Devotion

God's plans for us

in Jeremiah 29: 10 - 11, the prophet Jeremiah writes: 

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place.

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.

Waiting for 70 years is a pretty long time to say the least! it is interesting that whilst this verse may not seem very encouraging, it points to a beautiful, bigger picture that God has for our lives.

The Israelites at the time were in exile, and they wouldn't have been super keen or excited to hear the news that they needed to settle down in the new places they were in for a long time before they could return home. Obviously some would have realised that they would not have the opportunity to return home at all in their lifetime. 

It is an encouragement to settle down, unpack the 'bags of our life' and persevere. 

Sometimes we can be restless and think that a different sports club, or moving house to another for example may be the place where the grass is greener. It is important that we remember that Christ and not our circumstances provides that greener grass and the rest that comes with it. It is this whisper from God that we have to remind ourselves to listen to more often, not the call of our culture which lures us to the pursuit of material things and self-gratification.

Our own worlds can become so self-centered that we can forget about the fact that it is God that we should be pointing others to. Throughout the Bible runs a ongoing theme of rootedness in a place, a home, and a people; this theme has so much beauty that it’s easy for us to forget that the place, the home, and the people of the Old Testament are pointing to God's return.

In these verses, Jeremiah reminds us that we serve a God who is faithful to us, and redeems and restores us. It is important for us to continue to reflect on whether our dreams are in line with God’s desires for us and whether our goals lead to His. 

Dear God, Thank you for the words of your prophet Jeremiah who reminds us to continue to reflect on your plans for our lives. We pray that we can enjoy rest, redemption and restoration in you. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Will Wallace

Principal