God loves refugees. God loves people.
When Israel was taken captive and became slaves and refugees in Babylon – He sent a positive and faith-filled word to them through Jeremiah.
As I was desperately praying yesterday for our loved ones serving and giving their lives in Afghanistan – and for people trapped in the chaos - I was reminded of these words from the Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For the Lord knows the thoughts he has toward you, not for your destruction, but to give you a future and a hope!”
THIS WAS A WORD TO REFUGEES. It was a word to a defeated Israel being taken to Babylon as slaves and refugees.
God sends a word of hope and faith to His people … and it’s a word for us today in the middle of the chaos of this world:
In chapter 29 of Jeremiah he writes, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build homes and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.”
Look at the phrase I bolded. DO NOT DWINDLE AWAY!
Don’t back away – don’t live in a victim mentality.
Don’t ever back off. We were made for days like this. Don't listen to negativity and fear or become small in spirit.
Christianity was birthed in the midst of Roman terrorism! We were made for this season.
THEN HE SAYS!
“For the Lord knows the thoughts he has toward you, not for your destruction, but to give you a future and a hope!”
THAT’S IT! That's the power of being a man who carries Christ in his heart ... we have a future - and a hope!
The promise that if we’ll move in obedience he will bring a blessing to our lives. God loves the church, He loves refugees and He is with us in the middle of every storm and chaos!
HOPE IS ALIVE. HOPE HAS A NAME. HOPE’S NAME IS JESUS!
God loves refugees - Jeremiah 29
