by Kevin Tillman | Feb 26, 2024 | Bible Study
Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most memorized and quoted scriptures:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
There is good reason for it to be often quoted. This verse is inspirational. It is a reminder of God’s goodness. It is a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Though it is often quoted, many casual readers may miss the context. This passage was given to the prophet Jeremiah to be delivered to the nation of Israel in a time WHILE THEY WERE IN CAPTIVITY (emphasis added). That’s an important tidbit. This message came at a low point. It came as a reminder of the nature of God.
The verse starts with “I know”. Though the situation seems dire, God knows. Though the future is unknown, God knows. Though there seems to be no way out, God knows. God knows each and every detail about our lives. Yes, times get tough, and yes, at times it seems that God is distant. But here is the reminder: God knows.
The verse continues with what God knows. He knows “the plans I have for you”. The plans are to “proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Can you imagine the nation of Israel hearing that message while being enslaved? Likely there were doubters. “Ok, God you have these plans, how about we start showing some of them?”. “How about You get us out of this predicament?”. It’s one thing to hear the words, and quite another to take them to heart, even when the immediate situation isn’t changing.
There is no human being that has ever lived that has not been in a hopeless feeling situation. Pain and suffering are a part of life. The reminder to the nation of Israel, and to us is to hold on and wait on God. Admittedly, however, we don’t always handle things that way. At least I haven’t always done it that way. Maybe there are some superhuman Christians among us (sarcasm intentional), that have always done it exactly the right way, but not me. In my life I have had seasons where I waited on God. I sought after Him, and I waited expectantly. But yeah, there are other seasons where I “took the bull by the horns”. I took charge to move forward. I had a sinking feeling on the inside that God was distant. So, I did what I thought needed to be done. The result? Not good. However, God is still good even in our wanderings. God can still gently steer us back on path.
Here is a key to remember (like seriously, write this down somewhere): DON’T EVER LET YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BE A BAROMETER FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE.
There is a nugget in this passage of Scripture that can wreck some theology circles. In Jeremiah 29:4 it is revealed that the Israelites went into captivity in the first place because, God “carried” them. Wait what? God took them into slavery? That doesn’t gel perfectly with some theologies.
Think about these:
Was God with Jonah in the whale? Was God with Joseph in prison? Was God with Paul when he was shipwrecked and in prison? Was Jesus on the boat with the disciples during the storm? This list can go on and on. Was God absent in these situations? No. Had God forgotten? No. If God is there, and God is allowing, then there must be a purpose. And indeed there is, the purpose is to “prosper you and not to harm you.”
The verse says that the plan is to give us “hope”. In our modern day vernacular we interpret hope almost the same as wish. I “hope” my team wins. I “hope” I do well on this test. But Biblical hope is different. It’s a “sure thing”. It’s a “done deal”. In life we desperately strive for hope. But hope is not something we achieve, it is something we receive. No amount of trying will ever achieve what God freely gives.
Not only do we receive “hope”, but God also promises a “future”. A key to understanding this is to understand the nature of God. (Warning, this is about to be one of those head exploding type of things)! God does not exist in time the way that way exist in time. We live linear lives. We get up, eat meals, work, do some stuff, go to bed, and repeat. We do this day after day, month after month, year after year, over and over and over again. God is not limited by the calendar and time. God just exists. God is in all times at the same time. (I told you it was head exploding). This means that God has the whole view of all of our lives at one instant. Beyond that, He sees all of eternity in one glance. With all of that knowledge and lack of limitations, it makes sense that He would move the needle of our lives one little iota to help steer us down a different path. We don’t even have the smallest fragment of information that God has. Before I leave this, think about it a bit. When you were just a small little embryo in your mother’s womb, God not only saw that present situation, but He also saw your whole life and death. When God says, He will give us a “future”, it’s not just some little plan, it’s much much bigger than that.
