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October 10, 2022

Jeremiah 32:24-25

24 “See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague, the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said has happened, as you now see. 25 And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.’”

New International Version (NIV)

Have you ever invested in hope? Is hope even on the stock exchange? In these days when doom-scrolling has become a national pastime, it may be hard for us to imagine what hope might look like. Will things ever get better?

Jeremiah had a difficult job. After preaching and warning his people to turn from sin or they would go into exile, he saw them continue to sin. Knowing they were going into exile, he told them to prepare to stay for a long time. This did not make him a popular preacher.

One day, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah and told him to buy a field his cousin was going to offer him. What a surprise! They were going into exile and Jeremiah was supposed to buy a field? Had God changed his mind about exile? No. By purchasing the field, Jeremiah expressed in a tangible way his hope that the people would one day return to the land. Even exile ends.

Chuck Swindoll once told of a passenger on the Titanic who tried to sell his watch as the ship sank. What good is a watch if you drown? On the other hand, what good is money if you drown? The Babylonians were setting up siege ramps to destroy Judah. Buying land in an area that would soon be worthless must have seemed like folly to the people of Jeremiah’s day. Why did Jeremiah do it? Because God told him to. Jeremiah invested in hope because he trusted that God knew exactly what he was doing. So may we. Invest in hope.

Pray with me:

Father, thank you for pointing to a brighter future for our world than we may presently imagine. Open our eyes to see that you are not finished. We groan with all creation for the revealing of a new heaven and a new earth. Help us to live in hope and to show hope to a world where hope seems to be lost. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our 2022 Every Day with Jesus readings will cover the whole Bible in one year. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:

2022 Reading Plan

We would love for you to join us as we read through the Bible this year. In addition, I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. As we journal together this year, Highlight a verse that stands out to you, Explain what it means, Apply that truth to your life and Respond to what you’ve read with an action or prayer.

Joyfully,
Duane

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Houston, TX | 77024 US

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