For I Know the Plans I Have for You 因我知道我为你们所定的计划

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

In his letter to the surviving elders among the Jewish exiles and priests, the prophet Jeremiah assured God’s people that they wouldn’t be captives forever. He encouraged them to settle, marry, and raise families in the foreign land, and he reminded them that God was designing a good plan for them with a hopeful future.

In the midst of today’s trouble and chaos, God is working to design a good future for us as well. He is doing in our generation what he did in ancient Egypt: redeeming a remnant of people. In the final book of the Bible, God reiterates his vision: “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’” (Revelation 7:9–10).

This dream drives the heart of God. His purpose from all eternity is to prepare a family to indwell the kingdom of God. “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11, emphasis added). Oh, the beauty of the thrice-repeated word plans. God is plotting for our good. In all the setbacks and slipups, he is ordaining the best for our future. Every event of our days is designed to draw us toward our God and our destiny.

To the degree that we believe and accept his vision for our lives, we will get through life. When people junk us into the pit, we will stand up. God can use this for good. When family members sell us out, we will climb to our feet. God will recycle this pain. Falsely accused? imprisoned? Utterly abandoned? We may stumble but we do not fall? Why? God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11).

Everything means everything. No exceptions. Everything in your life is leading to a climactic moment in which Jesus will “reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:20).

Apply the Truth of Jeremiah 29:11

Recall a time in your life when God rescued you and brought good out of your troubles. Ask God who you can encourage with your story and then do it.

By Max Lucado drawn from the NIV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible.

耶和华说：“我知道我为你们所怀的意念，是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，是要叫你们有盼望，有末后的意念。” —— 耶利米书 29:11

先知耶利米在写给被掳犹太人中幸存的长老和祭司的信中，向上帝的子民保证，他们不会永远被掳。他鼓励他们在异乡定居、结婚生子，并提醒他们，上帝正在为他们制定美好的计划，让他们拥有充满希望的未来。

在当今的困境和混乱之中，上帝也在努力为我们设计美好的未来。祂在我们这一代所做的，正如祂在古埃及所做的一样：救赎余民。在圣经的最后一本书中，上帝重申了祂的异象：“有许多的人，没有人能数过来，是从各国、各族、各民、各方来的，站在宝座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕树枝，大声喊着说：‘愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的神，也归与羔羊。’”（启示录 7：9-10）

这梦想驱动着神的心。祂从亘古以来的旨意，就是预备一个家庭，住在神的国里。“ 耶和华说：‘我知道我为你们所怀的意念，是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。’”（耶利米书29:11，着重号是我加上的）。哦，三次出现的“ 计划”一词多么美妙！神正在为我们谋划美好的事。在所有的挫折和失误中，祂都在为我们的未来预备最好的。我们日常生活中的每一件事，都是为了引导我们归向神和我们的命运。

我们越相信并接受祂对我们人生的愿景，我们就越能度过人生。当人们把我们扔进坑里时，我们就能站起来。 上帝会用这来成就美好的事。 当家人出卖我们时，我们也能重新站起来。 上帝会循环利用这些痛苦。被诬告？被囚禁？被彻底抛弃？我们可能会跌倒，但不会倾倒？为什么？因为“神按着他旨意所预定的，作万事”（以弗所书 1:11）。

一切都意味着一切。没有例外。你生命中的一切都将导向一个高潮时刻，届时耶稣将“借着他在十字架上所流的血，成就了和平，便叫万有，无论是地上的、天上的，都与自己和好了。”（歌罗西书 1:20）