Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 1:11-19
Today’s Verse: Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. Jeremiah 1:17 KJV
We all have a call in our lives. A deep sense of purpose.
It often involves sacrifice. It involves personal growth.
We want to be a blessing that lasts for a long period of time.
Depending on our spiritual belief, we learn to listen to what the Lord is saying. Because He is the source of our calling.
The way we think is important. The way we accept something as a fact. We will have questions about life. About the nature of the truth behind what is said. Things that will determine our behavior.
Believing is about accepting something as true. Knowledge involves a belief that is both true and justified.
We must be careful about what we believe.
The enemy is always trying to trick us. He will use any means to have us go against the Word. To go against all that God is telling us.
In today’s reading, God gave Jeremiah a vision. It was about the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldeans.
He used an example of an almond tree to describe his mission.
The almond tree was more forward in the spring than any other. It represented the speedy approach of judgments.
God was showing how their ruin would happen. Jeremiah saw a seething-pot boiling. This represented Jerusalem and Judah in a great state of confusion.
He then commands him to prepare for hardship. To be firm in his purpose. To be determined to complete it.
He was to stay strong in knowledge. To keep the courage to stick to his chosen path. He was to do it despite any doubts. Despite any challenges.
He was to deliver God’s message without fear. To stand. To deliver His complete message. Without leaving anything out. Without changing anything.
God told him, “be not dismayed at their faces.” A warning against being frightened. He should not be fearful of hostile reactions. Their expressions of disapproval was to be ignored.
Bad results could have happened if he did not follow His instructions. If he was fearful. Meaning if Jeremiah fails to trust God, He will allow him to be brought to nothing before his enemies.
God has a plan for each of our lives. We must acknowledge what it is.
The enemy will always try to keep us down. He continues to fill us with doubts. Filling us with fears. Making us feel like we will not be able to accomplish them.
We have to stand strong in faith.
It is better to have all men our enemies than God as our enemy.
The fear of God is the best remedy against the fear of man.
His wrath is greater than anything this world can bring.
With God with us, we need not to fear whoever is against us.
Let us pray that we will let nothing keep us from our duty.
That we will use the divine gift He has given us.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Father, there is a call on each of our lives. We have a personal destiny. Only You know what it is. You could give us a desire to serve others. It can be seen as a spiritual invitation to fulfill a unique role. We know the enemy will try to keep us from being successful. We are not to let anything keep us form completing the task You set before us. We want to do everything according to Your will. We know our punishment will be great if we do not. Thank You for the grace You show us. Thank You for the hedge of protection that is around us. Thank You for it all.
In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen