future and hope
God brought me to Jeremiah 29 recently. It has really been speaking to me about living out my life for Jesus in whatever circumstances. Sometimes, we can get so caught up with the future, that it’s easy to give the present a backseat priority. When in reality, what God plans to do in our life today is exactly what we need to prepare us for our future.
This is a portion of the letter Jeremiah sent to the children of Israel who were exiled to Babylon in chapter 29:
4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.
6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters-that you may be increased there, and not diminished.
7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace. [NKJV]
It goes on to explain God’s good thoughts for His people, and His plan to bring them out of captivity after 70 years. God expected His people to be fruitful and flourish even in the midst of Babylon. They new He had greater things in store. There was more coming down the road-a future and a hope. But 70 years is a lot of time to waste waiting on a future promise. He knew the Israelites had the human tendency to not take ownership of something that wouldn’t last.
It’s like a rental car. People don’t treat it with the care and respect they would treat a car they plan to still have 5 years down the road. No matter what promise God has for our future He doesn’t want us to be discontent to work in the field we are in today. Verse 5 in the NLT says: “Build homes, and plan to stay.” We need to be respectful of the position God has us in right now, because it is going to provide the trials that will shape our ability to face tomorrow.
I’m really encouraged to live out God’s plan for me today!