Bible League: Living His Word Then I said, "But, Lord God, I don't know how to speak. I am only a boy."— Jeremiah 1:6 ERV Everyone in Christ has a calling. Indeed, everyone in Christ has a number of different callings. Some are called to be mothers, fathers, farmers, teachers, professors, business owners, lawyers, politicians, preachers, prophets, artists, and the list goes on. Since God's kingdom encompasses every area of life, God calls people to serve Him in every area of work. In order to get His servants to where He wants them to be, He calls them. He first prepares them for it and then He leads and guides them into it. Christians, aware of their sin and weakness, often have the temptation to believe that they are inadequate for the call. That was Jeremiah's problem. He was called by God to be a prophet, "a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). However, he was reluctant to accept the call. That's why he came up with the excuse: "I don't know how to speak. I am only a boy." He could see that the call was large and important. Surely God could find someone more qualified than he. Surely God could find something more suitable for him to do. God has His reasons for calling certain people to certain roles, and the reasons are not always obvious to those who are called. As a result, people may come up with excuses for why a call is not appropriate or should be delayed. God is not pleased with this. He said to Jeremiah, "Don't say 'I am only a boy.' You must go everywhere I send you and you must say everything I tell you to say" (Jeremiah 1:7). As the Apostle Paul says, "God never changes his mind about the people he calls. He never decides to take back the blessings he has given them" (Romans 11:29). Therefore, any excuses we come with up aren't going to get very far with God. Maybe a voice of doubt and uncertainty has crept into your mind of late. Maybe you're wondering if you're adequate for the call you've received. If so, remember what happened to Jeremiah—God knows your weaknesses, and He is ready to strengthen you for the task. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 20, 21, 22 Jeremiah 20 -- Pashhur Persecutes Jeremiah; Jeremiah Complains NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 21 -- God Rejects Zedekiah's Request NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 22 -- God Will Judge the Evil Kings of Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Timothy 1 2 Timothy 1 -- Paul's Charge and Encouragement to Timothy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy.Insight This is the first of many times Paul used the word joy in his letter. The Philippians were remembered with joy and thanksgiving whenever Paul prayed. By helping Paul, they were helping Christ's cause. The Philippians were willing to be used by God for whatever he wanted them to do. Challenge When others think about you, what comes to their minds? Are you remembered with joy by them? Do your acts of kindness lift up others? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 64:6 We are all as an unclean thing.The believer is a new creature, he belongs to a holy generation and a peculiar people--the Spirit of God is in him, and in all respects he is far removed from the natural man; but for all that the Christian is a sinner still. He is so from the imperfection of his nature, and will continue so to the end of his earthly life. The black fingers of sin leave smuts upon our fairest robes. Sin mars our repentance, ere the great Potter has finished it, upon the wheel. Selfishness defiles our tears, and unbelief tampers with our faith. The best thing we ever did apart from the merit of Jesus only swelled the number of our sins; for when we have been most pure in our own sight, yet, like the heavens, we are not pure in God's sight; and as he charged his angels with folly, much more must he charge us with it, even in our most angelic frames of mind. The song which thrills to heaven, and seeks to emulate seraphic strains, hath human discords in it. The prayer which moves the arm of God is still a bruised and battered prayer, and only moves that arm because the sinless One, the great Mediator, has stepped in to take away the sin of our supplication. The most golden faith or the purest degree of sanctification to which a Christian ever attained on earth, has still so much alloy in it as to be only worthy of the flames, in itself considered. Every night we look in the glass we see a sinner, and had need confess, "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Oh, how precious the blood of Christ to such hearts as ours! How priceless a gift is his perfect righteousness! And how bright the hope of perfect holiness hereafter! Even now, though sin dwells in us, its power is broken. It has no dominion; it is a broken-backed snake; we are in bitter conflict with it, but it is with a vanquished foe that we have to deal. Yet a little while and we shall enter victoriously into the city where nothing defileth. Daily Light on the Daily Path Numbers 22:6 "Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."Matthew 5:3-12 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. • "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. • "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. • "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. • "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. • "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. • "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. • "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. • "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. • "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Luke 11:28 But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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