Today’s
biblical precepts of message: Jeremiah’s call (Jeremiah 1:1-10)
By
Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts &
Gospel Music
Date: April,
25,2021
My friends, do
you know what your call is? Do you make excuses like Jeremiah not to fulfill
God’s call because of age? Especially, when you grow in aging, strength has
gone, as seniors, you may think that you are no longer be useful for building the
church, and the kingdom of God, so that you make excuses not to proclaim good
news, nor fulfill the commission of Jesus, who commanded, “therefore, go and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.” (Matt.28:19). May
this message renews your heart and be encouraged to run the race. Although our
physical being outwardly perish day by day, yet, inwardly, our inner man
through Christ indwell in us, we are being renewed day by day. Let us refresh
and renew God’s call through the book of Jeremiah.
What is
Jeremiah’s call?
According to the book of Jeremiah date 627- 585 B.C. Jeremiah is weeping prophet or the prophet of loneliness, because he was commanded not to marry. Jeremiah was also the reluctant prophet. Yet for more than forty years he faithfully proclaimed God’s judgment on apostate Judah, all the while enduring opposition, beatings and imprisonment. Jeremiah began his ministry at about the age of twenty under good King Josiah, with whom he enjoyed cordial relations. After Josiah’s death, opposition to the prophet mounted. He barely escaped, arrest, was forbidden to go the Temple, and had to deputize Baruch, his secretary, to deliver his prophecies. King Jehoiakim destroyed Jeremiah’s written predictions, King Zedekiah permitted nationalistic minded nobles to imprison Jeremiah; then he reduced the punishment. When the forces of Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem in 586; Jeremiah was freed and given the choice of going to Babylon or remaining in Jerusalem. He chose the latter, but was soon abducted and taken to Egypt by Jews who fled there rather than face Nebuchadnezzar. In Egypt Jeremiah prophesied a few more years and apparently there he died. Sensitive and sympathetic by nature, he nevertheless was commanded by God to deliver a stern message of judgment. The opposition he faced was cruel and crushing, so much so that more than once he wanted to resign from his office as prophet; yet he continued faithfully to proclaim God’s word.[1]
God’s
promise to Jeremiah
Jeremiah is son of Hilkiah, one of the priests
at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The Lord of the Lord came to him in the
thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah Son of Amon king of Judah, and through
the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king Judah, down to the fifth month of the
eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of
Jerusalem went into exile. The word of Lord came to Jeremiah and saying, “Before
I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I
appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jer.1:5) Jeremiah was a
child when God called him and appointed him as prophet to the nations, but
Jeremiah made an excuse that he didn’t know how to speak and he is only a
child. This is how he responded, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to
speak; I am only a child.” But the Lord said to him, “Do
not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say
whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will
rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Then the Lord
reached out His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said to him, “Now,
I have put my words in your mouth. See, today, I appoint you over nations and
kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to
plant.”(Jer.1:9-10). Jeremiah
was strengthened by God; his mouth was touched by the hand of God, so God had
succeded Jeremiah to be the prophet over nations and kingdoms to uproot, tear
down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.
Christians ’call realization: acknowledge God’s
presence is with you
In Christians’
ministry journey, it is important to distinguish what is God’s call to you?
Once God affirms your call, He will strengthen you to fulfill His commands.
Jeremiah and Moses faced God’s call, both, had made excuses and refused to fulfill
the mission in the beginning. Yet, God’s loving-kindness and willingly provided
solution and helper to them, in order to success the mission. God’s plan is best;
His presence is with those who obey His call, for He is Omnipresence. Moses and
Jeremiah didn’t learn their own understanding, but all the ways they acknowledged
God’s leading, for they knew it was God’s call. And God had promised, “Do
not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.” God’s presence was with His servants as
Jesus promised, “Surely, I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.”(Matt.28:20).
Today, you and
I can be like Jeremiah and Moses, make excuses about aging, retirement,
language barriers, lost health, and lack financial aid. There are many
obstacles in the U.S.A, so eventually we lack the desires of hearts to build kingdom
of God as disciples and prophets. No matter your age, my friends, if God’s call to you is affirmed as Jeremiah,
Moses, and you heard God’s voice so clear that God wants you to fulfill His great
commission, don’t hesitate to fulfill God’s call. His presence will be with you;
He will equip you, train you, send you helper, and put His word in your mouth.
He will never leave you nor forsake you. For God’s call is irrevocable.
Bibliography,
King
James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company
Lee,
Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry,
1985.
Ryrie,
Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible
Institute, 1986.
[1]
Charles C. Ryrie, The Ryrie study Bible
(NIV).(Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute 1986), 1008.
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