For I know the plans I have for you - 16 June 2008

This week we shall be looking at this message of hope. It is taken from a letter sent by Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles in Babylon; a letter carrying the prophesy that their exile was to last 70 years, but ending with this message of hope in their darkest hour.

“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 upon 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. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

That same message is for us today, a message of hope for God’s people,

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.

Despite God being so huge, much bigger than we could ever imagine, he has plans for each one of us. God sees us as individuals, not as a large crowd of faceless beings but each as unique; after all he made us that way. He knows each one of us individually; He loves each one of us; He has a plan for each one of us.

No matter what we feel or what we might be going through, God doesn’t forget us or abandon us; He is faithful and true. He wants those plans he has for us to become reality, so that we each play the part that God intends in his mission to save humankind.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

Take time today to marvel at the fact that our huge, stupendous God cares about you as an individual, and has a unique plan for you.

Thank you Lord for loving us and caring about us; each and every one of us.

Amen