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August 7th

The Bible reading today is in Jeremiah 1-3, the beginnings of the ministry of a tender young man named Jeremiah.

Listen to what God said to him early on...“But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1:17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The young preacher began his ministry in Judah while Josiah the reformer was king. Suffice it to say Jeremiah had a great relationship with the king and much positive support and cooperation from his office. So, we could say that his beginnings in ministry were happy years. Spiritual revival fires were glowing with the glorious works of God.

But God told him that the ministry honeymoon would not last forever. God told the rookie prophet to “arise”...” dress for work”. God had something to do in Judah in the near future. He was inviting Jeremiah to join Him. The work would not be easy. In fact, it would be hard and the cost would be great.

By way of personal testimony, God had a similar conversation with me through my pastors, Paul Burleson and Jack Boggs, fifty years ago. They told me that my calling would include many rewards many divine highs, but they also told me that my calling to preach the gospel and pastor God’s people would be costly, very stressful, and demanding at times. Even including the dark nights of my soul. But bro Paul and bro Jack reminded me that Jesus would be with me, whatever came up or went down.

“Dress for work”...God told Jeremiah...” get up every morning for work”...as a fellow worker with God. “Say to Judah “everything” that I tell you...” Jeremiah’s primary concern was fulfilling God’s calling upon his life. He was God’s messenger first and foremost. He would commit himself to sharing God’s message with God’s people, no matter what.

Jeremiah could do other things besides preach. But he had to preach God’s very words, that was his God-given ssignment. That was his priority in ministry.

O friends, our pastors can do many things, and they do, but we must remember to do all that we can do to free them up to preach and teach the Word of God to their church. To us.

God told the young preacher not to fear those who would oppose him. God was not raising “ up an arrogant bully in Jeremiah. He was raising up a man of integrity and intense devotion to God and God’s people. A messenger who would faithfully “give” the people “God’s message”. Confident not in his skills, but in God’s through him.

God told Jeremiah that there would be members in his congregation who would disagree with his message. He told him that there would even be some who would fight against him. Jeremiah’s job could be difficult, but he must never forget that it was fairly simple. “Just make sure you tell the people what I say...”

Jeremiah did not have to be creative or clever. He just had to tell the truth as God gave it to him and the Spirit affirmed in his spirit. And then God said what every preacher must remember...”I am with you, declares the Lord.”

Reminds me of Christ’s Great Commission to his disciples in Matthew 28...“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, “I am with you always”, to the end of the age.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Thank You Jesus. We got up today to go to work with You. What a privilege.

Have a good day.