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?
This morning before I started the devotional, I was looking through some older SRT comments and studies.. (from 2013-2015). Comments of mine and responses, WOW and OMG..
It seems I wrote with a passion for others to discover and know God as I did. What He had done for me, a broken, lost, had no hope, ‘couldn’t see the woods for the trees’ sinner.. who was blessed to get a glimpse of Him in my brokenness, in my lost-ness, in my searching..
I would never have said I was a ‘preacher’s, nor will I ever imagine myself to be one,…
But God..
Oh, But God..
I see through my words, that He was changing me, moulding me, gracing me, each day, growing me to be the person I could be in His love, through my pain and brokenness, He was healing me.. and in my sharing my hope in Him, my love for the One who has brought me thus far, I pray, I was helping others..
Through my sadness and in and by His grace, love and mercy, I did not preach so much as shared my journey.. and for me that in itself is a word worth sharing..
Praising you Lord God for your presence in my life…Thank you Lord God, thank you..❤
Sending out some love wrapped hugs to you my sisters across the pond, over the hills and closer to home..❤
Let us all be faithful to our mission on this earth. As the director of our local pregnancy center, we are always reminded to speak the Gospel with courage!! We do so prayerfully!
Finding my specific calling has been the big issue in my life right now. Pray for me!
Wow! This couldn’t have come at a better time. I was feeling bad last night and this morning because of something I said to a young lady yesterday. I felt bad because I also love her mother very much and we are great friends. We are all believers. The subject of dating unbelievers came up and I quoted
2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoke with unbelievers”. I mentioned my experiences when I was young and the mistakes I made. My intention was not to step on toes. It was all out of love. I’m praying that I do not lose my friends because they also love Jesus just like I do.
I pray that God gives me strength and faith that speaks of His goodness, faithfulness, salvation, whenever I can. So thankful for all those Jeremiah’s who have spoken up evenin the midst of persecution,torture and shame from their cultures so that the Word of God and His grace, mercy and love could be known by the hungry searching souls in our world. Our God is so good. Joy to you Sisters.King Jesus is on the throne. Sing and shout His praise.
“Hear the word of the Lord!”
Powerful reminder to pray this phrase right before I open my Bible. It is my desire to heed what is written within, to regard it with the authority it alone holds. The word of the Lord provides wonder and warning, comfort and caution, challenge and choice, justice and yes, judgment. Oh that I would have ears to hear and a heart to obey. This is my daily personal prayer. And my prayer for our nation and world: “Hear the word of the Lord!”
The book of Jeremiah is really reminding me that God is just in his judgments. It is very easy for me to minimize my sin and think that I’m not really that bad, but God is a holy God. He is good. Therefore, he must hate evil. As uncomfortable as the wrath of God is, he is right to address the sin in the world and in our hearts. Even here in the Old Testament, God’s grace to his people is so clearly on display. He loves them too much to leave them as they are. He sends them his prophets. He warns them of what’s to come. He gives them an opportunity to repent. It’s amazing to see that the God who sends his Son to bear the punishment we deserve on the cross is the same merciful God that we see in the Old Testament.
Amen and Amen!!!
Angie,
We had the flu at our house last week so understand your analogy first hand.
What a relevant way to explain today’s reading.