Today’s Reading: Jeremiah

Jonah, Amos, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk. God used the faithful obedience of these prophets to make a difference in the lives of His people and their leaders. The obedience of each of these believers had an impact on the king and, in turn, on the entire nation. God called another man to make an impact on His people; he called a young man named Jeremiah.

I KNEW YOU BEFORE I FORMED YOU. I AM WATCHING OVER YOU. I WILL CARRY OUT MY PLANS.

Jeremiah felt young and ill-equipped for what God was calling him to do. This calling was not an easy one, so God took the time to speak over Jeremiah. And the young prophet heard God’s affirmation — I have known you since you were in your mother’s womb, and I have been preparing you for this moment. I am calling you to be my voice to the people, and I will watch over you as you carry out my instructions.

Jeremiah must have been afraid of what he was being asked to do, because God took the time to ease his fears. He must have been worried about how the people would respond, because God revealed to him that the attempts of his enemies would fail because God was on his side. He was not alone. The God of the Universe was promising to take care of him!

I am so thankful for a God who takes the time to meet us where we are at as He prepares us for what He is calling us to do. He cares about how we are feeling and what we are grieving, and He takes the time to speak over us. He strengthens us for what is ahead, because He knows us and yet loves us deeply.

DO NOT BE AFRAID. I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. I SEE WHAT YOU COULD BE.

The Lord looks at us and sees the potential of what could be if we would only submit ourselves to His plan. If we would choose to walk in His ways and find contentment in the Lord, we would be a blessing to all those around us. The world would be a better place because of our obedience and faithful living.

Jeremiah’s obedience meant joining God in grieving the sinful behavior of the people. He was doing what God had called him to do and saying what God had specifically told him to relay, yet this did not make him popular with the people. Instead they plotted to kill him. Jeremiah described himself as a “lamb being led to the slaughter” (11:19). Have you ever felt that way? It is not fun to have to speak out against the sinful behavior of another person. It can be uncomfortable to stand up and call out a wrong or injustice. Obeying God does not always win us popularity, and leadership is often HARD.

I NEVER PROMISED YOU POPULARITY WHEN I ASKED FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE.

Jeremiah was called by God to proclaim to the people of Judah their future destruction and captivity. Although intimidated by God’s call on his life, Jeremiah was obedient and listened to God, passing on each message that the Lord gave him. Yet, as we read through the book of Jeremiah, we see that life was not easy for him.

I am so thankful for a God who knows us, who watches over us, and who answers us when we call. He is with us when things are going great and He is with us when life is at its toughest. He does not promise us that the task will be easy or that our obedience will result in popularity, but He does promise to take care of us. He does not guarantee that we will be comfortable, but He does promise to never leave us. What a joy it is to have the Lord as our hope and confidence.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

We see clearly in the book of Jeremiah that we serve a God of justice who is jealous when we serve something other than Him and who is angry when we are self-serving at the expense of others. He does not tolerate our misrepresentation of Him and He will not stand by and let leaders deceive His people — to destroy and scatter the very ones they are expected to care for.

But we also see in Jeremiah that we serve a God of love and mercy who plans for the redemption of His people. He cares when we turn away from him; He pursues us for the sake of our salvation. Even as God was declaring their consequence, He was unveiling His plan to redeem them through a Savior.

“Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord. “I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him. Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Mark well the path by which you came. Come back again…” – Jeremiah 31:20-21

These verses sum up the prophecies of Jeremiah well. Because God loves, he punishes. Because He is our Father, he longs for us to respond to punishment so that He can have mercy on us. He wants us to find our way back to Him. This is why Jesus died on the cross for us, in order that we could experience forgiveness and restoration. This is why He rose again — to give us hope for our future!

Jeremiah is a difficult book to read. It’s hard to hear chapter after chapter of the painful consequences God’s people suffered due to their sin and unfaithfulness. But there are several chapters in the middle of Jeremiah that speak strongly of God’s love and His mercy – of HOPE FOR THE FUTURE of God’s people.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE.

This is a wonderful promise for those who have walked away from God’s perfect plan and are wondering what comes next. There are often natural consequences to our sin, to a life of doing what we want to do instead of following God’s plan for our lives. But God’s plan does not go away! When we seek Him with our whole hearts, we will find Him! Even in the midst of suffering the results of our sin, God will be with us and we will see His blessings in our lives. He will restore us and bring us joy. He has a plan.

It’s time to stop resisting God’s plan for our lives. If you seek Him, He will be found and there will be HOPE for your future. Lord, I thank you for the hope you give us even in the darkest of situations. I thank you for your love for us that is revealed when you restore and renew us. Thank you for being the God who gives rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing. Help us to trust you and find hope for our future. Amen.