God's Plan for You

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 29

Scripture Focus: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But 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. (Jeremiah 29.4-7)

Devotional Thought: Many people can quote Jeremiah 29.11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  What is often forgotten, however, is that those words were spoken to a suffering people.  This reminds us that even in the most negative circumstances, God wants his people to prosper.  And, part of that prosperity is bound up in the prosperity of our temporary "home."

Throughout the Bible, we see that God’s people are "sojourners":  Abraham in Canaan, Israel in Egypt, or Christians in Rome.  Since we are on our way to a better place, our final destination, it would be easy to adopt the philosophy, “Oh well.  What does it matter what I do here?  I’m not staying anyway.”  But God says, “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray for the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (v. 7).

Do you ever feel like an exile?  Christianity in America is on the decrease.  The morals and values of Washington are different from what we find and embrace in the Bible.  Leaders are corrupt and greedy.  In this situation, it would be easy to give up.  But, God has a different attitude.  He wants us to seek prosperity for our nation.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your plans for my welfare.  Help me to understand it within the context of my "city" and to seek its welfare.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 119.9-16

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!

13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.

14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.