Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the LORD said to me, “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. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”
Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:4-10 ESV)
Have you ever been called and sent to do something?
That of course is a trick question. I believe all of us are called and sent. I was called to be pastor in Northwestern Ohio, and then in Southwest Texas. I am currently waiting my next call, but while I wait for the official piece of paper and the documentation of a congregational call, I live out the other calls God has given me.
You see I am a husband for 16 years now and I have a responsibility to my wife, to help her and honor her and be with her in good and bad, to be a companion for her for the journey we are on. I am also a father and so I have to be there for my children and honor them and help them grow up and be the people God has created them to be.
I also have this blog which has followers. I have a call to all of you who read this, to be a guide or a stimulus. To help you engage with the God who loves you and wants a deeper relationship with you.
We are all called, and sent. We have been given gifts by God to use in the world and to help our brothers and sisters draw closer to God and to help those who may not yet have that relationship.
Jeremiah tried to get out of the call, much like many of the pastors I know, we run from God trying to make excuses. Jeremiah was young and he thought he was not able to speak. But God told him, “I have known you since before you were a twinkle in the eye of your mother, I am the one who knit you together in your mother’s womb, I know all about you, your strengths that you deny, your weaknesses that you brush to the side. I know who you are and what you are capable of, and I will be with you.” Then God touched his mouth and said, “I have given you the words to speak, so do not fear what to say, but know that my Spirit is with you and will give you the right words to say.” And just like God did this to Jeremiah He does it to you!
God loves you and wants to see you use the gifts He has given you in His kingdom here on earth. So go and do what He has called and sent you to do, and do not fear, for He is always with you.
aSacredRebel 