God knew you, as he knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that he has a purpose in mind for you.
Do you ever feel like you’ve been called to minister in a declining society? Whether we’re at work, married, parenting or trying to live for the Lord the challenge is great because the society around us is crumbling. Jeremiah could relate. All nations and societies experience difficulties, whether they be moral, economical, or military issues. Economic recessions and depressions, low wages, unemployment, huge expenditures with little capital, selfishness and theft—any or all of these factors can plague entire nations as well as the smallest communities. Political upheaval, party politics, the weakening and collapse of some governments and the rise of others, the assassination of leaders and the rise of world empires—all these events take place throughout the world within every generation. In addition, every generation witnesses some societies becoming cesspools of greed and covetousness, injustice and brutality, immorality and wickedness, lawlessness and violence.
Into such a tumultuous society and world Jeremiah was born. The Lord chose him to be God’s prophet during some of the most stormy times of human history, days that were to be catastrophic for Judah. Judah and its capital Jerusalem were to be utterly destroyed during Jeremiah’s ministry. He was the prophet chosen by God to warn the world of God’s coming judgment.
God has also set us apart to minister and proclaim God’s good news of Jesus and the coming judgement upon all people.
No prophet before or after Jeremiah had a more difficult or demanding task than did this new young prophet of God. He was called to proclaim unceasingly the coming judgment of God. Despite severe and constant persecution—including being ostracized and isolated throughout most of his life—Jeremiah was faithful. And his faithfulness is a dynamic example for all believers of every generation.
Jeremiah was “appointed” by God as his “prophet to the nations.” God has a purpose for each Christian, but some people are appointed by God for specific kinds of work. Samson (Judges 13:3–5), David (1 Samuel 16:12, 13), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13–17), and Paul (Galatians 1:15, 16) were also called to do particular jobs for God. Whatever work you do should be done for the glory of God (Philippians 1:11). If God gives you a specific task, accept it cheerfully and do it with diligence. If you’re not sure of God’s specific call or assignment, then seek to fulfill the mission common to all believers—to love, obey, and serve God—until his guidance becomes more clear.
Often we struggle with new challenges because we lack self-confidence, feeling that we have inadequate ability, training, or experience. Jeremiah thought he was “too young” and inexperienced to be God’s prophet to the nations. Jeremiah was between 15-19 years old. God still calls young people. God promised to be with Jeremiah. Our inadequacies never limit God. We should not allow feelings of inadequacy to keep us from obeying God. He will always be with us. Since Jesus has given us a job to do, He will provide, His presence, His Word which are all we need to do it.
God promised to be with Jeremiah and take care of him, but not to keep trouble from coming. God did not insulate him from imprisonment, deportation, or insults. God does not keep us from encountering life’s storms, but he will see us through them. In fact, God walks through these storms with us and rescues us.
God appointed Jeremiah to bring his word to “nations and kingdoms.” Jeremiah’s work was to warn not only the Jews but all the nations of the world about God’s judgment for sin. Don’t forget in reading the Old Testament that, while God was consistently working through the people of Judah and Israel, his plan was to communicate to every nation and person. We are included in Jeremiah’s message of judgment and hope, and as believers we are to share God’s desire to reach the whole world for him.
The vision of the branch from an almond tree revealed the beginning of God’s judgment because the almond tree is among the first to blossom in the spring. God saw the sins of Judah and the nations, and he would carry out swift and certain judgment. The pot of boiling water tipping from the north and spilling over Judah pictured Babylon delivering God’s scalding judgment against Jeremiah’s people.
The problems we face may not seem as ominous as Jeremiah’s, but they are critical to us and may overwhelm us! God’s promise to Jeremiah and to us is that nothing will defeat us completely; he will help us through the most agonizing problems. Face each day with the assurance that God will be with you and see you through.
The people of Judah sinned greatly by continuing to worship other gods. God had commanded them specifically against this (Exodus 20:3–6) because idolatry places trust in created things rather than the Creator. Although these people belonged to God, they chose to follow false gods. Many “gods” entice us to turn away from God. Material possessions, dreams for the future, approval of others, and vocational goals compete for our total commitment. Striving after these at the expense of our commitment to God puts our heart where Judah’s was—and God severely punished Judah.
When God calls us to do a particular task, He always equips us. God pays for what He orders. He provides whatever we need to accomplish the task: His presence, and His Word, No matter how inadequate or incapable we may feel, God will meet our need and equip us.
God’s call is not based upon ability , but rather availability. His call is not based upon a person’s appearance, charisma, voice quality, descriptive personality, or flowery speech. Nor is God’s call based upon a person’s ability to think creatively, to come up with new ideas or theological concepts. We have what we need for God’s call, His presence and His Word. A surrendered heart is what God is after when He calls a person. If a heart is surrendered to the Lord, He can equip a person to proclaim His Word.
Have you answered God’s call?
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