Digging Deeper Daily: By Daily Bible Reading PodcastSample

JEREMIAH 30-31:
Yesterday we heard more of Jeremiah’s struggle against false prophets. And now so many centuries later, now in our day, the false message is what people desire to hear, even though the truth is actually better for us and much better for our preparation.

There is an often quoted verse from yesterday’s reading. I think it is good to bear in mind that this was NOT spoken to the Jews left behind in Israel's land, but was part of the letter to the exiles in Babylon.

Jer. 29:11 NLT For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.

I think it is great to pray to the Lord and ask that He would treat you the same way as the exiles in Babylon. I don’t think it is good to rip this verse out of context and claim it as applying directly to you. However, regarding our future and hope, and how God listens to us when we pray, there are many other verses, especially in the New Testament, that we can claim.

PROVERBS 3a:
In yesterday’s reading we heard that following the path of wisdom is the way of common sense, and that leads one to avoid reckless sin of all kinds. It is best to follow the example of godly people. Lady Wisdom appears again in today’s chapter in verses 13-18. Look for the pronouns ‘her’ and ‘she’ in most translations.

1CORINTHIANS 10:
In chapter 8, we heard that Christians who have ‘superior wisdom’ sometimes need to give up their ‘rights’ for the sake of not causing their brothers and sisters to fall or be tempted. (Often not really ‘rights’, but privileges we get too possessive about.) And that led Paul in chapter 9 to talk of the rights he and Barnabas had given up for the Gospel.