God's Commission and Jeremiah's Omission
In vs 4-5 we see God's plan and purpose for Jeremiah. God told Jeremiah Before I am made you, before you were born, I had set you aside, sanctified and ordained you to be a prophet.
But in vs 6 we hear Jeremiah's excuses. Lord, I lack experience, I’m but a youth. I don’t have the ability to speak as a prophet.
In answer in vs 7-8 we see God's power overcoming Jeremiah’s excuses.
He says, don’t say you are only a child because I am the One sending you
I am the one commanding you
I am the One who will be with you
And I am the One who will deliver you.
God’s call was so powerful, so overwhelming that later when the persecution was so oppressive that Jeremiah wanted to stop serving the Lord, he could not. Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Heaven’s Three Calls
I believe that there are three calls from Heaven in a Christian’s life.
The call to salvation when we hear the Gospel “John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me
The call to service. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
The Call to come home. “2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Like Jeremiah we may offer our pale excuses to God as well. Whatever they may be they are not valid in the face of God’s call. There is no excuse when a person hears the Gospel and sees Jesus lifted up for their sin, not to accept His sacrifice as the gift of grace and find forgiveness.
In the same way we have no excuse for not answering God call to service once we are saved. Just look at who God has used in His service. Abraham was a wandering nomad in the desert and way too old to be any use. Moses killed a man and had a speech impediment. Miriam spoke against the Lord’s prophet. Rahab was a pagan harlot. Naomi was a widow. Ruth was a foreigner. Gideon needed extra assurance before he would fight. Samson? We don’t even want to talk about Samson. Elijah was depressed and wanted to die. Hosea's family was the definition of dysfunctional. David committed adultery. Solomon was girl crazy. Amos' only training was in the school of gathering figs. Jacob lied to Isaac, his blind father. Peter was so afraid he denied even knowing the Lord. Thomas doubted that Jesus was resurrected. Paul put Christians in prison where they could be executed, after salvation he said he wasn’t an eloquent speaker and may have had poor eyesight. Timothy was too young and often sick. The last apostle John was around 100 years old, exiled to a desert island and waiting to die. And if you still think you have an excuse not to serve, then just think of Lazarus? He was dead but Jesus still used him.
In each and every instance God called them and then used them for His purpose, not because of who they were but because of who called them.
You and I will not be called as a prophet or writer of scripture, but we are all called by God in His word to serve him in the commission of carrying the Gospel wherever and however we can.
Peter put it this way, 1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Paul put it this way 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
