witness against us if we spurn his word. Will we live by faith trusting the LORD will make us thrive, or will we just try to get by on our own? #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Wicked Priority Addiction (Jeremiah 41:4-18). Those addicted to their old pattern and stuck in the disaster reject repentance. They hinder new life by fostering death. Rather than helping liberate people, they enslave them. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Reassuring Remnant Restoration (Jeremiah 40:7-41:3). Settling down after the disaster becomes an opportunity for a new start. While some people can move past the disaster, others cannot get past it. Their hearts are so filled with pain, resentment, and revenge. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Disaster Finally Comes (Jeremiah 39:11-40:6). The rebellion against the Babylonians ends in catastrophe as the city is razed. Even the unbelievers declare, “You are defeated because you sinned and forsake the God of grace.” What is the message for the Church? #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Decisive Direct Dissention (Jeremiah 38:14–28). God warns Israel’s king to surrender so they may live and not be destroyed. To live, you must die to your prerogatives. To have well-being, you must surrender. Jesus’ theology of the Cross is here in the Old Testament. (Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33) #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Muddy Cistern Starvation (Jeremiah 38:1–13). Jeremiah speaks treason against the State because his prophesy advances the reign and sovereignty of God. Government officials do a wicked thing to starve him to death, but a man of integrity acts. God keeps the prophet imprisoned to keep him safe. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Unheeded Abused Messenger (Jeremiah 37:3–21). The desperate, indecisive king trusted in politics, not the LORD. Even if Israel’s opponent was lame, God would still defeat Israel to make them yield. Because God’s words are unbearable and repugnant to people, so God’s messenger is abused. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah

Unavoidable Determined Word (Jeremiah 36:27–37:2). God’s sovereign will and word cannot be eliminated. God is resolved and determined to make his scripture available. God’s word doesn’t depend on human authors or listeners, but exerts its own authority. #dailydevotion, #Lutherandevotional, #DailyPlunge, #DailyLectionary, #DailyScripture, #ProphetJeremiah