The Lord gave me this message:
“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 prophet to the nations.â€
“O Sovereign Lord,†I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!†Jeremiah 1:4-6 (NLT)
Moses, David, Joseph, Esther, Jeremiah, Jonah, Habakkuk, Peter, John, and me. You may think of some more to add to this list. Called by God – with plenty of excuses, complaints, and ways to ignore the call.
I am not ordained by a denomination. Too often we may think that if we are not formally ordained that we are not ‘called’. That is a deception. It is the Light that shows me my destiny; shows me my place in God’s plan.
Jesus knew that I would need help in finding my way to the Father and then living my life in obedience to the Father. Jesus paid the price but from the moment He appeared in that barn in Bethlehem He showed me how to live my life in obedience to the Father. There was no ease in the circumstances of Jesus’ life. He and His family had to escape into Egypt. Jesus worked a job of manual labor all through His growing years. He did not attend fine schools or live in a 2000 square foot home. He had no servants to cook or clean. His disciples would have drove any professor to retirement or homicide. And Jesus not only taught these disciples, He lived with them! And when Jesus needed them, they ran away. And, yet, still He fulfilled all His promises, including sending them a Counselor. And this Counselor is with me today.
We all have a job in God’s Kingdom. We have all been gifted for our job. If we listen to the Counselor, we find that our job in the world that provides for us is also an opportunity to bring what we have learned from Jesus to others. Whether we are a child in school, a mother at home, an executive in a business, or one of many in a cubicle or factory, we are ambassadors for Jesus. There is no situation that is beyond His power to bring us through. The events of the world, the darkness that creeps into our life, lose all power in His revealing, guiding Light.
By Jesus’ example, I can know that even when I am walking in obedience, it won’t be any easy life. It will be a life in the Presence of God. It is never being alone. It is finding peace and strength in the midst of difficulties because God’s promises are always true. My weakness is always enough with His strength!
Another inspired song of this Advent season, Breath of Heaven.
