- Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again 11 the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: ‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord. Jeremiah 33:10-11 – All that could be heard in Judah that day was the sounds of weeping and the enemy at their doorstep. Not the sounds of joy and praise that they longed to hear. God was promising them that His power could bring praise where there was only weeping, and joy where there was only loss. Often we too attribute health to the sounds we hear. Imagine stepping into a church that was silent, though full of people. Not a silence of reverence but a silence for there was no joy within those walls for they had lost it all. Then imagine a church that is filled with the bustling activity of laughter, praise, and life. It wouldn’t take long for someone to feel the difference between those two places, and this difference is what God can bring in your life. Where desolation is all you see, God can restore life to its fullest. Where joy feels like a distance memory, God can bring joy till your cup overflows. Come to Jesus, or return to Jesus, whichever is your story, and find the sounds of joy once again within your story. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3263
- The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: Jeremiah 33:1 – Sometimes we feel like in order for us to hear from God we must find perfect tranquility in our life. That the setting and atmosphere of the room has to be perfect. We must escape from the chaos to a place of peace to hear from God. Certainly God speaks in those peace-filled times, what we learn though from our passage is that God can speak even when the situation we are in isn’t ideal. Jeremiah was locked up against his will, yet God still was able to share His message with Him. So cherish the moments where you can can listen to God in peace, just know He also can speak in the middle of the chaos. If you seek His voice and are willing to listen even in the chaos, you’ll find His voice to be just as powerful. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 952
- Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 33:14-16 – “In those days” God is going to provide a king that will sit on David’s throne forever. This king will rule for eternity and bring peace to all of God’s people. He will heal the lands, restore the lost, and bring the people back together from where they have been exiled. Now fast-forward in scripture to the first verse in Luke 2 when we get the story of Jesus’ birth. What are the first three words? “In those days.” While For Jeremiah those three words were a time far in the future to look forward to, when Luke wrote them he was telling of a time that happened not that long ago for him. That the days promised by God had come and now they are sitting in the beauty God said would come. Know today we are in those days. Jesus has come, He has brought peace, and He has healed all who come to Him. Let’s be grateful we have a God who always comes through with His promises. I love you, but Jesus loves more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2165
Daily DEVO 