“Remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the terms of my covenant with them…” Then the Lord said, “Broadcast this message in the streets of Jerusalem. Go from town to town throughout the land and say, ‘Remember the ancient covenant, and do everything it requires.’ ” (Jeremiah 11:2,6)
Read: Jeremiah 10:1 – 11:23, Colossians 3:18 – 4:18, Psalm 78:56-72, Proverbs 24:28-29
Relate: What you are doing today determines who you will become tomorrow.
John Maxwell, probably the greatest contemporary author on leadership out there, said that if we want to change the course of our life, we must change our daily habits. A great example of this principle is Sheryl Harris. Eventually, she would become a Pulitzer prize winning columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Before she got there, she found herself as one among many bit piece reporters for a much smaller Akron, Ohio, paper. She didn’t simply wait for her moment to come, she embraced every story with the urgency and conviction that those involved in that story would feel. One such early story that crossed her desk was a missing person’s report placed at the local police station.
This potential news piece came to her notice late in the news cycle and Sheryl had to work fast and hard to get what she could before the paper had to go to the presses. She went above and beyond collecting information and pictures, but also helped to set up a hotline that would be ready by the time the paper was hitting the newsstands. Two different people, a convenience store clerk and a gas station attendant, saw this picture and called the hotline. Police said that if it was not for Sheryl’s fast work and effort, Jessica Repp probably would not have been found. The thing is, Sheryl Harris doesn’t even remember if she put her name on the story’s byline. Although she would go on to write many more influential pieces, for at least one family, this was the most important article she would write. It revealed the greatness others would eventually recognize in her.
React: It is easy to think that we will do great things if only we were given great opportunities. The thing is, working greatly through the little things is what creates in our lives those great opportunities. On the flip side, when we are lazy or shirk our duties in the little things because they are so small, we are guaranteeing that we will always live in obscurity and mediocrity. Those great opportunities will never come our way.
Little by little, step by step,the nation of Judah had wandered away from the covenant they had made with God. Their northern neighbor, Israel, backslid in quick and drastic ways. For Judah, it was more of a gradual erosion. It was like the steady falling away of a receding tide. Some waves (or kings) might do better than the one before, but eventually, bit by bit, they are all falling away. Through Jeremiah God was warning them that they are on the road to destruction. If they want to get off, they need to return to the covenant of holiness they once upheld. The same still rings true for us. Today’s actions determine tomorrow’s destiny.
Respond:
Dear God,
I am so glad that You don’t let me stay who I am. I am so glad that You see something in me beyond what I have been. My past is riddled with failures. My present is wallowing in untapped potential. Help me to live in the present what You see for my future. Help me to live out now what You are calling me to become. With every step I take on this journey of life help me to walk closer to You.
Amen
THE RIVER WALK 
This piece speaks to me in a special way. We’re also currently studying Jeremiah for this Quarter (SDA). Thanks for sharing 🙂 I’m determined to amend my daily routine and start aiming to awaken all the potential that God has placed within me 😀
Beautiful, thank you so much. I’m in love with the prayer at the end!
St. Theresa(The Little Flower) said: “Do little things with great love.” Not all are called nor have the desire to do great things. But, that which is done in love and for the glory of God receives no less grace.
-Alan
The story of Sheryl Harris reminded me of my own reporter days in Bloomington, Indiana. I, too, was on deadline, when I got a call from the county sheriff that a woman from Michigan was stranded in town and was sleeping at the jail. I didn’t want to check it out, as it seemed too small to matter. But, instead, I hopped in my car and headed to the jail, where I met a 20-year-old woman in curlers. She had been driving south from Michigan to elope with her boyfriend, who was stationed in Florida. They were to meet up in Tennessee. She was in a bad wreck that totalled her car. A bystander offered to give her a ride to Indianapolis. On the way, the man tried to molest the girl and she escaped by jumping from his car. A northern Indiana county sheriff rescued her and drove her to the county line, and another county sheriff transported her south to the next county line and so on. By the time she reached Monroe County, where I worked, she still had 200 hundred miles to go. My newspaper arranged to fly the woman to Nashville, Tennessee. I called the county clerk’s office in Nashville to alert the clerk that a license would be needed and to keep the office open. The clerk got in her car and went searching for the boyfriend who was sitting on the side of the road near a bridge where the couple had planned to meet. She asked him to get in the car and she took him to meet the airplane. Then the clerk conducted the wedding and gave them a reception in her home. The young woman’s parents did not know she had eloped and read about it on national news, photos and all. That was so much fun, and this occasion taught me a big lesson about the little deadlines. Sometimes those are the best ones.
Wow. That’s all I can say to that… wow.
Reblogged this on Inspirational Messages of Grace.
Great post! Praise Jesus
For one thing I get your latest blog posts sent to my email. The video of David Crowder before the long beard and trucker caps fits perfectly. How you have the relate piece near the bottom of a post is what intrigues me the most. I struggle with sharing the gospel with strangers daily. With friends it comes easier but, that is not what we are called to do. Thanks for reminding me what to live for.
Beautiful end quote. Just beautiful.
This post comes at a great time for me to remember to be faithful in the small things. Life is full of small things with just a sprinkling of big ones! Thank you
Thanks for the prayer at the end. That’s what I wanted to say to God and I believed He led me to your blog. God bless!