Soiled Loincloth

Liberia
This country is recovering from years of civil war.  The previous leader finally resigned and was exiled from Liberia, and then in 2005 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became Africa's first elected female leader.  Sine the election, there is a feeling of hope for the future among the people of Liberia.

Jeremiah 12-14:10
Jeremiah is talking with God and asking why all those who do bad are thriving in the land.  God tells him to be careful of those people because they are treating him poorly.  Then the Lord goes on to say that He has forsaken the people, but that those who swear by His name will be saved.  If a nation will not listen, though, they will be utterly destroyed.  Then things get a little strange.  God tells Jeremiah to go buy a loincloth and put it on and do not wash it.  Then the Lord tells J to take that loincloth that he is wearing and go hide it in a cleft of the rocks.  So Jeremiah hides his underwear, and "after many days" God tells him to go back and find it.  Jeremiah digs it back up and finds that the loincloth was spoiled and good for nothing. God says that He will spoil the people just like this loincloth and that they will be good for nothing because they followed their own hearts and chased after other gods.  Then God says, "For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, and praise, and a glory, but they would not listen."

Psalm 79
The writer is describing what the nations have done to the people of God and is asking the Lord to avenge them.

Proverbs 24:30-34
When looking at the field of a sluggard, you can see evidence of his laziness.  We can learn from this that "a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man."

1 Thessalonians 1-2:8
The Thessalonians are awesome!  When they heard the gospel, they believed and had such faith that, "Not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything."  Then Paul goes on to tell them is motivation for sharing with them even though he has suffered for sharing his faith.  He had spent time with them and gotten to know them.  "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our won selves, because you had become very dear to us." I want to spend time with people so that I can't help but share with them because I love them so much.  Lord, give me courage to speak about You!