I think it’s worth taking a short little detour here. We are to WAIT ON THE LORD (emphasis added). That is what God wants us to do. But, like many things in the Word of God, this can be taken to a wrong extreme. Someone may say, “Ok, I’m waiting on God. Until He shows up, I’m just going to sit right here on this couch and eat Cheetos until something happens.” Obviously, that’s not the right approach. In Jeremiah 29:4-7 God gives the immediate action to be taken:
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Do you see the instructions God gives in the waiting? Build houses, plant gardens, EAT (Hallelujah!), Keep marrying and focusing on family. Basically, keep on doing life. Keep moving. I love the advice given in verse 7: “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into EXILE”. While everything is wrong for you, help others. Not only help others, but help those that are enslaving you. Ouch, wait what? That seems impossible. Do you see the promise though … seriously don’t miss this. Do you see what God says He will do if we seek peace and prosperity for others. Do you see it, “if it prospers, you too will prosper.” And this, is even while in the exile.
This passage beautifully wraps up with a promise from God found in Jeremiah 29:12-14
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.
The start of this verse is the word “then”, which implies something comes before it. God says “call on Me”, “come and pray to Me”, and the promise is He will listen. When we seek, we fill find Him. The promise is that the slavery will end, the time of wilderness will cease. This comes, but the journey of the captivity is what makes it possible.
No matter the season of life you are in, God is there. He is far above any limitations of time, place, or circumstance. This blip of time that we live in is nothing compared to eternity. No matter how difficult your situation is, always remember that “God knows the plans He has for you, … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
by Shannon Tillman | Feb 19, 2024 | Thoughts
At a ministerial training, a group was asked, “if you see a piece of paper on the floor in the church hallway, whose job is it to pick it up?” Some answers focused on the janitor who obviously neglected his job. Others replied they thought it would be responsibility of the person who dropped it. The trainer said, “It’s your job. You saw it. Pick it up.” If we truly say we care about the church, it is no longer about the responsibility of others, but about our duty to do what is best for the church.
I think Moses could have done a training on having a heart for his church, his flock, the Israelites. We see him often intercede for the nation. The Lord even affirms the heart of Moses for the people they both loved.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol… (Exodus 32:7-8a, emphasis added)
In this passage, God calls the Israelites “your people”. Yet, in previous passages, God refers to them as “My people”. We see this in the calling of Moses to Egypt in Exodus 3.
So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10, emphasis added)
The heart of God beats for people. When we press into His heart, the concerns for “His people” become our concerns. They become “our people”. Ministry is not about a leader being lifted up but instead being humbled to serve in good times as well as the bad. Moses shared in the Israelite’s struggles (the plagues of Egypt) and in their triumphs (parting of the Red Sea). God’s people now are Moses’s people. The Lord recognized the heart of Moses toward Israel.
Because of His gracious ways, God allowed Moses to know what was taking place at the foot of the mountain. God told him how the people had created an idol to worship. The Lord knew Moses would intervene; he would take the difficult task in partnering with God to deal with the sin of idolatry. Ministry is hard! But to love people as God loves people is to confront the sins that keep others from their relationship with the Lord.
The Lord could have destroyed the people with holy justification. But because God’s people had become Moses’s people, the leader interceded for the sinners.
But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. (Exodus 32:11-14)
The greatest level of ministry is demonstrated by Moses as he interceded for the people. His intercession focused not on the protection of the people but on the promises of God to the people as well as preserving the Name and the glory of God in front of others. Ministry to people promotes God’s glory. May we as leaders whether it be in the home, church, or business world do the same for those under our care. God’s people are our people.
Whose job is it to pick up the mess in the lives of others? Yours and mine.
by Kevin Tillman | Feb 12, 2024 | Thoughts
“A difference in words is a very awful and important difference; a difference in words is a difference in things. Words are very awful and wonderful things, for they come from the most awful and wonderful of all beings, Jesus Christ, THE WORD. He puts words into men’s minds. He made all things, and He made words to express those things. And woe to those who use the wrong words about anything.”
