The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Jeremiah 29-32
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Background Information: Jeremiah 29-32
Babylonian exile came in two parts. The first, in 597 BC, included the more elite of Judean society. The second came in 586 BC, when, after failing to heed multiple warnings from Jeremiah, the King of Judah attempted to form an alliance with Egypt. The result was that the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar returned, sacked Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and deported the majority of the population, ending Judah as a national entity. After the first round, Jeremiah continued to stay in contact with the exiles. They were hoping to soon return to their land, and Jeremiah gave them the hard but hopeful truth. “Settle in folks, it’s going to be a long time.” Most of them would live out their entire lives in exile, so they were told to “Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.” Jeremiah 29:7. This is a model for how we as believers are to live in cultures that are largely opposed to God. We are to live faithfully as dual citizens of both heaven and of the nations in which God has placed us. An oft quoted and oft misapplied verse is Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you—this is the Lord’s declaration—plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” The misapplication uses it as a promise that God will get me out of this mess right now! Instead, it is actually a verse framing the reality that the full promises of God are already, but not yet. In context, the plans for well-being were in Judah’s distant future. They were to embrace God’s will for them as long-term exiles in Babylon, while looking forward to God’s future promises yet to be fulfilled. Ultimately, the promise was going to be fulfilled long after they had all died. It was the promise of a New Covenant written on hearts, not on tablets of stone. Jeremiah demonstrates his faith in God’s promise through his practical action. While the Babylonian army is literally at the gates of the city, Jeremiah purchased property. He did this knowing that he would personally never enjoy the land himself. It was an act of faith in the future promises of God to restore the people to the land after the exile. Jeremiah would live out his life in exile, but he had a vision for the hope of the New Covenant. In the same way, we are to live faithfully in the days and in the places God has given us, while keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal promises of God that transcend this life. This balance is difficult but possible, and very important to keep.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Ask God to use the activities that Christian Challenge has planned this week to connect with freshmen. Pray that freshmen would get involved with Challenge. Pray that gospel seeds would be planted.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.