Today's Message: BARUCH - A MODEL TO FOLLOW

Praise the Lord!!

I Have received this message from some forward mailers, which impressed me.. Hence sharing this to touch your hearts..

“But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)

Baruch was the son of Neriah. He was a devoted friend of Jeremiah, the prophet. He seems to have been of noble family according to Josephus. He was also a man of unusual acquirements. He might have risen to a high position and seemed conscious of this, but when Jeremiah influenced him saying, "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life". Baruch repressed his ambition, being content to be with the great prophet whose secretary and companion he became. Jeremiah dictated his prophesies to Baruch, who in turn wrote them and read them to people. (Jeremiah 36) King Jehoiakim was greatly angered at these prophesies and had Baruch arrested. He even burnt the scrolls written by Baruch. However, Baruch rewrote Jeremiah's prophecies. When Jerusalem was under siege, Baruch stood by his master. Jeremiah had such confidence on Baruch that when he purchased his ancestral property at Anathoth, he gave the deed of purchase to Baruch. According to Josephus, Baruch continued to stay with Jeremiah at Mizpah even after the fall of Jerusalem. Later, Baruch was accused of having unduly influenced Jeremiah when Jeremiah actually prophesied the Word of God to the people to remain in Judah. Chapter 43:2 says, "All the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, ‘You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, “You must not go to Egypt to settle there". But Baruch, son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians". When Jeremiah was taken to Egypt, Baruch also went with him and thereafter the Bible does not say what happened to him. History says that he died in Egypt.

Dear friends, let the noble character of Baruch and the important part he played in the life and work of Jeremiah influence us to take a bold stand for the Lord, even if it means losing everything.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, though Baruch had all opportunities to rise up to a high position, he forsook all of them and dedicated his life to be a faithful attendant of Jeremiah. Lord, let me not resist your plan for me but let me be ready to obey your call, without counting the cost. Amen.