4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29:4-5,10-14
Questions for Reflection:
What kind of mixed feelings do you wrestle with when considering that God allowed his people to live in "exile" from their homeland for a long time and that He wanted them to be strong, productive witnesses for Him while they were there?
Process the fact that although God says He has a plan for us He doesn't promise to give us the plan but rather calls us to pray and seek Him - the one who has the plan. He is a far more relational than informational God. What is the difference between seeking God's plan or seeking God?
Prayer of the Week:
Jesus, I love You! I worship You! I trust You! I give myself over to You today in my heart’s search for life. Restore me in You! Renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.
Jesus, I sincerely receive You as my Life, and I receive all the work and triumph in Your resurrection, through which You have conquered sin, death, judgment, and the evil one. Death has no power over You, nor does any foul thing. And, I have been raised with You to a new life, to live Your life—dead to sin and alive to God.
Jesus, You are my Living Hope, and I now receive the gift and presence of Your Holy Spirit. “Come Holy Spirit” – I receive You now and surrender to You so that I might be empowered by You, and I might always be ready to give an answer to anyone asking about the reason for the Hope I have. You are my Hope, Jesus, and I sincerely ask You to lead me in my life decisions, conversations, and actions this day so that hope seeking questions about You are cultivated in the minds of those around me. Oh, Jesus, I want to be a life giving, sincere, and hopeful witness for You among the people around me.
Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me see how “hope in Jesus” makes a difference in my life today. Help me be thoughtful about You and the life and hope I have because of You so that I might be ready to give a gentle, respectful, and life giving answer to all who are open and asking.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the Alpha course. Thank You for this worldwide, Holy Spirit inspired tool, which helps Your children share “Hope in Jesus” with friends and family. Holy Spirit, I ask You to bring to mind those people in my life which I might invite to Alpha. Please inspire conversations around me so that I might join You Jesus in touching the lives of people who are close to me but far from You that they might come to know the Hope You have for them. (Notice who comes to mind that you might pray for and be open to inviting to Alpha.)
I love You Jesus, and I am thrilled that today, I get to be Your agent of Hope in the world of people around me today!
Amen
