Have you ever felt God place a message on your heart that you couldn’t help but share? Sometimes that calling arrives on your doorstep when you least expect it. That was the case for me when my daughter was diagnosed with Down syndrome. God has used her life to show me His deep love for all people, regardless of their abilities or achievements. My eyes have been opened to the shortcomings in my own heart, and in the heart of our culture, to affirm the worth of every human being because they are made in the image of God. I knew God was leading me to spread the word about how “perfectly and wonderfully made” people with Down syndrome are.
Sometimes the task God gives us is unpopular. The truth can be divisive, and by sharing the truth of the gospel we may lose friends, family, and opportunities. In some parts of the world, the consequences of faith are far more dire, putting the very lives of believers at risk for preaching the Word. The prophet Jeremiah was no stranger to persecution. He was given the dangerous assignment of calling Jerusalem out for their injustice and unfaithfulness to God. And while he was faithful to preach that message, it was not without internal wrestling.
One might look at the prophets of old and assume that witnessing is somehow easier for them than it is for you and me. We might think they liked the public stage and all that came with it. But Jeremiah makes it clear he would run away from the spotlight in a second if it didn’t mean running away from God too. So why doesn’t Jeremiah forget the risky business of prophecy and find a more convenient, safe way to serve God? Jeremiah is compelled to speak out because, as he said, the Lord’s message “becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in” (Jeremiah 20:9). His heart is so deeply tethered to the Lord’s that he cannot waver from his created purpose.
As followers of Jesus, God places specific callings to our lives through the movement of the Holy Spirit in us. For each one of us, the big-picture calling is to proclaim the name of Jesus. But we have all been entrusted with unique circumstances and gifts that shape the way we point the world to Christ.
What is the specific “burning” you feel in your bones? Are you being faithful to proclaim it? While it’s tempting to let the fear of repercussion silence you, look to the faith of Jeremiah for courage. He was a man who preached a dangerous message and experienced the backlash, but knew deep down he could do nothing less. The reason Jeremiah was able to be so bold was not because he was strong or special, but because he trusted that God is a “violent warrior,” one who could not be stopped (Jeremiah 20:11). That same powerful God is calling you and me to share the truth with the world in a very particular way. He will be with us every step of the way. The question is, will we let God speak through our lives?
Leave a Reply
59 thoughts on "Jeremiah Compelled to Preach"
Thank you Katherine for your comment. My thoughts and conclusions as well-being put so well into words
Wow! What a challenging devotional. Will I let God speak through my life? Love verse 9. God IS calling me to share Him but I often feel to timid. I pray my heart and bones would feel the burning for Him. That I would share His truth with a very needy world. He is with me every step of the.way. Thank you Katie for the challenge this morning.
I experience a literal wave of relief when getting to the New Testament part of the daily readings … my body has a literal “Thank God!” moment of releasing tension , and it is right , I should thank God! Light can’t be fully appreciated without knowing the dark , and Jeremiah has been that darkness for me .
I am comforted by God’s sovereignty. He doesn’t look upon on our sufferings and wish that he could help. He is working all things together for our good. Satan is under God’s sovereign rule.
We have a high king and priest who prays for us in the midst of suffering and temptation! Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).
Jesus said, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.”
I am resting in these thoughts today.
Have you ever been really, really sick? A few years ago we got a flu that was really bad. We were miserable. The, “I think I am dying,” or “I just want to die so it is over,” kind. A bacteria or virus had gotten into our bodies and was either making copies of itself or multiplying by dividing where one became two, and two became four,… Throughout the process, our good cells fought hard, and won.
God’s chosen people are sick. The bacteria or virus of sin came in slowly and is spreading. Making copies of itself as one person introduces another to the evil. Dividing and multiplying, as children follow in the sins of their fathers. Jeremiah is fighting the good fight. But, it is hard. It is painful. It feels lonely like; it just needs to be over. Death would be welcome. But choosing not to fight the battle, is not an option; for God has called, and Jeremiah is His. Obedience to God’s call burns in His weary, worn body and mind.
