Christ Church Daily Devotion Jan 22 2024

God's message to the exiles in Babylon was that their captivity would eventually end after 70 years. Despite their disobedience, God still loved them and had plans to prosper and give them hope. They were encouraged to settle down and trust in God's promises. We can apply this message to our own lives, knowing that God loves us and has a hopeful future for us. We should trust in God's plans and pray for more faith. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for January 22nd, 2024. Today we will be reading from Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 10 through 13. 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. 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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Can you imagine what it would have been like for the exiles from Judah to now be prisoners in Babylon? Prophet after prophet had warned them to turn back to God, to worship God alone, and to live according to God's teachings. The people had become arrogant, trusting in themselves and turning away from God. The Babylonians had been selective, taking the best and brightest as exiles. Now the exiles must have felt ashamed and chastened by their arrogance and bad behavior. They must have been wondering what to do. Should they attempt a revolt and try to fight for their freedom? The early part of this letter from God through the prophet Jeremiah dispels that entirely, telling them to settle down in Babylon, to build and plant and have families. Then come these verses, promising the exiles that their bondage would not last forever. After a period of 70 years, God would bring them back to their beautiful homeland. God promised them a future and hope. God had not deserted them. We too can read these words today in whatever context we find ourselves and know that God loves us and that when we trust God, we also have hope and a future. Your personal worship option today is, give thanks today that God loves us and wants the best for us, even when we suffer consequences for bad decisions and choices. God has not given up on us. God has nothing but the best in store for us. If only we trust God. Pray for more faith to have that kind of trust.