Showing posts with label Jeremiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeremiah. Show all posts
Saturday, October 4, 2014
The way of restoration. Lamentations 3:21-26
Jeremiah was a prophet of God during very difficult times.... As God's spokesman he was there to warn the people of the impending collapse of the City of Jerusalem..... and after the fall he remained in Jerusalem speaking on behalf of the Lord to those who had been exiled to Babylon.
He gave the people an explanation of how their sin had brought this disaster upon them. He also spoke of the eventual hope of the nation which would return to Jerusalem some 70 years in the future. This wasn't the greatest news for those still living in Babylon. For those he offers the instructions recorded in Jeremiah 29:4-14 as well as here in Ecclesiastes 3:21-26. His instructions tells them to live faithfully and seek the Lord with their entire heart. Jeremiah 29:13 and Lamentations 3:25
This would be their hope to sustain them and it is our hope as well.
Jeremiah could offer this advice because he knew of the Lord's faithfulness and forgiveness that after the time of disciple had done its work the Lord would help them to find the road of blessing again. This is the process of restoration and this process is often painful but it is a grace of the Lord which would bring the people to a deeper intimacy with the Him.
With this belief in his heart Jeremiah would say what we find recorded in Lamentations 3:21-23 ... Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Perhaps each of us can speak of the faithfulness of the Lord in our past and in our present. Many of these times we wonder why we deserved his favor. Yet one thing we find throughout Scriptures is that God is with us in a special way.. and there is a special blessing reserved for those who seek him with their entire heart, despite the troubles around them.
Knowing this Jeremiah would write.. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:24-26
Today we have difficulty with this idea of waiting quietly for the Lord. When marriage troubles come, when financial struggles are on the horizons, when our lives are broken we tend to turn everyway but to the Lord and these behaviors bring our ruin much faster than the trials at hand. Instead of waiting to see God in the midst of our pain we turn to addictions, new relationships, and we run from the Lord. In this case perhaps God's only course of action is to allow us to fall or to discipline us. But even if we are falling his hand is close to us and protecting us. Remember God is always waiting for His prodigal son and daughter to return.
Today I pray that you will lift your burdens to the Lord. I pray you will trust in his faithfulness even when you don't understand. I pray that you will seek the Lord and turn from any evil ways which harm others and side tract God's restoration in your life. Remember God's hand is very near the broken hearted.
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Monday, September 29, 2014
His Mercy in the midst of the storm...Lamentations 3:22-23
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
Perhaps you've spent a morning reading through the book of Lamentations. Ok. probably not but if you did you might feel rather depressed. But why such despair? The nameless author of lamentations is thought to be Jeremiah the Prophet who witnessed the invasion and destruction of Jerusalem. Much of his Lament speaks of the broken city and its suffering people.
Its a rather sad book and we might think about Jobs words and suffering. The major difference is Jeremiah knew that the suffering came as a result of their sin.
Yet in the midst of his Lament we find words of hope. Hope because Jeremiah knows the character of God who disciplines us because of our sin but always stands faithfully beside us to bring us into times of blessings and mercy.
In Jeremiah 29:11-13 He writes to those who have been exiled into Babylon after the same defeat. He says to them (speaking for the Lord) saying, "I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Than you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." I blogged about last month.
Jeremiah's words both in Lamentations 3 and in Jeremiah 29 are words that can give us comfort in the midst of our person pain, anguish of heart, and lamentation, Perhaps you are like Job and have no responsibility for the cause of you affliction or you are like the Children of Israel who find themselves crying out because of the consequences of Sin. Either way God's character has not changed.
Thankfully, Jesus Christ has bore the pain and the punishment for our sins on the cross yet there are natural consequences that we cannot avoid and God still disciplines us out of love. But we must remember as we suffer the natural consequences that God is with us. God loves us and God will restore us. His mercies are new every morning.
Application: In the middle of your struggles thank God for his presence with you and for the blessings even in the midst of the storm. We may not see relief from all the anguish of life right now but we can mature in our faith. We can learn to trust. We can feel the love of the Body of Christ surrounding us. We can get stronger. We can seek the Lord with our whole heart. We can develop a deeper intimacy with the Lord then we ever thought possible. These are the blessing and the mercies of the Lord that may only come as we go through the pains of life.
Indeed the Lord understands our lamenting but God always holds out hope for His plans and His character is never changing. God is with us through the storm."Because of God's great love we will not be consumed."
