Jeremiah 29 Do you miss home; the familiar sounds and smells? Do you often reminisce about that time? Put yourself in the shoes of those taken by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. You are longing to return to your homeland, but it seems like there is no hope; the days drag on and on and on. You are trying to discern from the news what is really happening. Whose words are true? One the one hand, you hear the exiled priests saying, “Don’t worry, it will end soon! Our wealth will be returned to the Temple, and our kings will rise again.” On other days you hear: get busy; build houses, have big families. And to add to that you hear: PRAY FOR BABYLON AND THE BABYLONIANS!
PRAY for the Babylonians who took me captive? Are you kidding me?
Whose words are right? Because God knows they need assurance, He empowers Jeremiah to pen a letter to them:
Dear Exiles, know this; God loves you. He has put you here so you will not have to experience the calamity in Jerusalem. Don’t listen to the false reports of returning; God has not sent those who spout those words. Instead, remain faithful. Live and be productive. When 70yrs has passed, God will send you back to rebuild His city!
The Lord has “plans to prosper you, not to harm you; plans to give you a future filled with hope.”
Lovingly, Jeremiah
PS This God’s plan if you will accept it. Remember, you are a child of the Highest God. Don’t forget who you are and don’t forget whose you are.
God has a plan for you in 2020 if you will accept it. He loves you and He has put you right where you are to do His work. Even though it is hard, God is asking;
Will you accept My plan for you even if you don’t understand it?
