Jeremiah 1:4-7
Have you ever had a time when you felt inadequate or said I just can’t do it? Maybe there was a time when you wondered, What is my purpose? What does God want me to do? We have probably all had concerns or thoughts like that at one time or another. We are all good at making excuses too. I’m too busy, I’m too tired, too old, too young. We tend to imagine that God calls the ready, the confident, the ones who have it all figured out. Jeremiah had those same thoughts and he had every excuse ready when God called him to be a prophet. But Jeremiah 1:4-7 shatters that picture.God calls Jeremiah, a hesitant young man, equips him with words not his own, and sends him into a world that would shake around him.
The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. Jeremiah 1:4-7 (NLT)
Like most people, Jeremiah questioned his purpose in life. God called Jeremiah to a monumental task before he was even born. He called Jeremiah to be a prophet, but he wasn’t going to leave Jeremiah to do it all on his own. God promised to give Jeremiah all the words he would need to speak.
God might not call us to be prophets, but God does call us to serve Him. Serving could be volunteering at church or in the community. He also calls all of us to share his message with others. He calls us based upon our gifts. He knows who we really are and He made each of us with special talents and interests. No one is too small, too young or too weak for God to use. God has a purpose for each of us, established even before our birth. Like Jeremiah, we need to trust in Him and His calling. If he calls you to do something, he will give you the strength, the words, the courage to do it. We too can overcome feelings of inadequacy and fulfill the mission He has set before us. If all things are possible with God, and they are, then we should not be surprised when God’s work is realized through us.
Questions for Reflection:
- What’s one thing that God might be calling you to do?
- Is there something new you could volunteer for at church as a way to serve?
- How can you serve God with the talents He has given you?
Prayer:
Dear God, I know there are times I have resisted your call. I have made excuses or felt inadequate. Help me to use the gifts and talents that you have given me to serve those around me. Fill me with your Spirit and help me to trust your plan for me, and to have peace in my heart, knowing that you are always with me. Amen
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