Jeremiah 1: 4-10
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
August 25, 2019
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me,
‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,says the Lord.’
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’ - Jeremiah 1: 4-10
Before Jeremiah was born, God had a purpose for his life. God chose him to be a prophet, God’s mouthpiece, to God’s people of Israel and to the nations. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. When he grew up into his calling, his heart broke for his people as they were traumatized by the Babylonian exile.
Jeremiah was the one who spoke God’s word of hope when Israel had none: “Thus says the Lord - Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile – and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its wellbeing you will find your wellbeing… For surely, I know the plans I have for you; plans for your welfare and not for harm, I have plans to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:7, 11).
But when Jeremiah first heard God’s plans for his future, he wasn’t feeling it. Jeremiah backpedaled saying, Hey God, I am too young. You want me to speak to the people and to the nations, but I have never even taken a public speaking class! You got the wrong guy!
Have you been there? Maybe you have sensed God guiding your steps with the Lord’s purposes on one particular day. It may be that God needs you to be Jesus’ hands and feet to someone in need. But our first response is a lot like Jeremiah’s – we are afraid. We quickly feel inadequate and unprepared to do something on God’s behalf.
In the biblical text and in the school of life, God does not take “No” for an answer. Do you know why? God pursues us! Because it is not about our ability. It is always about God’s ability and what God will do through us.
God reassured Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:8). And God’s words reassure us as we consider God’s purposes in our lives. God’s Word encourages us to grow into our future with hope as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.
Do not be afraid of your God-given purpose in life because you matter. God promised to deliver Jeremiah because the Lord delighted in him (Psalm 18:19). And the Lord delights in you. We cannot find meaning in life or find our God-given purposes without knowing that we are loved.
Being loved is our greatest human need because we are created by a loving God to live in relationship with God and one another. If we are not nurtured in a web of loving relationships then we will struggle in searching for our identity.
So, I have a word for you. In the case you have not heard these words lately, you matter because God loves you. God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it! We know love because God first loved us ( 1 John 4:19).
Do not be afraid of your God-given purpose in life because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God has blessed each of us with unique talents, passions, and gifts to discover and hone throughout our lifetimes. Since being in ministry my tagline has been, “The life of faith is an adventure so jump in.”
We have to take a risk to jump in and explore who God has made us to be and to discover what we are made of. Just as a parent gives a child opportunities to discover their strengths and growing edges in sports, so God gives each of us opportunities to do the same. Self-discovery is not made on the sidelines. We have to put ourselves out there.
Do not be afraid but look towards your mentors. God was Jeremiah’s sacred center and spiritual mentor. God promised to be with Jeremiah every step of the way. The promise holds true for you and me as well. God’s Word in Jesus Christ is our sacred center and God’s Spirit is our mentor. We cannot live into God’s plans for a future with hope if we are not digging into God’s Word and seeking the Spirit’s guidance. It is impossible.
Gods’ Word and Spirit is our compass to give us direction. But you know what? We need the help of others to know how to use that spiritual compass. We need spiritual mentors to walk beside us to help us discern the ways God is shaping our lives for the Lord’s purposes.
Spiritual mentors are everywhere. And some are just waiting to have the opportunity to take someone under their wings. That grandmother; that Sunday school teacher. That co-worker. Many here have found spiritual mentors and prayer warriors one of our small groups for men, women, and youth.
Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. God promised to be with Jeremiah as he left what was familiar to try on different experiences that would empower him to do God’s work in the world. One of the best ways you and I can do that is to serve others. It is so important for our children, youth, and adults to put our faith into action and serve our community. We have some movers and shakers here in this congregation. Many among us have passions to serve Jesus in the community.
But as your pastor, I keep praying for God to lead our church to know what is that one thing we are known for? Where do the gifts of Van Wyck Presbyterian intersect the needs of this community to bring about God’s glory and God’s kingdom? How might we unify our service to God and neighbor? We cannot know if we do not step out of our comfort zones and serve in different capacities.
Do not be afraid of God’s purposes in your life or in the life of this church but be patient. You and I might not have a life-defining moment to know God’s purposes like Jeremiah did. For many of us it takes time. God uses our experiences, failures, and successes for God’s purposes in the world to show God’s steadfast faithfulness and eternal love for all of creation and humanity. Nothing reveals God’s love and redemptive purposes more than Jesus Christ.
As you and I strive to keep in step with God’s Spirit and discover the hope of God’s plans be patient. Come to the Table this morning to taste and see the goodness of God in your life. Let the bread of life and the cup of salvation nourish you for the journey ahead.
Our highest calling is to glorify God and enjoy our relationship with God forever [1]. We glorify God by loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves; that will always be our life’s purpose. The particular ways that you and I do that takes intentional prayer, a risk to put our faith into action, and the loving support of the family of faith.
The Lord will fulfill his purposes for us (Psalm 138:8). May we be the body of Christ and join the Lord in making a difference in the world.
In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.
Sources Referenced:
[1] The Book of Confessions, The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Part I (Louisville: The Office of the General Assembly), The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith, 7.111.
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