I look at this bookmark a bit differently today – it is Jeremiah 29:11 scripture “I know the plans for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you and give you a hope and a future.” – this is from the Lord to Jeremiah in the times that Israel as a people were dashed away in exile – after many years in divided kingdoms after Solomon’s time where there were many bad kings who didn’t listen to God as well as some good kings – and well the israelites were dashed away in exile and told by God that they had to be in exile for a number of years before they would return – well – that is then and it is for us now.
I know that this bookmark does not state that I (the Lord) will give you all sunshine and unicorns and rainbows and that fancy type of life with no problems – the Lord really means that “I will be with you” – and we don’t need much more than that – to know that God is with us – but also that we should remember that the Lord promised to prosper them as a nation – which He did – and that the Lord will keep you going – which He does.
So – the bookmark scripture reminder also means that we have to wait sometimes for that full fulfillment of Him in us for it all to come together – in the meantime we must acknowledge that the Lord Himself DOES provide – provide us with meals and homes – and provides us with friends and family and places to be and things to do – and the Lord provides the ultimate help – that He is with us… It is not on occasion that He stops by but that He is here always – until the end of the age says Jesus in Matthew 28.
And it is natural for us to doubt and wonder – even those who saw the risen Christ doubted – but we have to remember that if Jesus could be risen from the dead – then His words – the Words of God – should be believable. It was no magic trick and it is not an empty promise.
Perhaps that is the great conclusion of this study – that Jesus will be with us so that we see Him working. It is human nature to doubt other people saying that they trust the Lord – that the Lord worked something out for them – and so we too must be in wait and watch and see the Lord for ourselves. In Mark 16, Jesus appears to Mary after He arose – and then to the disciples themselves:Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
Perhaps we need to trust more – that is a certainty – and in our work, we must expect to see the Lord working – working our hands and feet. “The Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. “
Let us keep working His Plans to use us.
Amen
Matthew 28:16-20 NKJV
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Mark 16:9-20 NKJV
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Debbie Upper 