Dear Editors and friends,

Please freely print this weeks Penny Pulpit Column in your papers, bulletins, emails, bloggs and twitters . Thank you for this consideration.
Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY 14441

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Msg #1305 Love & Marriage Illustrated

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

God punctuates the book of Jeremiah with illustrations that fit well into an application for our pre-Valentine's Day look at love and marriage. The opening is markedly simple. “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.” This rod of an almond tree portrays the rod that budded when God made his selection of Aaron as his high priest. Our application is found in a counselor's question to the fighting couple in his office “Sir, why in the world did you ever marry this woman?” It is a good place to start. Remember your engagement and marriage. Remember what it was to be infatuated and in love and take her by the hand and go back there with your wife for an afternoon or two. The followup illustration is the seething pot! What a description of judgment awaiting the unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah. It is scathing! You made a vow to be faithful to that sweet thing till death do you part. The consequential judgment for your infidelity is likewise scathing. Most need to get a dictionary out for Valentines Day and see what it means to say “And so I plight thee my troth!” Jeremiah 13 is God's curious illustration about linen underwear. Suffice it here to say that marriage is the most intimate thing that will ever touch the bosom of man, and it is holy, yeah, holier than the linen underwear in God's illustration here. Again, flee fornication. Lastly, Jeremiah was taken to the potters house “and behold he wrought a work on the wheels.” You two are one-flesh and a godly work in progress. Don't muck up the vessel with your selfishness. Let love have her perfect work.

An Essay for week #5 Sun, Feb 3, 13

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