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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Why did Almighty God choose this teenager? God saw something in Jeremiah - and God knew He could put more into him. Jeremiah means - GOD HURLS - God throws - God fights - and soon Jeremiah would be throwing God’s Word at the world - hurling heaven’s message across Jerusalem - fighting the depths of sin into which Israel had sunk. Turn to Jeremiah Chapter 1 .
Jeremiah is constantly referring to the Commandments - yet, he was refused a hearing - mocked - not listened to - imprisoned in a cell right at the foot of Calvary. What he had to bear!
God called him – Jeremiah, I want you - I’ve been getting you ready - and then God put fire in his bones - if you have been called by God you have no choice.
Jeremiah knew God was Sovereign - in charge - on the throne - in control - even when the people of God were out of control. God works through us - and sometimes in spite of us.
Israel was in a bad state - and people wanted a prophet to say that things were not really that serious - and Jeremiah sees his nation go down and down - and just as Josiah was born to be king, Jeremiah was born to be a prophet.
God plans your life. I knew you before you were formed - he was set apart from all other careers - his birth was planned - “I” have done all these things for you - and then comes the pathetic feeble “I” of Jeremiah. And God allows it - God listens to it - God doesn’t mind us arguing with Him - provided you realise that He wins in the end.
Wrestling and arguing with God is not always a sign of rebellion and disobedience - but that you mean business - and that you are taking all this seriously - that you are working it all out - and trying to count the cost to some degree.
Verse 10 . It is as if he does not want to become so involved - publicly - so openly - and there comes that moment when God has to say “Enough” - don’t be so argumentative - I am not inviting you to do this - I am not discussing this with you any further - I am telling you - informing you - commanding you - this is the reason for you being born. Now, you shall go - speak - and do not be afraid of their faces.
Fear can paralyse - and make us so self-conscious - and we can curl up and become artificially shy - thinking we might be able to wriggle out of it all - and escape - and that God will leave us alone - and wondering what others might think of us if we go ahead with this thing to which Jesus Christ has called us. Have you ever been asked to do something which you did not feel qualified to do – or that you really did not want to do? Then, consider the position Jeremiah was in.
“Jeremiah - let Me touch your mouth” - you can feel that - a finger upon your lips – the lips are one of the most sensitive parts of our body - let ME put MY WORD into your mouth.
To begin with the power of God upon Jeremiah would be more destructive than constructive - more pulling down than upbuilding. So often Jesus said WOE to certain people.
In the prophetic we see the miraculous - YOU speak from GOD - and for GOD.
The prophet is a key to what God is doing – to what God is saying – in the Church of Jesus Christ – and in the world and to the world. We must take care not to lose the key – or, perhaps even worse – throw away the key. The Pharisees and teachers of the law did that in Jesus’ day – they removed the key – Luke 11 - but Jesus was able to overcome all that – providing love and mercy and forgiveness and salvation.
“Loving God – we thank You and praise You and worship You, that You call ordinary men and women to serve You in the Church of Jesus Christ – some coming reluctantly – hesitatingly – being aware that they feel so inadequate for the task – and then You equip with all that is required through the anointing power of the Holy Spirit – we humbly, but confidently, bow with gratitude – in Jesus Name. Amen
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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