Re: Verse reading–Jeremiah 31:27-34; 32:1-15 (day one)
“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’ ” (v 32:15) My favorite Jeremiah story. His finest hour. After years of declaring Jerusalem’s ruin, and on the eve of that predicted collapse, Jeremiah becomes a voice of hope. With the armies of Babylon surrounding the city, Jeremiah buys property! Crazy! He makes an investment in the future, “puts his money where his mouth is”. Signing the papers, he instructs the deeds to be sealed in an earthenware jar to protect them from years of mildew, moisture and theft. He then explained his action with a prophecy that commerce would someday be carried on again in Jerusalem and that eventually his purchase would prove financially prudent. Easter is about hope, too. Just like Jeremiah, our lives should speak hope. Our friends should see us trusting God and investing in the future.