Devotional ‘Falling into grace’

This month I am reading the book of Jeremiah, 50+ chapters, at least three chapters a day. I thought: that is all the same thing: God sends Jeremiah to harlot Zion (this represents Jerusalem, Judah who was not yet sent into captivity to Babylon). Jeremiah speaks this message: ‘Repent, for God is about to punish you’, with the promise of restoration if they will repent and turn back to God. But this book is not boring at all! In a nutshell it is in fact the good news of the gospel of Christ.

(NIV) Jeremiah 8  ⁴ “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return?

Everything is meant to belong to God and to return to Him. Our purpose in life is to return to our Maker, the Owner, the Author of Life, Life Himself. God is the owner of the universe, everything that is belongs to Him. Throughout the ages everything and everyone has and will ‘retrun’ after having accomplished their purpose here on earth, whether it is for good or for bad.

(NIV) Ecclesiastes 12 ⁶ Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, ⁷ and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. ⁸ “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!”

It is a principle of heaven that we also see in this:

1. Het The Word that proceeds from the mouth of God will not return void to him but will accomplish everything that it was sent out for.

(NIV) Isaiah 55 ⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [*1]  ¹⁰ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

2. Jesus fulfilled and accomplished the work that the Father gave Him to do here on earth

(NIV) John 17 ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. ⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me … ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. …

[*1] Question relating to (NIV) Isaiah 55 ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

In devo 1 ‘Prayer for a friend’ I explained that we are granted the privilege to think-along with  God. Through Christ, through the Holy spirit we have access to knowing the plans of God; salvation and redemption through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. The Word is never contradicting itself so how can we explain this? … I have my explanation but will leave this question with you.. Would you like to explore this deeper? Then do send me an e-mail.

 ^{(NIV) 1 Petrus 1 19} but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ²⁰ He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. ²² Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. ²³ For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, ²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

Below you will find a prayer that you can proclaim over yourself or over a loved one. 

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Will you pray out loud with me?? (personal proclamation prayer)

Father in heaven. Thank youthat you loved meand this world so much that You gave Your only Son, so that I can return home to You. Thank You Jesus for completing the work that the Father gave You to do in complete obedience to the will of the Father. Thank You that You are seated at the right hand of the Father and that You reign. Thank You Holy Spirit for living within me so that I can be at home ‘in Christ Jesus’. Help me to accomplish the work, every work for which I have been placed on the earth in this particular time in history. Speak, o Living Word and Truth, claerly and powerfully into my life and gie me strength to work everything out according to Your Holy plan. Teach me to hear the voice of my good Shepherd better, more and more. so that I am able to always follow You. Let every other voice be silenced. Holy Spirit, lead me deeper into Christ, help me to represent Jesus to the best of my ability, fill me afresh, today. Not my will be done, but Your will be done, heavenly Father. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Will you pray out loud with me?? (proclamation prayer for a loved one; fill in their name in the blanks)

Father in heaven. I bring (…) before Your throne of Grace. Thank You that You loved  (…) and this world so much that You gave Jesus, Your only Son, so that (…) can return home to You. Thank You Jesus for completing the work that the Father gave You to do in comI plead for (…) as You plead for me at the righthand of the father. Holy Spirit I ask You to make Your home in the heart of (…) to bring (…)home in Jesus Christ. Help (…) to fulfill the work that You give (…) to do in this world, in this specific time in history. Speak, Living Word and Truth, clearly and poiwerfully in the life of (…) and give (…) strength and faith to work all things out for Your glory. Teach (…) to hear and understand the voice of Jesus, his/her good Shepherd, so that (…) may follow in Your foot steps.Let every evil voice that has spoken into his/her life be silenced forever. Holy Spirit, lead (…) deeper into Christ Jesus, help him/her to represent Jesus to the best of their ability, fill (…) afresh, today. Not the will of (…) will be done in their life, but may Your Holy will be done, heavenly Father. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.