February 21, 2005
February 21, 2005 Jeremiah 1:11-19
Jeremiah 1:17 “But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them.”
The New International Version translation of Jeremiah 1:17 intrigued me. God tells Jeremiah; “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them or I will terrify you before them.”
I looked up the word ‘terrify’ and found two meanings: 1) To fill with terror; make deeply afraid; frighten; and 2) To menace or threaten; to intimidate.
I couldn’t help but recall a line my parents used on us as kids; “You’d better quit crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!” (I may have used is myself a time or two, now that I think about it…) The amazing thing about that line is that IT WORKS! That threat (promise?) seems to be a hard-wired, universal “reset button.” Even as children, we can recognize that whatever we are distressed about at the moment is not as ‘terrifying’ as the prospect of angering or disappointing our loving parents.
What a tough situation the prophet is placed into! Once he answers the call from God, that chosen one must face up to a disobedient society or “face the music” with the Lord God Almighty!
God is still building humans with the same clay, isn’t He?
But the promise of God doesn’t stop with there for Jeremiah or for us today! God, through the Holy Spirit has made each of us an unconquerable force for the name of Jesus Christ.
Look around you. What s the cause that God wants you to stand for or against? Are you bothered by the content of the media? The direction of our youth? The treatment of senior citizens? The direction of our political system? The state of sin in your life?
God has already prepared you for the fight! With God’s protection, you will win! Hallelujah! Now, go get ‘em tiger!!
Lord, show me where you want me to stand as Your voice, Your hands, and Your representative. Help me to do this with love, with perseverance, and with peace, secure in the knowledge that I am with you. I ask this is Jesus’ name. Amen.
Contributed by Dave Cerven
Jeremiah 1:17 “But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them.”
The New International Version translation of Jeremiah 1:17 intrigued me. God tells Jeremiah; “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them or I will terrify you before them.”
I looked up the word ‘terrify’ and found two meanings: 1) To fill with terror; make deeply afraid; frighten; and 2) To menace or threaten; to intimidate.
I couldn’t help but recall a line my parents used on us as kids; “You’d better quit crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!” (I may have used is myself a time or two, now that I think about it…) The amazing thing about that line is that IT WORKS! That threat (promise?) seems to be a hard-wired, universal “reset button.” Even as children, we can recognize that whatever we are distressed about at the moment is not as ‘terrifying’ as the prospect of angering or disappointing our loving parents.
What a tough situation the prophet is placed into! Once he answers the call from God, that chosen one must face up to a disobedient society or “face the music” with the Lord God Almighty!
God is still building humans with the same clay, isn’t He?
But the promise of God doesn’t stop with there for Jeremiah or for us today! God, through the Holy Spirit has made each of us an unconquerable force for the name of Jesus Christ.
Look around you. What s the cause that God wants you to stand for or against? Are you bothered by the content of the media? The direction of our youth? The treatment of senior citizens? The direction of our political system? The state of sin in your life?
God has already prepared you for the fight! With God’s protection, you will win! Hallelujah! Now, go get ‘em tiger!!
Lord, show me where you want me to stand as Your voice, Your hands, and Your representative. Help me to do this with love, with perseverance, and with peace, secure in the knowledge that I am with you. I ask this is Jesus’ name. Amen.
Contributed by Dave Cerven
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