By Almond Branch and Boiling Pot

God's Urgent Call
Calling of Prophets

Jeremiah's Call and Commission

Jeremiah 1:11-19 The Message 

Stand Up and Say Your Piece

11-12 God’s Message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
    I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.”
And God said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you.
    I’ll make every word I give you come true.”
13-15 God’s Message came again: “So what do you see now?”
    I said, “I see a boiling pot, tipped down toward us.”
Then God told me, “Disaster will pour out of the north
    on everyone living in this land.
Watch for this: I’m calling all the kings out of the north.”
    God’s Decree.
15-16 “They’ll come and set up headquarters
    facing Jerusalem’s gates,
Facing all the city walls,
    facing all the villages of Judah.
I’ll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judah
    for walking out on me—what a terrible thing to do!—
And courting other gods with their offerings,
    worshiping as gods sticks they’d carved, stones they’d painted.
17 “But you—up on your feet and get dressed for work!
    Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say.
Don’t pull your punches
    or I’ll pull you out of the lineup.
18-19 “Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work.
    I’m making you as impregnable as a castle,
Immovable as a steel post,
    solid as a concrete block wall.
You’re a one-man defense system
    against this culture,
Against Judah’s kings and princes,
    against the priests and local leaders.
They’ll fight you, but they won’t
    even scratch you.
I’ll back you up every inch of the way.”
    God’s Decree.

For Reflection

Jeremiah was preaching the word of the covenant in Juda for some time.  It was a comfortable ministry.  But God's call for Jeremiah to reveal the sins of the people and to warn that their sins would lead to their ruin.

Jeremiah was not comfortable with this request.  But, God reassures him that God will give him the words to say, protect him and back him up.

Pray

Pray that you will answer God's call to be God's partner in advancing God's Kingdom.  Pray that you will accept God's commission with confidence that God will be with you driving out fear and healing you.