TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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. Jeremiah 29:7
Read: Jeremiah 29:5-7
Listen: Jeremiah 29
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Daniel spent most of his life in places he’d rather not be. He is deported from his beloved home of Jerusalem as a young man and sent to Babylon. There he’s selected for a training program and ends up in high-level service to a foreign king. When a new king comes to power, Daniel loses his position and is once again unknown. Then another crisis arises, and Daniel is called once again to serve a king and country hostile to his people and God. Daniel doesn’t choose any of these circumstances. Yet, in every situation, he seeks to serve faithfully.
During this same time, God instructs the prophet Jeremiah to offer encouragement and instruction to all those deported to Babylon. Rather than resisting—they are to settle in, build homes, have families, and even seek the peace and prosperity of their captors, praying for the land and leaders to succeed. This counter-intuitive command was to show God honor, even in an undesired place.
We, too, will find ourselves in places we would never choose or desire. We may dread a job with a demeaning boss and challenging co-workers. We may face a teacher who is antagonistic toward our faith. Family dynamics may have us hiding in a corner during the holidays. Maybe we’re not in the body we want or would have chosen. Wherever we are, we can honor God there by surrendering our frustrations, feelings and ambitions and asking God to show us how to honor him in these places we would never choose.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
What challenging place do you need to honor God by surrendering and serving faithfully? Ask God to help you take one step to serve him this week and honor him with your attitude, choices, effort and faithfulness. If you would like to talk to someone about how to honor God in a difficult place, please email us at btw@adabible.org.
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.
MATTHEW 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
