Daily Devotional for November 5, 2015
Jeremiah 24
Scripture:
4 Then the word of the LORD came to me:
5 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.
6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.
7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
Observation:
In the midst of struggle, some people are open to hearing from God, but others have complete disregard for the voice of the Lord. This chapter clearly articulates the difference between the two. We don’t deny that God desires to have a relationship with us. God clearly wants to bless us and to give our lives purpose and fulfillment. By accepting Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior and embarking on this discipleship journey to serve God and His purposes, we can be like the good figs in this story. God’s eyes will watch over us for our good and He will build us up. We will be planted and not uprooted and the Lord will be our God.
I cannot explain the why or the how of life’s circumstances. What gives me hope is that this message was given in a time of exile. I don’t know if your life has been easy, or if you have experienced difficulty. I don’t know if you feel full of joy or full of sadness. What I do know is there’s hope in Jesus. As illustrated by the good figs, God is watching over you. I want to be like the good figs!
Application:
- Personal Application: Keep your eyes on the Lord. Don’t turn your back on Him and don’t miss out. Whether life is tough or great, give God all your heart.
- Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Show them in verse 6 that God’s eyes will watch over them for their good when they desire to know Him. On the other hand, as seen in verses 8-10, those who completely turn their back on the Lord walk away from His protection and blessings. As a reminder, read verse 7. God is always there for those who wholeheartedly turn to Him, even when times are hard. Pray for them.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Ask God to guard your heart from any distractions that will turn you away from Him. Ask God to watch over you as you embark on this discipleship journey.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that your family will always have a heart to know God and that the Lord will watch over them and build them up.
Three Year Reading Plan for Sunday, November 1 – Sunday, November 8:
- Sunday, November 1: Jeremiah 20
- Monday, November 2: Jeremiah 21
- Tuesday, November 3: Jeremiah 22
- Wednesday, November 4: Jeremiah 23
- Thursday, November 5: Jeremiah 24
- Friday, November 6 Jeremiah 25
- Saturday, November 7: Jeremiah 26
- Sunday, November 8: Jeremiah 27
—TOM GROOT is National Director of Men’s Ministry and Christian Education. Connect with Tom on Facebook or Twitter @TomGrootJr.
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