Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Keeping It In Context

Jeremiah 29

10 This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 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. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”


I just wanted to give some context to one of the most often quoted verses from Jeremiah…chapter 29, verse 11. God spoke those words to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Lots of folks want to take those words out of that context and force some kind of application for us today. While it is true that God knows everything about us, past present and future, we need to be careful not to try to force God’s Word to say something to us that it is clearly saying to a specific people in a specific time and circumstance. I believe that many Christians in America have been captured by the culture. It is my prayer that these Christians will awaken from the sleep sin has lulled them into, and that they will repent. Maybe then God will hear their prayers and restore them to Him.

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