3-Day Bible Reading Plan: What We Really Long For, We Will Have To Wait For
“What we really long for, we will have to wait for. The Bible instructs us to work for the good of our land, recognizing that the greatest good is something we have to wait for. Failing to wait can lead to many dangers. We can panic when our political hopes fail. We can become angry when our work for good is unsuccessful. We shouldn’t think too much of our political work or too little. We want to be politically active realists who balance working for good and waiting for great. Jeremiah, the prophet, instructed the exiles in Babylon to conduct themselves this way.” - Pastor Paul Crandell, 10/13/24
Day 1: God's Sovereignty and Promises
Main Passage: Jeremiah 29:10-11 (ESV)
“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Reflection:
How does Jeremiah 29:10-11 emphasize God's sovereignty and control over the situation?
How can understanding God's sovereignty help us trust in His plans, even when they seem difficult or uncertain?
Cross-References:
Isaiah 29:11-12 (ESV): “And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, ‘Read this,’ he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed.’”
Romans 8:28 (ESV): “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Philippians 1:6 (ESV): “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Day 2: The Power of Prayer in Waiting
Main Passage: Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV)
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Reflection:
How does Jeremiah 29:12-13 highlight the importance of prayer in waiting on God's promises?
What specific actions are we encouraged to take in our prayers?
How can prayer help us to maintain our trust in God during difficult times?
Cross-References:
Matthew 7:7 (ESV): “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
James 4:8 (ESV): “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
Psalm 145:18 (ESV): “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Day 3: Restoration and the Kingdom of Christ
Main Passage: Jeremiah 29:14 (ESV)
“I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
Reflection:
How does Jeremiah 29:14 connect God's restoration of His people to the ultimate restoration that will take place in the kingdom of Christ?
What hope and encouragement can we draw from the promise of a future kingdom where all suffering and injustice will be ended?
Cross-References:
Isaiah 40:1-2 (ESV): “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.”
2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV): “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
Revelation 21:4 (ESV): “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Day 4: Waiting Well in Our Daily Lives
Reflection:
How can the principles of waiting well, as discussed in the sermon and reading plan, be applied to our daily lives?
What specific actions can we take to cultivate patience, trust, and prayer in our relationships, work, and personal challenges?
How can we maintain a balanced perspective, recognizing the need for both action and waiting?