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Settle in with prayer. Jerehmiah 29
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon; "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there, do not decrease. "Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
Jeremiah 29:4-7
These were the words of Jeremiah in a letter to those who were carried away in exile to Babylon. Other false prophets spoke of a quick return to Jerusalem. They promised that God would bring them back out of his strength, goodness and grace. Their words brought hope. Their words were the one's they wanted to hear. Their words brought joy and meaning. Yes the people wanted the false prophet's words. They wanted to leave this God forsaken land in which they were taken captivity. But their words were not God's words. Their words were hollow and empty and over time these empty words would bring greater despair.
Jeremiah's words told them to settle down. His words were to make roots where they were for they would never return to the Promises land again save for their children. It would be 70 years if God was truly speaking through Jeremiah.
Seventy years! It's enough to make you despair. Yet, Jeremiah says to settle in, make this place your temporary home. Have children.... and teach them about the home that they will return to some day. I added that last part but I believe that is was implied. "Yes, teach them to be good Jewish boys and girls and prepare them for the day they will return."
I read someone who wrote something like this. "Do you know your children may be your greatest contribution to the world."
Yes future generations would have to rebuild the great nation of Israel. For now they had to settle in and pray. They would pray for the nation that things would go well for them and pray for the hope of future generations. Pray, call out, seek God, live productive lives and provide for their children.. They would be the seeds of future blessings. There's would be the great sacrifice for future generations and if they were lucky they would find some joy as well.
Today, I wonder how much we think about the future generations? Their Hope? Their world?
It might have been easy for the people of Israel siting in exile to say, "Why bring children into this God forsaken place?" "Why bring children into this world with such struggles and pain"...
Have you ever said that about our world? If you have I believe Jeremiah has some words for you and me. "God is faithful." "God has plans." "God will honor your sacrifice." God will listen to your prayers for them."
Prayer: Today we call upon You and seek You with our heart. Please bring this nation back to its greatness again. Please help this place to be a nation where we and our children will prosper. Protect our children. Oh Lord, may they see a future peace that we could only dream about. In Jesus name, Amen
Jeremiah 29:4-7
These were the words of Jeremiah in a letter to those who were carried away in exile to Babylon. Other false prophets spoke of a quick return to Jerusalem. They promised that God would bring them back out of his strength, goodness and grace. Their words brought hope. Their words were the one's they wanted to hear. Their words brought joy and meaning. Yes the people wanted the false prophet's words. They wanted to leave this God forsaken land in which they were taken captivity. But their words were not God's words. Their words were hollow and empty and over time these empty words would bring greater despair.
Jeremiah's words told them to settle down. His words were to make roots where they were for they would never return to the Promises land again save for their children. It would be 70 years if God was truly speaking through Jeremiah.
Seventy years! It's enough to make you despair. Yet, Jeremiah says to settle in, make this place your temporary home. Have children.... and teach them about the home that they will return to some day. I added that last part but I believe that is was implied. "Yes, teach them to be good Jewish boys and girls and prepare them for the day they will return."
I read someone who wrote something like this. "Do you know your children may be your greatest contribution to the world."
Yes future generations would have to rebuild the great nation of Israel. For now they had to settle in and pray. They would pray for the nation that things would go well for them and pray for the hope of future generations. Pray, call out, seek God, live productive lives and provide for their children.. They would be the seeds of future blessings. There's would be the great sacrifice for future generations and if they were lucky they would find some joy as well.
Today, I wonder how much we think about the future generations? Their Hope? Their world?
It might have been easy for the people of Israel siting in exile to say, "Why bring children into this God forsaken place?" "Why bring children into this world with such struggles and pain"...
Have you ever said that about our world? If you have I believe Jeremiah has some words for you and me. "God is faithful." "God has plans." "God will honor your sacrifice." God will listen to your prayers for them."
Prayer: Today we call upon You and seek You with our heart. Please bring this nation back to its greatness again. Please help this place to be a nation where we and our children will prosper. Protect our children. Oh Lord, may they see a future peace that we could only dream about. In Jesus name, Amen
Friday, August 8, 2014
God has a plan for you. Jeremiah 29:11-13
Jeremiah 29:11-13New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
This is one of the great promises offered to God's people in the Old Testament and it came at a very difficult time. The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon as prisoners to live in a foreign land. These were tough times and Jeremiah the Prophet wasn't promising any good news anytime soon. While some false prophets were promising that God would soon return the captives to Jerusalem, Jeremiah was relaying God's words to settle down for the long haul; seventy years to be exact. Surely the people were in despair... Yet Jeremiah offers these words of hope. Words that told them that God still had a plan for them. God had not abandon them.
Perhaps you find yourself in one of those places today. You've had a major disappointment and you wonder where is God? You hurt, you're disappointed, you're confused, you feel lost. If you're in that place today, these are good words for you. God has a plan and it's a plan for good and not for evil. A plan to prosper you and not harm you.
