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Dear Saints,
So far, Jeremiah 29 can be seen as a way of carrying out what appears in 1 Thessalonians 4 where the Holy Bible says,
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
Before we move forward, I want to take this opportunity to summarize what we have discussed so far.
We began with recognizing that without God, we can do nothing. So, we prayed for His guidance.
We were then taken to Jeremiah 29. There are parallels that may be applied to those who belong to Christ Jesus. I entitled this series, Light in Goshen: God's Way through Hard Times.
We have been looking very carefully at each of the things God told the Israelites to do during the a very challenging time, to see God as bigger than the circumstances in which we find ourselves, to see Him and operate in the freedom that comes from seeing life from God's perspective.
A major source of distraction is worry about money.
We forget that self-pity is idolatry, that which we are preoccupied with to the exclusion of God, what God says, Who God is, also constitutes an idol. We are to repent of this and change our minds and hence direction.
That about face takes tangible steps.
We are to:
1. Build houses consistent with the Word of God. An apt verse for this first step would be Proverbs 25:28. It says, "Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self-control." We must govern ourselves by governing our homes. In this way, a distinction may be seen easily between Egypt and Goshen. Why? Because the Light of the World will be seen in Godly living.
2. Dwell in those houses without forgeting that it is in Christ Jesus that we really live, and move, and have our being, constantly enabling us to actually live His way. And, being in tune with God by way of right relationship through Christ Jesus, operating consistent with His written Word, the Holy Bible, we can gain the Wisdom required for our times. We are not to throw His Word behind our backs, but to act in the power of the Holy Spirit to the honor and glory of God in Christ Jesus.
3. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. This may sound like a strange command to many here in the United States, especially to those who live in metropolitan settings. However, it is not only possible to plant gardens, it is an healthy alternative [on many levels] that if begun now, the preparation may serve all of us well over upcoming years should the Lord tarry.I am reminded of the statement that if we obey God, He will not allow His people to experience the diseases that befall Egypt.
Well, now our series continues.
We are about to embark on the next phase, that of marriage and multiplication. But, before we do, I want to take this opportunity to point out that we who have accepted Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord are already espoused. Indeed, if God has given us earthly spouses, we must not lose sight of the fact that our spouses are here so that we both can cooperate with God on His plans to deposit souls here on earth. Marriage itself helps us to guard our attention on God while we await our final union with Him. I am particularly aware of in recent years [with much reading of the Holy Bible] of the principle function I serve for my husband. I am to biblically responding to the need for him not to be alone. Yep, that's it. If you doubt that role, just check out Genesis 2:18. It is easy to rush past the words and miss the principle "raison d'etre."
If God has opted to not grant you an earthly spouse, He has nonetheless espoused you. Celebrate that fact! Obviously, He is willing to trust you to walk with Him without the typical, intermediate "spousal" experience, in other words, you get to advance forward without the need for the physical dress rehersal before the real thing. Interesting way to think about singleness, isn't it?
Nevertheless, regardless of marital status, we are still here -- so far.
With current economic challenges being what they are, I now offer another opportunity for all of us to assess, "What we have in the house?" both our spiritual and our physical house. What has God deposited there in the form of talents? We need to appreciate those God-given attributes and move on them.
God gave us those talents for a reason.
Let's not work against ourselves by working against what God has given us.
Please get that message today as you view the following link.
Let's pray.
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we ask for Wisdom recognizing that You, Yourself, are made unto us Wisdom. So, we ask for more of You as we surrender ourselves, our assumptions, our misplaced perspectives and misplaced energies to You. Please guide our thinking and our actions. In Your Matchless Name We Pray for ourselves and for Jerusalem.
Thank You for everything.
May we do all to Your Honor and Glory, my KING!
AMEN.
--Livvy McDonald :)<><
My Postscript
The Parable of the Talents:
“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” Matthew 25:13-30, Holy Bible.
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