The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 21 October 2019 – Blessed Assurance

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TOPIC: Blessed Assurance

READ: Jeremiah 31:1-14 King James Version (KJV)

1 At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

2 Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

5Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.

6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.

7 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.

8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

THE MESSAGE:

The passage is full of assurances from God to His people. Here, God assures all the families and tribes of Israel that though their present state was that of enslavement by foreigners, those who put their trust in Him would be rebuilt and dance with joy (verse 4). They would again be able to plant and enjoy the fruit of their labour (verse 5). As these blessings pour down from the Lord, they will acknowledge God as the One who has blessed them and go to worship Him in Zion (verse 6). It is still words of assurances we find in verses 7-14. They would be restored from all over the earth to their land (verses 8-11); they would lack nothing like a well-watered garden, having joy all the way (verses 12-14).

Beloved in Christ, God never raises our hope and dashes it to the ground. After many years that God gave these assurances to His children that they would be gathered from all over the earth, Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. It does not matter how long it takes, whatever God promises will surely come to pass. Jesus says, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31). God who made these promises to the families of Israel and brought them to pass has not changed and will never change (cf Hebrews 13:8). Look beyond the troubles you may be having right now and put your trust in the Lord, holding on to the blessed assurances in His word. He will surely bring them to pass.

PRAYER: Dear Father, let all Your promises concerning my life come to pass. You who raise the hope of Your children and never dash it, raise my hope in Jesus name!