Jeremiah 29:8-13 For thus said the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the middle of you, deceive you… God's thoughts are like God, — they are wonderful as Himself, and worthy of Himself. His ways are the results of His thoughts, and their revelation to us. Creation, in all its vastness and completeness, is the thought of God, — a thought that embraced not only the great outlines, but all the details of the work of His Word, — a thought that did not require to be supplemented or enlarged. Providence, in its heights and depths, its lengths and breadths, is His thought, — a thought that takes in the entire history of our race, and is ever at work to bring about one great purpose, one glorious design. Redemption, in all its surpassing glory, is His thought,-a thought of which the whole Gospel is the revelation. I. GOD'S THOUGHTS MUST BE REVEALED. They are known only to His Spirit, "for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." These deep things are known to us, for God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit. We are permitted to know the thoughts of God that have had reference to ourselves; we are assisted in our conceptions of these thoughts, and it is wonderful to be told that they come into our minds, that they dwell in our hearts, and that we have communion with the thoughts of God. God is ever at work in the world, not only on its great stage, but on the narrow platform of our own dwellings; and we are permitted, in our brief lives, to see the impressions that are thrown off from the mind of God, the thoughts of God, in the dispensations of His providence. "Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward." God has spoken to man. He spake unto the fathers by the prophets, but He hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son. All that God has to say cannot be spoken; all that He has to reveal cannot be told us in words. We must have the death as well as the life of Jesus. II. GOD'S THOUGHTS ARE REVEALED, AND THEY ARE THOUGHTS CONCERNING US. However wonderful these thoughts, they might not concern us, they might not be about us; they might be about angels, and not about men, — about other worlds, and not this small province in God's empire. But these thoughts become to us of the greatest moment, when we are told that they are about us — that God thought of us long ago — that before the world began, the thoughts of God were concerning us. How is man magnified by this very fact! III. WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THESE THOUGHTS CONCERNING US 1. Sometimes we think God's thoughts towards us are evil, because His ways are so full of mystery. We see the means to the end — we do not see the end. But the way to it is dark and sorrowful, and the events by which it is to be brought about, we baptise by the name of evil. 2. God's thoughts are eminently practical They are thoughts to an end. God is "wonderful in counsel and excellent in working." God alone could originate the thoughts that fill His mind; He only can accomplish them. He does not merely think, — He speaks, He works, and fulfils His designs. IV. GOD HAS THE MOST PERFECT ACQUAINTANCE WITH HIS OWN THOUGHTS, AND WITH THEIR CHARACTER. 1. "I know the thoughts that l, think toward you." The Infinite Mind knows no change. God's thoughts are the same to-day as yesterday; and hence His promises are like thoughts that have just been breathed in our world; and His gifts and calling are without repentance. 2. Let us acquaint ourselves with these thoughts. We have the record. We have the words of Him who spake as never man spake. Let us get these Divine thoughts into our minds, that our thoughts may be quickened and strengthened, that we may think the thoughts of God, that we may have communion with the mind of God. V. IF GOD HAS PLACED HIS THOUGHTS BEFORE OUR MINDS, LET US PLACE OUR THOUGHTS BEFORE GOD. Let us not only think about Him, but to Him. Let us thus have fellowship with Him. VI. LET US SO ACT AND LIVE, AS TO CARRY OUT AND EXEMPLIFY GOD'S THOUGHTS. "The grace of God has appeared to us, teaching us that we should deny ungodliness." Let us profit by its teaching; let us act out its teaching by living Godlike. (H. J. Bevis.) Parallel Verses KJV: For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. |
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