Charles Kingsley (1819–1875)
We should guard our words. Words have power to uplift and power to tear down. Words have power to heal and power to destroy. As Christians we have been taught to discipline our actions, to “keep from sinning”. But, shouldn’t we give as much diligence to our words? Words are a gift from God. Like any gift, however, words can be abused. The words that we speak, the words that we type, and the words that we post on social media have power.
Here’s some practical advice:
- filter your words before you speak, type, or post. Think over your response before putting it out there.
- you don’t have to give an opinion on everything. This might be the most valuable of all advice.
- sometimes it is better to say nothing than to say something. Actually, often this is good advice.
- “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1. The right thing said the wrong way can make it worse. It’s important to say the right thing the right way.
- “speaking the truth in love” Ephesians 4:15. When in a confrontation, make sure your own motive is pure.
How loose we are with words, forgetting that our words are a representation of the Word! Lord, have mercy on us!
by Shannon Tillman | Feb 5, 2024 | Bible Study
I like to avoid putting laundry away. I do not mind washing clothes, but the act of putting them away seems too overwhelming. Recently, I decided to not put laundry away and instead just brought the laundry basket in my room. Later, in the middle of the night, I tripped on the basket. I ended up with a huge bruise on my leg. Avoidance ended up harming me!
While laundry and bruises may be a small matter, we often avoid larger scenarios which in the end cause even more hardship on our lives. How often do we make a decision to try to avoid pain, yet bring greater heartache upon ourselves? Naomi experienced heartache over one choice to move, in an attempt to avoid a famine in the land.
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. (Ruth 1:1-5)
Suffering and pain are a part of life due to the sin in this world and the enemy’s attacks on us. However, when suffering comes, our response showcases our character. Elimelech wanted to avoid the temporal hardship of the famine. He moved to enemy territory in desire to survive. However, he ended up dying along with his two sons, which led to deep grief and impoverishment of his wife Naomi.
Naomi makes the difficult decision to return home. This journey would be extremely difficult. Plus, in her poverty, her ability to survive even back home would entail great sacrifice and hardship. Unfortunately, Naomi continues Elimelech’s destructive pattern of trying to convince others to avoid suffering even though in the long run there would be dire penalties to that decision. When she decides to return back to Israel, she has a conversation with her two widowed daughters-in-law that leave them facing eternal consequences.
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”
Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”
But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? (Ruth 1:8-11a)
Naomi is returning the land of Israel, the land of God. It would be a long and difficult journey. However, it would be a return to the Lord, forsaking the idols of Moab, and joining to the God of Israel. Naomi attempts to talk both women from this choice. Sadly, one complies.
At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. (Ruth 1:14)
Orpah follows her mother-in-law’s advice and walks toward the Moabite gods instead of going to the land of the God of Israel. Naomi’s negativity, complaining in difficulties, wanting others to avoid hardship; pushed Orpah away from the Lord. In Naomi’s attempt to keep Ruth and Orpah from temporary hardship, she ended up not being a witness and bringing Orpah to Israel, God’s dwelling place.
Life is hard. We all experience loss. However, attempts to avoid pain are futile and can lead to unnecessary suffering. It also inflicts harm on those around us. Eventually, our attitude towards the suffering will be reflected in our character and our choices. It also taints our view of God.
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” (Ruth 1:20-21)
She did not want to be called Naomi (pleasant), but Mara (bitter). She blamed her bitter life on the Lord. Naomi and her husband chose to avoid suffering and leave Bethlehem yet the consequences of their decisions she now blamed on God. How often we do the same! Our negativity and complaints are ultimately an accusation against the Lord which keeps us from an honest evaluation of ourselves and life’s choices. They were not led to Moab by a direction of God’s will, but based on avoiding difficult circumstances (famine in the land). The consequences of going our own way are not God’s fault.
Avoiding pain, complaining, and bitterness are ultimately personal accusations against God. We need to evaluate our lives. If these attitudes are in us, we need to repent. It is time for our Mara hearts to become Naomi ones once again.
