Tag: Jeremiah

God Ordains All Our Work

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

Ports

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. – Jeremiah 1:5

Before Jeremiah was born, God had a plan for his life. He knew, consecrated, and appointed him to be a prophet. God accomplished His plan for Jeremiah’s life. He served as a prophet to Judah during the latter years of Jerusalem before they were conquered by Babylon.

What about us?

If the prophet’s vocation was established before he was born, it is not a stretch to assume that our sovereign Lord has a plan for our lives as well. Before we were born, the Lord marked out our days, determining our vocation and the ways He might use us.

Our vocation, then, is God ordained. Ministers are not the only ones called and set aside by God. We are all called. God ordains all our work.

You are not sitting in your cubicle or corner office, your not working at Starbucks, running a thriving photography business, dancing on broadway, or teaching kindergarten by accident. You didn’t get yourself there. God determined your vocation and accomplished His plan just like He did with Jeremiah.

Questions for Reflection

  1. If God ordains all our work, what are the implications? How does it change your view of your vocation?
  2. How should we view our God ordained vocation in regard to ministry? In other words, do you believe ministry only occurs during church activities?

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40 Days of Prayer Devotionals – Day 2

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals2 Comments

Devotional Day 2

Day 2 – Work for the Good of Your City (Jeremiah 29)

Jeremiah 29 provides a copy of Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles after Nebuchadnezzar had been taken from Jerusalem to Babylon. The purpose of Jeremiah’s letter is twofold. First, keep Israel from being apathetic. Second, to keep Israel from being deceived by the prophets and diviners who told them they will return to Jerusalem soon.

Instead of returning soon, Israel would spend seventy years in Babylon. Jeremiah did not want them to waste that time. He writes starting in verse 4:

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

The Challenge

The Bible tells us we are like Israel. We are foreigners and aliens in this world (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 13:14). We live in a land that is not our home. Even so, like Israel, we are to work, build, plant, eat, marry, multiple, and seek the welfare of the cities in which we live. Prayer is one way to seek the welfare of our cities.

Starting April 1st you have the opportunity to join us and others for 40 Days of Prayer. During this time, we will focus on praying for the welfare of our cities. We hope to be praying alongside you then.

Resource

If you would like more information about 40 Days of Prayer, including how you can download a PDF copy of the information and link with us on social media, visit our website: sycamoredecatur.com/40DaysofPrayer

Scripture Memory Challenge – Week 7

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

How did you do with memorizing Scripture last week? If you did not do so well, or you did not know what Scripture to start memorizing, I invite you to take up the Scripture Memory Challenge with me. You can read more about it, and get started with week one’s memory verses, by clicking here.

Memory Verses

This last week, I memorized Jeremiah 32:17-19. I challenge you to do the same.

Jeremiah 32:17-19

Ah, Lord God! It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You. You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. 

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