The beginning of Jeremiah is always a personal encouragement
for me. Not because I’m a prophet. I’m not a prophet nor the son of a prophet.
But I am a preacher and this passage has parallel truths that are meaningful to
God’s preachers today.
First, we see Jeremiah giving an account of his calling from
God in 1:4-19. He was not an eager prophet. He tried to beg out of the calling
with what many would consider a valid excuse: “Then I said, “ Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” (6)
But God replied, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to
all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall
speak.” (7) “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.” (9) God assured
Jeremiah that his youthfulness was not a problem because he would tell him what
to say and put the right words in his mouth. Finally, God exhorted him, “But
you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command
you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.” (17) In other
words, God said, “Now get busy doing what I’ve commanded you to do.”
I’m sure you can see the encouragement to preachers today.
There is no promise from God that he will miraculously “put his words in our
mouths.” But he doesn’t have to do that because he has written his Word down
for us. And, just like Jeremiah, he wants us to say what he says in his Word to
his people: only what he says but all of what he says. That is the task of the
preacher today. I hope you are praying for me, our other pastors and others
that you know to fulfill this task.
Prayer: Help me and help my brother preachers to be faithful
to your Word. Help us to say only what you have said but also all of what you
have said. Help us not to rely on our own cleverness or wisdom but on your
power through the Holy Spirit as we prepare and as we preach.
No comments:
Post a Comment