“At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
Thus saith the Lord, the people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.”
Jeremiah 31 vs 1-4
Praise be to God, Most High!
Each person who reads these words (as well as the writer) will have experienced loss, tragedy, pain, betrayal and humiliation at some point in life. These experiences often happen at a time when we believe everything is going well. It seems that we are succeeding in life – with our family relationships; our careers; business; savings; education but then…then…
Then, for some, cracks appear which become chasms. For others, there are no warning signs, instead all they receive is a sudden rude awakening.
In verse one of the scripture, God continues with his reassurances from Chapter 30 letting Israel know that He is their God and they are His people. In spite of the circumstances – their sin, disobedience and rebellion – that led them INTO captivity, God let them know that they were still His people and He would take care of them.
Even though other nations had begun to call them “outcast” (Jer 30:17), God was reminding them that He still saw them as His.
Yes, at times you will have to step back and consider your life and it will look like you have disappeared from the face of the earth; from the work scene; from ministry; from anything that would steer your life forward. Still, you belong to God.
What is it that you have said, done, experienced that is now causing
people to talk about you saying that you are an outcast, rejected,
no longer effective?
Today, read this verse, meditate on it and focus on knowing that
God is your God and you belong to Him.
In verse 2 it speaks of “…people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness…”.
Where are you now? Where have you been? There are stages of experiences and sometimes it seems like one thing after the other goes wrong. Some had escaped the sword but now found themselves in the wilderness – a place of famine, drought, separation, the unknown. Yet, it is here, in the wilderness that God says He went to Israel to cause him to rest.
God is so compassionate. He sees all we have been through and all that we shall go through. In the place of the unknown, when we are experiencing lack of fellowship; lack of motivation; lack of peace and comfort – God says we will find grace there because He is coming – to cause us to rest.
Are you in your wilderness now?
As painful as it may be, remember that God will show you
grace there and cause you to rest.
Begin to thank Him for that now – His Word is sure!
In verse 3, again, God gives great reassurance of His never-ending love. It’s not about whether we feel it or not – God’s love is real, comforting and sincere. God’s love is not part-time, based on us doing everything right 100% of the time. No, He just loves us anyhow and with this love He draws us to Himself. This verse is key to our ministry because although we hear the word “love” so often, many people – Christian and non-Christian – don’t actually experience real, sincere love in many of their relationships. However, God doesn’t change, His love doesn’t change. Even when we don’t like ourselves, God still loves us and still draws us. Sometimes, maybe often, God has to remind us of what we mean to Him.
The stability of life is in Christ Jesus -
His love, His salvation, His provision.
What do you need today – spiritually, emotionally, financially,
physically etc – it’s all in Christ Jesus.
In verse 4: Oh what blessed assurance! God WILL build us again and we SHALL be built! All that we had before, but now seems lost, shall be restored. All that was taken from us by stealth, all that we gave away because we were deceived – shall be restored again and we shall be built in Jesus’ Name.
Take the time you need to be healed in whatever area of
your life is broken and, as you are in the healing process,
just know that God gives His promise to build you again.
You can still be who God says you are.
Written by Rev (Mrs) Marjorielyn R Campbell, Petra Global Ministries 2006©
E-mail: admin@petraglobal.org.uk
Your feedback is welcome – feel free to write in with your thoughts, experiences and reflections.
This devotion may be reprinted, copied or distributed with the following acknowledgement shown:
“Reprinted/Copied/Distributed with the permission of:
Rev (Mrs) Marjorielyn R Campbell, Petra Global Ministries 2006©
E-mail: admin@petraglobal.org.uk
Web: www.petraglobal.org.uk”
