October 13, 2015
That’s a Great Plan
Jeremiah 29:11
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.
This is one of my all time favorite Bible verses. And it’s lots of people’s favorite, but here’s the reasons why I love this verse...
1. Jeremiah 29:11 describes exactly what God is like... God is good and the Source of Hope. This verse is the perfect answer for the skeptic who begins their criticism with the words How could a loving God... By his own words here God says that he doesn’t plan disaster for our lives. Quite the opposite; he makes good plans for us, so the crud that goes on in the world didn’t come from his plan book.
2. The crud that goes on in the world didn’t come from God’s plan book... It is very important for everyone to know we must watch out for our great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (2 Peter 5:8). Our Enemy is the one who plans harm and disaster not our Savior, and we should never blame the latter for the work of the former.
2a. But if God is bigger than the Enemy (1 John 4:4), he should stop him... He did! For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). Furthermore, God does thwart the work of the Enemy for everyone who loves and trust him according to Romans 8:28. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
3. God’s plans are full of Hope and Life... God himself is the Source of Hope. Romans 15:13 confirms: I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. And Romans 5:5 describes God’s Hope as never disappointing us either. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. But, the Enemy’s plans does lead to disappointment; he seeks to steal our hope, kill our joy, and destroy our lives (see John 10:10).
4. But God’s plan for us, for EVERYONE, is Jesus... And Jesus gives us Life. Not only eternal life in our future, but REAL LIFE right now by inviting us to live his life. His purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life (the rest of John 10:10). That is why God’s plans are good, not disastrous, full of hope and full of future - because his plan all along was Jesus for everybody. And that’s a great plan!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for Jesus! And for including me in your plans! And for real joy and real life and real victory over the Enemy. I pray for my mistaken friends who attribute evil in the world to you and not to the devil. Help them to stop deceiving themselves and learn your real character. I thank you that you, indeed, have power over works of disaster and evil and invite everyone into your plan of Salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray, amen.
That’s a Great Plan
Jeremiah 29:11
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.
This is one of my all time favorite Bible verses. And it’s lots of people’s favorite, but here’s the reasons why I love this verse...
1. Jeremiah 29:11 describes exactly what God is like... God is good and the Source of Hope. This verse is the perfect answer for the skeptic who begins their criticism with the words How could a loving God... By his own words here God says that he doesn’t plan disaster for our lives. Quite the opposite; he makes good plans for us, so the crud that goes on in the world didn’t come from his plan book.
2. The crud that goes on in the world didn’t come from God’s plan book... It is very important for everyone to know we must watch out for our great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (2 Peter 5:8). Our Enemy is the one who plans harm and disaster not our Savior, and we should never blame the latter for the work of the former.
2a. But if God is bigger than the Enemy (1 John 4:4), he should stop him... He did! For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). Furthermore, God does thwart the work of the Enemy for everyone who loves and trust him according to Romans 8:28. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
3. God’s plans are full of Hope and Life... God himself is the Source of Hope. Romans 15:13 confirms: I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. And Romans 5:5 describes God’s Hope as never disappointing us either. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. But, the Enemy’s plans does lead to disappointment; he seeks to steal our hope, kill our joy, and destroy our lives (see John 10:10).
4. But God’s plan for us, for EVERYONE, is Jesus... And Jesus gives us Life. Not only eternal life in our future, but REAL LIFE right now by inviting us to live his life. His purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life (the rest of John 10:10). That is why God’s plans are good, not disastrous, full of hope and full of future - because his plan all along was Jesus for everybody. And that’s a great plan!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for Jesus! And for including me in your plans! And for real joy and real life and real victory over the Enemy. I pray for my mistaken friends who attribute evil in the world to you and not to the devil. Help them to stop deceiving themselves and learn your real character. I thank you that you, indeed, have power over works of disaster and evil and invite everyone into your plan of Salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray, amen.
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