Perfect Navigation
Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 29:10-14
“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “… plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Although it is only October, the media are already talking about Christmas shopping. One of the hottest items will again be a GPS navigation system. This gadget can tell and show a driver where his or her car is in relation to the destination and what is the best way to get there.
However, a lot of people still get lost, even with such a high-tech system. The reason is that they don’t really follow the instructions. Even if the system is perfect, it cannot force the driver to go in a certain direction. Call it human pride or stubbornness—the end result is the same: loss of time and energy.
We are all created in the image of God, and God has a perfect plan for us. But we want to be in control, and we are too proud to follow instructions. The end result is a life full of chaos, frustration, and meaninglessness.
The Israelites learned this the hard way—they were taken into captivity and scattered among the nations. But the Lord remained with them, and he promised, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you … and will bring you back from captivity.”
God will not force you to follow his plan. But do we see any better alternatives when we look at what is happening in our lives and all around us?
O God, we confess that we often do not listen to you and want to follow our own sinful ways. Forgive us and guide us back to your plan for our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Jimmy Tai-On Lin
Rev. Jimmy Lin is the Chinese ministry leader of The Back to God Hour. With his staff in Palos Heights and Hong Kong, Rev. Lin has ministered to over 1.3 billion Chinese-speaking people around the world for 16 years through radio, literature, CD/DVD, Internet, and text message. His wife, Doris, is one of the translators of Today into the Chinese language, which now has a circulation of more than 45,000 copies.
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