Homesick

My favorite verse in the Bible is Jeremiah 1:5. This is what God said to Jeremiah when He called him to be a prophet: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Just like with Jeremiah, God knew me before I was born, and He had a plan for my life while I was still in the womb. Life becomes meaningful when I know that I am not just an accident on planet earth.

In the book of Jeremiah, we see God calling Jeremiah into ministry as a prophet to the people of Judah. This call was according to the plan God had made for his life before he was born. Jeremiah became God’s spokesman, calling the people of Judah to repent from worshiping idols and turn back to God. He warned them of the coming disasters and the Babylonian exile that would come as God’s judgment on them for their sin if they did not repent. However, Jeremiah not only pronounced judgment, but he also gave Judah a promise from God, a promise of restoration after seventy years of exile.

God’s interaction with Jeremiah and His people foreshadows the restoration God is going to bring to the whole world. Since humans first sinned against God, humankind was doomed to face God’s judgment. But through Jesus, God has given us the hope of salvation. Jesus came to reveal God’s loving plan for the world, to save us from sin and death, and to heal all brokenness (1 John 4:14). Jesus willingly died for our sin, and He rose back to life! Now anyone who turns to God and puts their trust in Jesus is free from sin and judgment and is restored to relationship with God! As we receive God’s plan for salvation, God continues to unfold His plan for us.

According to Ephesians 1:4-5, God knew us before the foundation of the world, and He chose us in Christ. Adopting us into His family gave Him great pleasure! In Galatians 1:15-16, Paul writes, “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.” God was pleased to reveal Jesus to Paul, and God called Paul to share this good news. As Christians, we can know God’s plan for us is to be saved through Jesus. Let us then walk in God’s plans and purposes for our lives as His chosen ones. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni

• According to Ephesians 1:4-14, what is God’s plan and purpose for us?

• According to Ephesians 2:10, how is it possible for us to “do the good things he planned”?

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Ps.139.7-Ps.139.10|Phil.4.4-Phil.4.20