“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
The above scripture has become in recent years an oft quoted one. It evokes in the mind a well pleased father who is about to give great gifts to his children. What many do not realized is that this scripture is spoken to Israel in the midst of exile and Godly disciple. The nation was in captivity. They are away from their land, their temple, and you would think that they were away from their God, but they were not!
God like any good father desires to bless his children. He does so prudently and in deliberate and planed manner. He does not share this plan nor does he commit to its immediate fulfillment but it is sufficient to encourage in the present and provides a vision for the future. That vision is often reinforced by the delay of our gratification.
Each of the Lord’s temptations was designed for him to grab something immediately that was to be manifested in his future. He was challenged to turn a stone into bread when his first miracle was to turn water into wine. A manipulation was attempted for him to accept worship from the kingdoms of the world when ultimately every knee would bow and every tongue would confess him as Lord. He was tempted to believe that Angels were far off and needed to be called on when they were observing him at that moment and prepared to minister to him.
Matthew 6:34 encourages us to have a much shorter view of our lives. “So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.” This scripture is not written so that we can be slothful but in order that like Jesus, we should live beyond our immediate circumstances. They preceding verse reads “but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”. That kingdom is perfectly present no matter where you are. If you are in exile you have a hope and a future, if you are at the temple and in the place of worship you are there with the Lord. In reward or in punishment the Lord’s motives are consistent, to give you hope and a future.
Our hopes can be lost in the cares of this world, live life with the knowledge that you are blessed no matter where you are and you will feel and know the hope and future that is already planned for you by the Lord.
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