Fulfilling a Promise

Devotions for Jeremiah 33:14-18

 

Monday–Fulfilling a Promise

“The days are surely coming, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 33:14a).

Life coaches frequently instruct us to focus on the present—live today. There is good reason for this. We struggle with time. Frequently we live in the past, struggling with the guilt and shame of past words and actions. The future captures our attention, when we occupy ourselves worrying about what might happen. Guilt and worry rob us of our ability to enjoy the present; experience the sights, sounds, relationships and even the struggles of the day.

The season of Advent is an example of this us, however. Looking to the days ahead is part of advent. We look forward to the birth of the Christ Child and to the return of the King of kings. Preparations need to be made. It is necessary to decorate our homes, purchase gifts, bake Christmas treats and prepare for either traveling or receiving guests. This can be accomplished worry free, while enjoying what the day holds. We anticipate what the season holds in store for us.

The prophet Jeremiah encourages a similar anticipation in his listeners. Jeremiah’s call is not one promoting worry or fear, nor is it an exhortation to escape the reality of the present day. Jeremiah’s words are a reminder that God is moving and, in the days ahead, we will see more clearly what God has accomplished. The words of the prophet could be rephrased to “Wake up! Keep your eyes open! You don’t want to miss seeing what God is up to.”

As followers of Jesus, Jeremiah’s words are good advice to us. We enjoy the gifts of the present while being aware that God is moving and alert to what the coming days hold.

Thank you Lord for the gifts of today and hope for the future. Amen.

Tuesday

“When I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 33:14b).

Akihito’s parents promised to attend the holiday program his grade school was presenting. When Akihito stepped up to the microphone to recite his lines, he scanned the audience looking for his parents. They were not there. They had broken their promises to him.

We have all experienced broken promises. We know the pain and the disappoint that unfulfilled promises produce. These stories exert a powerful force in our present day lives and hinder us from placing our faith in promises again. Jeremiah reminds this listeners that the Lord has made a promise. Because it is God who has made the promise, it is a promise that will be kept. God does not break promises.

Many times we make promises for God. We convince ourselves that God has promised to heal our family member or friend. Television preachers tell us God has promised to make us prosperous and successful. We want to think that God has promised to take all pain, sorrow and suffering away from us. When these pseudo promises aren’t fulfilled, we are disappointed and we struggle with placing our trust in God the next time.

The Lord doesn’t break God’s promises—God never has and God never will. (God had promised there would be a descendent of David on Israel’s throne. That promise appeared broken until the life, death and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled it.) God has promised us God’s love, grace, forgiveness, presence and power in our lives and in our world. What God has promised God will fulfill. We can rest in God’s promises.

Lord, thank you for your promises and the truth that we can place our faith and trust in you. Amen.

Wednesday–Fulfilling a Promise

“In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch” (Jeremiah 33:15a)

 The world is broken. There have been over three hundred mass shootings in 2019, in the United States. Hate crimes are on the rise. The media is filled with stories of corruption and deceit. Often it seems like the bad guys win and the good guys lose. Human suffering that is caused by poverty, addiction, drought, famine and war is overwhelming. Many times things appear hopeless and we are tempted to throw our hands up in despair.

God has promised that a righteous branch will appear. There will be a time when love will prevail over hate and acts kindness will replace any angry words and discord. When the righteous branch takes root, poverty will cease and everyone will have enough (the rich won’t have too much). People who experience tragedies will be cared for. Our prayers will be answered—God’s kingdom will come and God’s will shall be done on earth and in heaven.

Until the time when the righteous branch sprouts and grows, we, as followers of Jesus, are called to bring the love, forgiveness, and grace into the world. Through our words and deeds we take up Jesus’ ministry and care for the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked and bring peace to our families, communities, nation and world.

Thank you Lord for the promise that righteousness will prevail. Move in us and through us so that we live righteous lives to your honor and in service to others. Amen.

