rl69
10-25-2017, 06:53 AM
Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
—Psalm 40:5
One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It’s a great verse, but let’s understand the context. These words were given to the Jewish people when they were captives in Babylon. They were discouraged. They were wondering whether they ever would be free to worship God as they once had.
Now, if that verse said, “For I know the single thought that I once had toward you, says the Lord,” I would be happy with that. Wouldn’t you? To think that Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, actually thought even for a moment about me or you is incredible. Yet God’s thoughts toward us not only are past tense, but they are present and future tense as well: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord.”
How many thoughts would that be? We’re told in Psalm 40:5: “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” His thoughts toward us are innumerable.
Here’s what you need to know: God knows what you’re going through. He is thinking about you, and His thoughts are of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The word future could be translated “an expected end.” You are a work in progress. And God isn’t done yet, you see. He is the author and finisher of your faith. There will be a completion. God is finishing you. And ultimately, it will be good.
—Psalm 40:5
One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It’s a great verse, but let’s understand the context. These words were given to the Jewish people when they were captives in Babylon. They were discouraged. They were wondering whether they ever would be free to worship God as they once had.
Now, if that verse said, “For I know the single thought that I once had toward you, says the Lord,” I would be happy with that. Wouldn’t you? To think that Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, actually thought even for a moment about me or you is incredible. Yet God’s thoughts toward us not only are past tense, but they are present and future tense as well: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord.”
How many thoughts would that be? We’re told in Psalm 40:5: “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” His thoughts toward us are innumerable.
Here’s what you need to know: God knows what you’re going through. He is thinking about you, and His thoughts are of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The word future could be translated “an expected end.” You are a work in progress. And God isn’t done yet, you see. He is the author and finisher of your faith. There will be a completion. God is finishing you. And ultimately, it will be good.