Today’s Reading, Jeremiah 26-29
Focal Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Context makes all the difference when it comes to understanding and applying scripture. In today’s verse this is very important because far too often people claim this verse as their own. They say that God will give them everything they desire and they will succeed in the end. Unfortunately, this verse is not about us as believers it is about the Jewish people who would be in captivity. God wanted them to know he was in charge and had a plan, for them.
The focal verse tells us that even though God was going to punish the nation of Israel he had big plans for them. He was going to bring them back to their homeland after 70 years. He would bring them back and show them that they had a future not just as slaves but his people. He would fulfill the promises laid out in scripture and never break them.
So what does this mean for us as believers if this was not written to us then how do we apply it our lives? We are to take away the fundamental truths from this account. First, God has a plan for everyone. He knows what is going to happen and it is not by accident. Second, these plans will fulfill his purpose. God is declaring that what you go through is to ultimately bring him glory. Finally, we must learn that whatever happens is not a mistake. This means if we get good news we praise him completely. It also means if our world falls apart we praise him the same.
The challenge we have as believers is to not read ourselves into scripture. This verse is to bring hope and peace to a nation who was suffering. It was a promise to them and them alone. We do not need to be bothered by this truth because we have promises written to us that were not written to the Jewish people in the Old Testament. One of the most amazing is that we were promised the Holy Spirit would reside in us as believers not just visit us like he did in the Old Testament.
So take the word of God and apply it to your life accurately. Not everything was written for you but you can learn deep truths from all writings in scripture. God has plans for everyone but don’t claim promises that are not yours. Do claim the promises that are yours and hold onto them tightly.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Jeremiah 30-31
