This past Sunday, the LifeWay family honored Billy and Patty for their 40 years of service to God. Sometime this month, or last month, forty years ago, when God called them to plant a church here in the Pacific Northwest, they said yes. I thank God for how hard and how focused they have worked to bring hope to many Washingtonians living in darkness. Tradition says that the prophet, Jeremiah, served God for forty years too (I am not at all hinting that Billy is retiring). Tradition says that God called Jeremiah to be a prophet when he was only 17 years old (Billy was a few years older than that when he arrived in Federal Way) when God touched his lips and said, “Behold, I have placed my words into your mouth. This day I have established you over nations and kingdoms.”
If any of you has read the Book of Jeremiah, you know it is not a happy read. Jeremiah’s messages to Judah were marked with much doom and gloom. They didn’t sit well with the people of Judah. The Judahites had a headache every time Jeremiah had something to say, because he had nothing good to say. All he said was to tell them to repent from their sins. They wouldn’t listen to him, so much so that he is often known as “the weeping prophet”. They beat him and they made attempts to kill him.
After years and years of Judah’s disobedience, God had no choice but to give his discipline. He sent Nebuchadnezzar, his servant, to defeat and capture Jerusalem, sending Judah into exile to Babylon. Life would be hard for Judah. They would serve the Babylonian king as slaves. Worse yet, God told them they would remain in exile for 70 years. In the middle of this, he also said, “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
What does that mean? Does that mean what we think it means? Is that good news? Come, let’s read together and think together this Sunday, what Jeremiah 29.11 means. What was God’s promise to Judah? What is God’s promise to you and me? Happy Fourth of July to Everyone! and see you Sunday.
Your Friend
Alvin