Dear friends, grace and peace to you from God the Father and from His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
My name is Pastor Loren Christensen of Danish Countryside Chapel. Today, we embark on a journey through the pages of the Bible, and our destination is the story of Jeremiah. As we delve into this narrative, I want you to reflect on the theme of "The Unrelenting Call to Serve."
Jeremiah 1:4-5 tells us, "Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'"
Imagine for a moment that you were Jeremiah, receiving this divine calling from God. What would your response be? Would you embrace it eagerly, feeling fully prepared for the task, or would you, like Jeremiah, be filled with reluctance?
Jeremiah's initial response to God's call is captured in Jeremiah 1:6: "Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.'"
Jeremiah felt unqualified and ill-prepared to take on the role of a prophet. Yet, God's response to him in Jeremiah 1:7-8 is a powerful reminder: "But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, "I am only a youth"; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.'"
God's calling is not dependent on our perceived qualifications or abilities. It's not a career choice that we can accept or decline based on our convenience. Rather, it's an unrelenting fascination with Christ, a divine appointment where God knows us intimately and ordains us for a specific purpose.
Jeremiah 1:9-10 continues, "Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, 'Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.'"
Jeremiah was called to speak God's words boldly, even when they involved plucking up, breaking down, and destroying. This reminds us that God's calling may not always lead us down an easy path, but it is for His divine purpose.
God's calling isn't about our worthiness; it's about our willingness to obey. Jeremiah's story challenges us to answer God's call with obedience and faithfulness, even when we feel unworthy or ill-equipped.
As we journey through this episode, let us reflect on our own lives. Have we heard God's calling? Are we embracing it with the same unrelenting obedience that Jeremiah eventually demonstrated? Let us remember that God equips those He calls and is with us, just as He was with Jeremiah, to fulfill His divine purposes.
Until we meet again, may God's grace and peace be upon you all. Amen.
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