Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10 A Prophet for the People

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."

Comments: Jeremiah was just a youth when he heard God’s call to be a prophet of the Most High in 628BCE. He was of the priestly family of Kohen and went to the Temple in Jerusalem to proclaim God’s will for the people of Judah. He warned of the coming destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. He was not accepted by the people in Jerusalem but his prophecy ran true.

Often we are called to be prophets—to our children, families, church. Most of the time, we are only making suggestions that can help others to live out their lives with God more fully. Sometimes we don’t even know where the words come from. But God told Jeremiah where the words would come from.

In the effort to serve God, I believe that God gives us the words and the ability to endure the reactions of those who would rather not listen in love. It matters not if we are young or old. God provides us with the words to speak God’s love all the time.