God is still with you. So don't despair. Cry out to the Lord. Seek him with your whole heart and you will find him. And for the Christian finding Christ is the greatest joy.
In the end, this life is bound to kick us and bring us down. Sometimes it kicks us because we did something we shouldn't have done. This was why Judah found themselves in this predicament. But, even in the difficulties we can find forgiveness, joy and peace. The greatest joy comes from God's presence with us as we seek the Lord with our whole heart.
The people of Judah surely wished things could return as they were, and in comming generations they would know that blessing, but in the midst of their captivity in Babylon they could still experience the presence of God.
Prayer: Dear God I wish that things could be different for us today but we trust you know you know what is best. Forgive us of our sins. Today, we cry out to you and we trust that you have a future plan. And Lord, while we wait for that plan to take shape, help us to find joy in the midst of sadness because you are with us.
A thought for today: Even if you have lost someone or something very dear in your life, seek the Lord with your whole heart. God may not heal that hurt but God will give you a new hope. Remember God loves you and God will never leave you.
God Bless You!
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
This is one of the great promises offered to God's people in the Old Testament and it came at a very difficult time. The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon as prisoners to live in a foreign land. These were tough times and Jeremiah the Prophet wasn't promising any good news anytime soon. While some false prophets were promising that God would soon return the captives to Jerusalem, Jeremiah was relaying God's words to settle down for the long haul; seventy years to be exact. Surely the people were in despair... Yet Jeremiah offers these words of hope. Words that told them that God still had a plan for them. God had not abandon them.
Perhaps you find yourself in one of those places today. You've had a major disappointment and you wonder where is God? You hurt, you're disappointed, you're confused, you feel lost. If you're in that place today, these are good words for you. God has a plan and it's a plan for good and not for evil. A plan to prosper you and not harm you.
God is still with you. So don't despair. Cry out to the Lord. Seek him with your whole heart and you will find him. And for the Christian finding Christ is the greatest joy.
In the end, this life is bound to kick us and bring us down. Sometimes it kicks us because we did something we shouldn't have done. This was why Judah found themselves in this predicament. But, even in the difficulties we can find forgiveness, joy and peace. The greatest joy comes from God's presence with us as we seek the Lord with our whole heart.
The people of Judah surely wished things could return as they were, and in comming generations they would know that blessing, but in the midst of their captivity in Babylon they could still experience the presence of God.
Prayer: Dear God I wish that things could be different for us today but we trust you know you know what is best. Forgive us of our sins. Today, we cry out to you and we trust that you have a future plan. And Lord, while we wait for that plan to take shape, help us to find joy in the midst of sadness because you are with us.
A thought for today: Even if you have lost someone or something very dear in your life, seek the Lord with your whole heart. God may not heal that hurt but God will give you a new hope. Remember God loves you and God will never leave you.
God Bless You!
This is one of the great promises offered to God's people in the Old Testament and it came at a very difficult time. The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon as prisoners to live in a foreign land. These were tough times and Jeremiah the Prophet wasn't promising any good news anytime soon. While some false prophets were promising that God would soon return the captives to Jerusalem, Jeremiah was relaying God's words to settle down for the long haul; seventy years to be exact. Surely the people were in despair... Yet Jeremiah offers these words of hope. Words that told them that God still had a plan for them. God had not abandon them.
Perhaps you find yourself in one of those places today. You've had a major disappointment and you wonder where is God? You hurt, you're disappointed, you're confused, you feel lost. If you're in that place today, these are good words for you. God has a plan and it's a plan for good and not for evil. A plan to prosper you and not harm you.
God is still with you. So don't despair. Cry out to the Lord. Seek him with your whole heart and you will find him. And for the Christian finding Christ is the greatest joy.
In the end, this life is bound to kick us and bring us down. Sometimes it kicks us because we did something we shouldn't have done. This was why Judah found themselves in this predicament. But, even in the difficulties we can find forgiveness, joy and peace. The greatest joy comes from God's presence with us as we seek the Lord with our whole heart.
The people of Judah surely wished things could return as they were, and in comming generations they would know that blessing, but in the midst of their captivity in Babylon they could still experience the presence of God.
Prayer: Dear God I wish that things could be different for us today but we trust you know you know what is best. Forgive us of our sins. Today, we cry out to you and we trust that you have a future plan. And Lord, while we wait for that plan to take shape, help us to find joy in the midst of sadness because you are with us.
A thought for today: Even if you have lost someone or something very dear in your life, seek the Lord with your whole heart. God may not heal that hurt but God will give you a new hope. Remember God loves you and God will never leave you.
God Bless You!
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