Thursday–Fulfilling a Promise

“To spring up for David” (Jeremiah 33:15b).

 While driving through the forest, Susan noticed that several acres had been clear cut. All of the trees had been sawed down. Only stumps remained. To Susan, the land was an ugly scare surrounded by the lush green beauty of the surrounding forest. It looked like the cruelty and selfishness of humankind had prevailed.

Several months later, Susan drove through the same forest. When she passed by the clear cut scar, she could hardly believe her eyes. New life was sprouting from several of the stumps. What once looked hopeless and dead now showed signs of life.

Often our lives appear clear cut and hopeless. We search for relief, but we don’t find anyone or anything to help us. Isolated and alone we fear that things will never change and our pain will never cease. Out of our hopelessness and despair, though, a shoot appears—a harbinger of hope. God’s Spirit moves and new life moves forward—change occurs and pain ceases.

Though our situations sometimes appear hopeless, Lord, we give thanks to you that you have the power to bring forth life from death. Amen.

Friday

“He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land” (Jeremiah 33:15c).

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’ve heard that before.” Potential leaders who are running for office are quick to make promises. They’re going to drain the swamp and make sure that justice and righteousness prevails. By electing them, we will usher in an age of equality. The injustice of poverty will end and along with it the injustice of racism and all the other “isms.” The thing is the leaders are elected but changes are never made.

We become rather cynical and our cynicism sometimes spills over to our walk of faith. There is so much injustice in the world that we struggle to believe there will ever be a time when God will move and bring justice and righteousness into the world.

God has moved, however. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, justice and righteousness has prevailed. Though still flawed, our families and communities of faith can be places where we experience justice and righteousness. We can share these vital attributes with the people around us so that more and more people are able to experience them. As the Holy Spirit moves in and through us, justice and righteousness shall prevail.

Empower us to live so that justice and righteousness becomes a part of our lives, our families, our communities and beyond. Amen.

Saturday–Fulfilling a Promise

 “In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety” (Jeremiah 33:16).

A strong military and a well-trained police force are necessary for our safety and security. Still, they have their limits. Though we have had many victories in Afghanistan and the Middle East, we still have mass shootings here. A disgruntled thirteen year old kills two of his classmates and wounds several others. A white supremacist enters an El Paso Walmart to kill Latinos. Another prays with a group of African-Americans during their Bible study and then shoots them. Children are still abducted and women are sexually assaulted.

When Jeremiah spoke about Judah being saved and Jerusalem living in safety, he was not placing his hope in a strong military or an economic upturn. Salvation and safety were gifts of God’s presence. It is God’s presence that is our salvation and safety, also.

This doesn’t mean that we will escape pain and suffering, and avoid the struggles of life. It does mean that God is our strength and our hope. When life overwhelms us, God will embrace us with God’s love. God will walk with us through the challenges of life and not dessert us when the going get rough.

We live in safety because of God’s presence in our lives.

Thank you Lord that you live among us in the person of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sunday–Fulfilling a Promise

“For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, ¹⁸ and the levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings” (Jeremiah 33:18).

Have you ever noticed that we are rarely concerned about having too much? Usually we worry about shortages. We question whether or not we will have enough food for our guests. Will we have enough time to do everything that we need to do today? Will we have enough money for our vacation and to take care of any emergencies should they occur? Possible shortages are everywhere.

The prophet seeks to assure the listeners that the Lord shall provide—there shall be no shortages. We know this to be a fact because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Because of what God accomplished Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is not only King of the nations, we also pledge our allegiance to him. We live in God’s kingdom and seek to honor God and serve others.

Because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we are God’s children and we will always have access to God. Martin Luther wrote in his catechism that as followers of Jesus, we can enter into God’s presence like children come to their parents. We can be bold in our requests like children boldly ask their parents for items. Because of what Jesus has done, we can offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1) in our service to God and to our neighbors.

There will never be shortages because of what Jesus has done. Alleluia!

Thank you Lord for the abundance that is ours. Amen.