"This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5“Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. 7Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.”8For this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them, 9for they are prophesying falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them.” This is the Lord’s declaration". Jeremiah 29:4-9 CSB
God spoke an important message to the Israelites that day. They had been sitting around waiting to be released from exile and were not really thriving as God wanted them to. They had also been misled by certain prophets within their camp. Therefore, they needed awakening. God wanted them to establish the presence of God within the place; while they were waiting and sitting around doing nothing, He wanted them to make something of their life in Babylon.
They were not called to just sit around twiddling their thumbs and talking about it, God wanted them to be proactive and build houses, families and make the most of their stay there. They were to be industrious and build gardens and businesses. Also God wanted them to find wives and husbands and produce children to carry on the work. He didn't want them to intermarry with other cultures but, to begin the process of married life between themselves.
As Christians, we don't just sit and wait for our passage to heaven, God expects us to work and encourage other people to take a decision to follow Jesus. For some churchgoers, they have been going to church once a week and possibly the odd mid-week meeting and then, they have not been involved with Jesus for the rest of the week, not even reading their bible, if they have one. Listen, God is shaking His church up. People who have accepted Jesus into their lives, are called to be 24/7 people of God, not part-timers. It is time to understand God clearly. He is calling His church to act on His Word. There is no time to just sit around doing the odd bits and pieces. The time is here for us all, to stand up, make ourselves noticed and bring in the harvest for Jesus.
Up to this present time within your church, you may have felt that you are a nobody, going nowhere and not really valued. That is a lie from Satan. In Jesus' eyes, you are a warrior, a fully signed up person of God and, He is waiting for you to take a step forward. He's not going to pick you up and put you in the harvest field, He's already done that when He saved your soul. So what are you waiting for?
Be ready 24/7 for Jesus to use you; tell Him that, and then, be willing to carry out His commands when He does. You are a fighter. You are a warrior. You are a fully-paid up member of Team Jesus. Now, that's the way to go!
If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com
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