Repentance, Restoration and Purpose, Jeremiah 1:1-19

(Jeremiah 1:1-19)

If you were somehow unaware of my attachment to the Book of Jeremiah, by the end of this you ought not be. Seeing as I harp on about it, I thought I ought to minister through it today. Jeremiah had a harsh time, he had God-given messages that the Israelites were not going to be happy about (invasion, destruction and captivity are quite hard to dress up by any standard) and a God who threatened him to not be afraid of them “or I will make you look foolish in front of them” (1:17). Peak.

But through Jeremiah we can learn the importance of three key things to the Christian: repentance, restoration and purpose. The book of Jeremiah details the prophet’s attempts to forewarn the idolatrous Israelites before God would have to bring in the big guns. They didn’t listen. Instead they treated him with disdain and persecuted him. Through the book we see the importance of repenting and turning to God, we can seize this gift at any time, no matter how often we mess up; it isn’t something to be sneered at but seized immediately !

Even in the face of destruction and exile God is still preparing to restore the Israelites. He will never abandon His people. His anger is righteous and always out of love and reformation rather than sadism, after all He intended you, you’re here for a reason, and He wants you to respond to His love with the same love He has for you.

In the first chapter of Jeremiah, God tells him “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world” (1:4-5). This amazing facet applies to all of us! Even before we were conceived God knew us, He planned us, formed us right down to our specific characters and genetics so that we may live out the purpose He has in mind for us. We aren’t reliant on prophets anymore, God communicates through all of us. As Christians our verbal and non verbal actions are being assessed by the rest of the world, whether you’re comfy with it or not you are a spokesperson of the Holy Spirit who lives in you (swag).

Like many of us when placed in positions of responsibility, we second guess ourself. God told Jeremiah he was to be His “spokesman to the world”, that’s a lot of pressure! Jeremiah stressed his age and inexperience but God told him to be unafraid “for I will be with you and take care of you” (1:8). Sometimes it can feel like God is asking us to take a risk. Maybe just bringing up your faith amongst friends or asking a friend to evaluate how Christ-like their behaviour is, feels like something that could be tense and awkward, or like you’d be out of your depth. But God says “nope. I’m right here, I’ll hold your hand whilst you demonstrate the strength and courage I’ve given you and see the fruits of your act”.

God didn’t stop there, He touched Jeremiah’s mouth “and said, “See, I have put my words in your mouth !” (1:10). God didn’t just stand there willing Jeremiah on nor did He simply prepare Jeremiah and go off for a cuppa and a magazine; He gave Jeremiah the very words he was to speak. Sometimes you’ll be tired or worried in a situation that asks for more from you, lean on Him, pray for His Holy Spirit to be displayed through you and it does not matter how knackered or shy you are the recipient of that talk will note that they experienced more than just someone talking at them. Believe me.

Don’t be scared to put yourself out there, to take risks for and in the name of God the Father. He’ll be with you every step of the way. We belong to the living God, He hears our cries and worries and He replies ! Thanks be to the God of Jeremiah, the God who knew us before we were born, intended us even when our parents may not have and is going to use us to make a serious impact in this world.

God bless and keep you always x

The Book of James, James 1:1-26

I am in love with the book of James. It’s about five pages of wisdom & practical advice for the early Christians. As young Christians in our walk, or at the very least in age, it really ought to be given as some sort of manual.

“If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (1:5-6).

The God we serve, the God we belong to, wants an active relationship with us. It makes Him “glad” (1:5) when we pursue Him and His will for us; God delights, encourages and rewards with the “crown of life” (1:12), with relationships like that of Caleb and Acsah where we boldly ask things in faith (Joshua 15:13-19). A relationship where we wait on the communion between His spirit and ours is life changing. God hasn’t given us this responsibility & understanding of Him to just be bewildered & awestruck, He expects action from us & prepares us for it, simply asking for revelation will lead us into amazing new pastures. He isn’t a sadist nor does He think you’re telepathic or a rubbish Christian if you don’t just magically know His purpose for your life or the season that you’re currently in.

At some point in our walks we’ve felt uncertainty, or a distance from Him which tends to breed uncertainty anyway, it can feel as if the Enemy is playing with the opportunity to make you stumble in your walk. That imagery of the “unsettled wave” (1:6) for many of us, is something we can explicitly identify with. So I ask you to go to God with your whole heart surrendered to Him, telling Him out loud that in light of who He is, His revelations in the Word, the acts we see in the Christian body, that you WILL trust completely in Him and that if this is something that doesn’t come naturally ask that He may stir it in your heart to develop evermore. Because when you’re in that place of certainty you are a walking definition of the word invincible. St Martin of Tours (316 to 397 AD) said “Place me alone in the front of the battle, with no weapon but the cross alone, and I shall not fear to meet the enemy single-handed and unarmed”. I know how he feels.

As a sidenote William McDowell – I surrender all, really ministered to me this morning. Had me walking to the station at half seven praising and committing my life to His will as if my eyelids were not screaming out at being open so early. Real ministry flows through that song.

God bless and keep you always