January 22, 2021 (Friday)
Jeremiah’s story is something to pay attention too. It
starts before his birth, “Before I created you in the womb I knew you; before you were
born I set you apart; I made you a prophet to the nations.” [Jeremiah 1:5 CEB] God knew Jeremiah BEFOFE He
created him in the womb.
Apparently Jeremiah’s call came very early. He claims, “Ah, Lord God,” I
said, “I don’t know how to speak because I’m only a child.” [Jeremiah
1:6 CEB] When God speaks, nothing (age, race, and social status) changes His
plan. “The Lord
responded, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a child.’ Where I send you, you must go; what
I tell you, you must say. Don’t be afraid of them, because I’m with you to
rescue you,” declares the Lord.” [Jeremiah 1:7 CEB]
To reinforce His call, God does something terrifying. Listen
as God grants Jeremiah authority, “This very day I appoint you over nations and empires, to dig
up and pull down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.” [Jeremiah 1:10 CEB] Imagine having that kind of power
over nations. I can imagine at some point Jeremiah might have felt invincible.
Maybe not.
Fast forward 20 chapters. “Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and
put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the Lord.” [Jeremiah 20:2 ESV] This was the religious establishment’s
reaction to the prophecy we covered yesterday. The next day Jeremiah is released,
but his façade of untouchable has been shattered. He vents at Pashur, condemning
him to captivity and death. He vents against God.
“O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are
stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the
day; everyone mocks me.” [Jeremiah
20:7 ESV] Everyone called to some ministry wants to be “effective.” You know,
effective. To be the kind of person everyone loves, listens too, and turns to
God as a result of their ministry, is every called person’s dream.
Sadly for Jeremiah and Israel, he had become a
laughingstock. Jeremiah reaches a point of despair, “If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak
any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up
in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” [Jeremiah
20:9 ESV] I don’t know a pastor who has NOT reached this point at some point in
their ministry.
The trouble with quitting is the burning fire of God’s call
and words. Eventually it will break free. I once tried to quit. I was young and
tired of the so called “Christians” I found myself surrounded by. So I quit. I
flipped burgers for about a year and set my dreams on managing my own store.
But God has other ideas. People didn’t change, I did.
One of the things that got my attention was that even if I
left ministry, the call of God never left me. Like a genie shackled to the
lantern, my fate is forever connected to ministry. It is a terrible burden. On
the other hand, when I see people save, healed, and being restored to the image
of God it thrills my heart.
Whoever you are, where ever you are… I appeal to you do not
frustrate those who are called. If they appeal to God against you this is what
you have to look forward too, “The Lord of heavenly forces tests the righteous and discerns
the heart and the mind. Let me see your retribution upon them.” [Jeremiah 20:12 CEB] Yikes!!!
Note: I’m in a church where I’m NOT having to deal with any
of this. May God bless them beyond what they can possibly hope or dream.
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