When God Calls
BRD REFLECTIONS
Jeremiah 1 and Psalm 1 (NIV)
(Judy Leow, Treasurer, Mandarin Ministry)
READ:
Jeremiah 1 and Psalm 1 (NIV)
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. (Jeremiah 1:10, KJV)
OBSERVE:
1. God Chooses Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-10)
For election, God is sovereign and has His will. He knows His servants and set them apart for His purposes. Jeremiah was doubtful and reluctant to obey God’s Call. Yet God comforted him, encouraged him and instructed him to preach the message of judgment and restoration.
2. Vision Revelation (Jeremiah 1:11-16)
1:11-12 – Just as the almond tree blooms in the early spring, so God was aware of Judah’s sin and was preparing to execute judgment.
1:13-16 – The vision of the boiling pot represents that disaster would come from the north and be poured out on the people of Judah, because the people had sinned against God and were guilty of idolatry.
3. Commands and Promises (Jeremiah 1:17-19)
Jeremiah would face contempt, hostility, abuse and persecution from the entire nation, from top to bottom, and his only source of strength was God’s promises. God would protect him, making him “a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall”, able to withstand any attack. And his only weapon of attack was the word God put in his mouth. Jeremiah’s faith was based on God’s promises.
APPLY:
1. When I read the Book of Jeremiah today, I was moved by the fact that the word of God is waiting to be released. God has a mind, plan, and destiny for this generation and His people. He wants to protect, save, pluck, plant, and build. But God has his own rules for doing things. Like Jeremiah, we can stand in the gap between heaven and earth, between the Creator and the created. By God’s grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is given to each one of us, we can minister to those who have strayed away from God and bring them back to Him.
2. When God calls us to do His purposes, He will guide and empower us. We may be afraid and hence reluctant like Jeremiah, but God promises to help us fulfil His calling and destroy the enemy’s work. We just need to obey!
DO:
When God’s call comes, we “do not say that I am young” (Jeremiah 1:7), nor do we have to worry about our qualifications, education, or ability, because God knows who we are better than we do (Jeremiah 1:5). God calls people not according to their eloquence and experience, but according to God’s own ability; not because people can do it, people want to do it, or people are qualified to do it, but because God has determined to do it. Therefore, when I am sure that God’s call is upon me, my only correct response is to obey and accept.
PRAY:
May the Lord grant us a humble heart to follow God closely, and become suitable vessels for God, so that God’s words will be fulfilled. Amen!
