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.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
I often teach that there are three great works of God. The first two works, creation and redemption, usually gain most of our attention. We can easily overlook the third great work of God, but we depend on it every day. It is God’s providential care for all his creation, especially his covenant people. Jesus highlighted God’s work of providence when he observed that God causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
The life application Jesus gave us regarding God’s providence is nothing short of stunning. Most of us couldn’t name it if we had 20 guesses. Our Savior stated it clearly in the previous verse (Matthew 5:44). And just to make sure we don’t miss it, he doubled down on it in the following verse (Matthew 5:46). If we ever become good at this one thing, we will be on mission as a church. (No, I didn’t give away the answer. You’ll have to look it up!)
We can’t take a single breath of air or eat a single bite of food apart from God’s providence; he supplies all the air we breathe and provides all the food we eat. A farmer can plant, water, and weed, but God provides the increase.The clothes we wear and the houses in which we shelter are all provisions of our loving, heavenly Father.
As we age, our capacity for self-reliance wanes and our dependence on God’s providence becomes more apparent. We can deny our need for his providence, but we can’t escape it, regardless of our age or abilities.
When God reminded captive Israel that, in his providence, he had good plans for their future (Jeremiah 29:11), their hope was revived. Exiled Israel wasn’t a victim nation, after all. They could go about their daily life in Babylon – planting gardens, building homes, getting married and having children – all with purpose and hope. Even more, they could seek prosperity, not judgment, for their captors. Did you look up the life application Jesus gave regarding God’s providence? It fits here as well.
Similarly, the Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Philippi with the providence of God when he wrote that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 1:6). He wrote those words of hope with joy from a prison cell, illustrating that the good news of Jesus was not—is not, and cannot be— confined by chains.
The words Jeremiah penned to the remnant of Israel applies to the New Testament church, which God has grafted in to participate in Israel’s redemptive blessings. My assurance to followers of Jesus is that God has plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. And I know that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Prairie Pastor 