Monday, October 7, 2013
We Can Learn From The Changing Leaves
Here in the upper Midwest the leaves are beginning to change. Every year my yard gets almost knee deep in leaves. I live on the edge of the country boundary with the city, so the property is bigger than many. That means, what a lot of leaves to rake! I was reflecting on the scripture from a previous post, Jeremiah 33:20-21,
Jeremiah 33:20 Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
I was trying to better understand encouragement. In this case God was pointing to something we can watch happen every day that is unchanging, the separation of day from night. He then compares that with the unchangeable promise He made to David. He also speaks of the restoration and return of Israel. He was encouraging Jeremiah. Encouragement is offered about future events. They may be soon, or they may be after our life time. So why does God encourage us?
Looking back to Jeremiah there in prison, it reminds me of how we all at times feel like we are bound up by things we cannot control – work, PTO meetings, family gatherings, etc. God offers encouragement so we won’t give up. He offers encouragement so we will stick to the plan – His plan. And why would we stick to His plan? Because, in God’s plan, in the end we win. We will be at peace. We will be at rest. And God is ushering His plan to earth right now. We can be a part of that, right now.
Yes, there are many cycles in life. The leaves turn and fall to the ground, but then comes the spring with new growth and new green leaves. God has a plan and a promise for good for us, both now and in the future. Can you stop the day and night from being separated? Me either. That means, God will keep His promises to us, to you. Never give up!
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You for being our God. thank You for the cycles in life. Thank You that Your promises are for now and for the future. Please encourage the hearts of those that feel imprisoned and down trodden today, God. Please do it speedily. Help the lowly to rise up. take the poor out of the dust. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.