Jeremiah 29:4:
4Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all
the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
When I
read this passage I feel a bit like an exile, “at
home in the body (but) away from the Lord” as Paul says in 2 Corinthians. It’s
a bit sad and lonely to feel like an exile. But God’s message to the exiles
was, basically, “bloom where you’re planted!” Live your lives, build homes, plant gardens, live long and
prosper. “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and
pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” It’s not just about obeying God so we
can earn eternal life after we die; we need to participate in God’s eternal
life now by making our global city a better place.
Furthermore,
don’t listen to the lies of the false prophets. I wonder who they are for
us? In Jeremiah’s time, they were
those who promised false hope. They trusted in their nation’s strength and were
certain that the Lord was on their side even though they were living in a way
that was not pleasing to the Lord. They prophesied the thoughts and wishes of
their own hearts rather than seeking to do God’s will. It’s certainly much
easier and more comfortable that way, but it doesn’t do much for your
relationship with God or with others. In the words of Anne Lamott, “You can safely assume you've created God in your own
image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”
So we need to be
discerning, and we need to seek God’s will rather than our own. That’s not an
easy task in a world full of information and opinions. Who is our
Jeremiah? Who is speaking the hard
truths? It may seem a bit naïve,
but it is my hope that our spirit, God’s Holy Spirit within us, knows God’s
voice when we hear it. God’s promise to us while we are in exile is wonderful
and hopeful, but it is conditional; an “if…then” statement:
Jeremiah 29: 11-13: 11For
surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare
and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12Then
when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13When
you search for me, you will find me;
if you seek me with all your heart.
The Lord has
promised good to us. His word our hope secures. Take a moment and let this
child bless your heart:
No comments:
Post a Comment