January 17 , 2001
Reading
“I am ready to
perform My word” (12)
Jeremiah has always held a special place in my heart and I think it is because so much is told us of how he got started in his ministry. These few verses in chapter one not only set the foundation for his ministry but for every one who desires to serve the Lord in any capacity.
Preparation – (5). God told him: I formed you; I sanctified you and I ordained you – I have been in control of your life before you were conceived and I have set you apart to accomplish a special mission for Me.
Is the fact that you are serving the Lord on the mission field, in your local church or in any capacity, an accident? Or do you believe God has had His hand on you and that He brought you into this world for a special purpose?
Problem – (6). Isn’t this typical? How many great men and women of God have come up with excuses when they first heard the voice of God calling them to a special work? On the other hand, most of us feel very inadequate for the work to which He calls us, but whatever that inadequacy is, the Lord will take care of it so that His work can continue.
Promise – (8). The first thing God does is assure us that we are not alone in this venture for He is with us every step of the way. There will be many times when we will need to fall back on this promise and be reassured for the enemy will assuredly bring about doubt and discouragement.
Purification – (9). After assuring us of His continued presence, God takes care of our weaknesses and inadequacies. He will never call us to do that for which we are unprepared. “Ah, Lord, but I cannot speak” is followed by “Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, ‘Behold, I have put my words in your mouth’,”. When Isaiah saw the glory of the LORD his first reaction was, “I am a man of unclean lips” (Is: 6:5). God’s immediate response, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, … and he touched my mouth” (6,7).
Purpose – (9,10). In God’s work, we are always in a position of authority; we are identified with Him and speak in His name. Pharaoh gave Joseph his ring so that all who saw it would know that he spoke on his behalf. He carried the authority of Pharaoh and everyone was to obey him (Gen: 41:37-44).
Jeremiah’s mission was to “root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” It is fun to build and plant, but many times we are called upon to “root up and pull down” first. This is another great study!
Performance – (12). Jeremiah is reminded that the work to which he has been called is to be accomplished not through his own effort but by God. We must always remember that the Lord’s work is accomplished by Him through us. “I am ready to perform My work”. When success follows our obedience to the Lord’s call, we must never forget it is His success and we are merely the channel through which He has accomplished His plan.
This is a great message to those of us who are called to a support ministry. We have a tendency to give credit to the vessel rather than to the Lord. I have noted that those vessels privileged to witness success are the first to give God the praise and the glory. The harder they work the more they realize it is only by God’s strength.
It is only when God has made His vessel ready that He says, “I am ready to perform My work”.