“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.12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Jer.29:11-13
People love to quote Jer.29:11, but what about the next verses?
His Chosen People were warned at the beginning, way back in Deut. 28, what would happen if they neglected God and worshipped idols.
How is it that we entered into captivity?
Are we any different?
We become enslaved to whatever, whoever it is that has a hold over us, spending our time and efforts on idols…
“Captors” don’t just come and take prisoners without the “gates” left unguarded.
Banishment from holiness doesn’t happen without us being opened up to unholy things…
Let’s talk about responsibility here and wrong doors cracked, guardposts left unwatched.
Captivity is brought when one stops seeking the LORD, seeking other worthless pursuits instead; the result not maintaining a prayer life and personal relationship with God.
The Plan He has for each of us is spelled out plainly here:
He requires us to call on Him, cultivate our prayer lives, seek Him and then finding Him-
the end result is a return to our First Love-and a return from exile to Kingdom living and Holiness.