Our culture is not so different. Sin slips in and spreads. As His children, God calls and equips us for battle. We are covered in His armor. We go forth in His strength. But, it. Is. Still. War. War against the evil that wants to destroy those we love and even those around us that we do not know, but that God loves. Our Commander and Chief knows us, for He created us. He knows our thoughts. He knows our minds. He knows our strengths. He knows our weaknesses. And, He. Loves. Us. We. Are. His! We are not alone in the battle. This battle belongs to the Lord!
We fight in enemy territory. This place is not our home. As charming as this earth may be. As delightful, and enriching the conveniences around us may seem. Nothing compares to being Home. Our hearts burn to once again walk with our Father through the garden. To be face to face in His presence where there is fullness of joy.
At times the pain and loneliness may seem like, “it just needs to be over.” In those times Lord, strengthen us. For, when I am once again, Home, and I am looking into the eyes of my Father. When the grace of your gaze lands upon me. I want a multitude of your children sitting with me. When Jesus said in his prayer that he did not lose any of those You gave to him; I too long to sit beside those You have given to me. I am not a warrior by nature but, I will fight. I will fight for You Lord. And someday, we, in multitude, will bow before You, worship You perfectly and wholly, at Home. Amen.
Preach!
Amen sister! Thank you for your words and encouragement. So many times as I read your words I muttered, “ Yes, yes”. You blessed my morning.
Amen, Katherine! May we never forget or take lightly the high price Jesus paid that day to provide us the life we have now and can have for eternity. I want to be undone each time I hear about the Cross of my Jesus! The cross brought terror to the people were under the rule of Romans. It was intentionally designed to do this. I read this article about how the horrifying cross. It is entitled: God’s Wrath was Satisfied: Wonderous love in an Awful Cross Here is a link: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-wrath-of-god-was-satisfied
Read if you can! I also heard some messages that you might want to listen to by Tim Keller: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timothy-keller-sermons-podcast-by-gospel-in-life/id352660924?i=1000467499439
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timothy-keller-sermons-podcast-by-gospel-in-life/id352660924?i=1000467499439
How blessed we are to be able to hear and read about God’s Word through so many sources!
This reading has been difficult for me because I don’t have context in to a lot of the historical names and groups. I have focused, most of my life, in the New Testament and it is hard for me to read this completely taking it all In. It has challenged me to do a study on Jeremiah after this!
I feel the same!
I really love “The Bible Project” on YouTube. It will give you a nice overview of Jeremiah. With cool drawings!
Read 1&2 Kings before you read Jeremiah. It’ll give you nice historical context!
Sometimes, it’s easy to look at historical context and think, oh, well, we’re not burning children on altars and the violence is not as prevalent as it was then, so we’re ok.
Jeremiah is calling out these people for being idolaters, proclaiming love for God, but their actions not following, ignoring the poor and destitute.
The question we need to ask God to reveal to us is: Are there idols in my life? Am I ignoring the poor? Am I ignoring the sick? Am I professing love for God but not living like I love God?
Me too!!! This book is SO dramatic!! But I’m trying to just take in what I can. I highly recommend listening to the weekly podcast that goes along with this study. It’s very helpful in understanding what’s going on!! Press on sister!! God will reveal to you what you need to hear!!
Thank you for saying this. I have felt the same way through this whole study. I have a lot of trouble tying the written devotion to the passage I just read because there is SO MUCH to unpack in the daily reading.
I too recommend The Bible Project (just google “bible project Jeremiah” to find the video on YouTube). They are short videos (about 10 minutes) that give the background and a synopsis for each book of the Bible. The illustrations are great. It was a great supplement when I read the chronological Bible in a Year last year!
Two things jumped out at me from today’s reading. First the repetition of “terror on every side.” Jeremiah had prophesied this as Pashhur’s future reality, yet in his lament he claims it as his own present reality. I can almost hear the tears and anguish in his voice as he mourns his own birth and existence.
Second, I was struck by Jeremiah’s betrayal by friends and persecution by the priests, and by his torture put on public display for all to despise him. Centuries later Jesus would be “despised and rejected by men, and man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. . . . Surely he has borne our sins and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was pierced for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
My heart is full of sadness for all this suffering, but also with gratitude for the life it has given me.