Controlling - Who Me?

The Story – Chapter 18

Jeremiah 30

　
College and professional football coaches appear to be extremely controlling. They diagram out the first several series of plays for their quarterback to run. They don’t want to leave anything to chance. Sometimes you get the feeling that if they could make their quarterback into a marionette they’d do it.

But if you think about it we’re not much different than that we just don’t have millions of people watching us on TV. We try to control our world in many ways. Maybe you plan your day out on your Daytimer or iphone. Maybe you try to control your children or your spouse or co-workers. Maybe your controlling behavior has become an addiction.

The people of Judah and Israel had lost control of their world. Because of worshiping other gods they were exiled to a foreign land. Other kings oppressed them. They were forced to leave their home, their family and their friends. Their lives were uprooted and chaos ruled the day. There was no hope for the future.

Into this bleak setting Jeremiah brings a new message from the Lord. It is the word of the Lord that promises, "I will bring my people back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess". We also see a promise of a savior as he tells them, "They will serve the Lord their God and David their king whom I will raise up for them".

But these were specific promises to the people of Israel and Judah that were in exile at that time. What difference does it make to you today? The final verse of Jeremiah 30 says, "The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart". In other words, the Lord is in control, we aren’t.

So no matter what you are going through right now - whether it is a difficult situation at work or at school, a marriage that is struggling, illness, an uncertain future or maybe an addiction - God is in control. He will use your circumstances to bring you closer to Him and to serve Him.

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". Go, seek and serve Him today for He is at work in your life.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2030&version=NIV;MSG

http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Jer.30