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 2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying.Paul has four of these "faithful sayings." The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." The next is in 1 Timothy 4:9, "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation." The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, "It is a faithful saying--If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him;" and the fourth is in Titus 3:3, "This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works." We may trace a connection between these faithful sayings. The first one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in the free grace of God, as shown to us in the mission of the great Redeemer. The next affirms the double blessedness which we obtain through this salvation--the blessings of the upper and nether springs--of time and of eternity. The third shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that "if we suffer, we shall also reign with him." The last sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good works. Thus we have the root of salvation in free grace; next, the privileges of that salvation in the life which now is, and in that which is to come; and we have also the two great branches of suffering with Christ and serving with Christ, loaded with the fruits of the Spirit. Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The apostle of the Gentiles proved them to be faithful, they are faithful still, not one word shall fall to the ground; they are worthy of all acceptation, let us accept them now, and prove their faithfulness. Let these four faithful sayings be written on the four corners of my house. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES."Leviticus 14:4-7 then the priest shall give orders to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop for the one who is to be cleansed. • "The priest shall also give orders to slay the one bird in an earthenware vessel over running water. • "As for the live bird, he shall take it together with the cedar wood and the scarlet string and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slain over the running water. • "He shall then sprinkle seven times the one who is to be cleansed from the leprosy and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the live bird go free over the open field. Luke 5:12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Mark 1:41,42 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." • Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 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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