http://www.crown.org/godprovides/pub/JeremiahsCall.aspx
When Jeremiah is called by God to bring His words to the people, unsurprisingly, Jeremiah tries to get out of it.
(As did Moses. And Gideon. Et cetera. I mean, don't we ALL?)
But I think God's response here is interesting. And also applicable to those of us called to speak for Him today.
Reading from Jeremiah chapter 1, verses 4-8:
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then said I:
“Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7 But the Lord said to me:
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
Why does God say, "Do not be afraid of their faces?" And why would Jeremiah be afraid of their FACES rather than, say, their fists? Or swords even? After all, he lives in kind of a warrior culture. Seems like he ought to worry more about something worse than folks making faces at him!
(image from http://mychinaconnection.com)
But I think God is talking about something more relevant to us today even than it was in Jeremiah's time.
I think He is talking about being afraid of the OPINIONS of others.
Sometimes we are way more afraid of people's bad opinions than any physical harm that might befall us.
We're worried more by the idea of being made fun of than of actually getting hurt.
We are more concerned about looking foolish in front of our peers than any real injury they could inflict on us.
We're more afraid of losing face than getting punched in the face.
But God says, DON'T be!
He says, Don't be afraid of their FACES!
(image from http://www.gmgdesign.com)
9 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.
10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant.”
10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant.”
So we don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing, or looking stupid in the eyes of others.
Because if we are allowing God to speak His words through us, the opinions of people don't even MATTER.
In other words, they can make all the faces at us they want, but it won't hurt.
It's only His word that has the power to actually DO anything.
But I admit, this is way easier said than done. I'm still afraid of their faces.
Lord, help me to remember that it is only Your opinion that matters.
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