How often have we wondered where is God in the midst of our circumstance? We feel like we face life’s daily challenges wondering not only if God is there but if God really cares. Through sickness and Pain, heartache and despair, we find ourselves wondering if God is still there.
The scriptures this week give us courage and remind us that we truly matter to God. As we listen to Jeremiah 1:4-5 we see the first indication and demonstration of God’s presence, action and concern. The Lord ‘speaks’ to Jeremiah and reminds him that he knew him before he was even formed in his mother’s womb. Not only did he know him he already had a plan and direction for his life. This is the One true God who is intimately involved in our lives. What we don’t see is Jeremiah’s response. Look at what he says in verse 6 – 8 ”
“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,
“I do not know how to speak. I am too young!”*
But the LORD answered me,
Do not say, “I am too young.”
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you—oracle of the LORD.”
Our first take away from this scripture is that we ought not make excuses for God not to use us and to call us. We truly matter to Him and God desires that we be encouraged. That the direction that he has set for us is for ‘us’ . God needs us and desires to send us to whomever he choses, if we go and do as he calls us to do there is no need for fear for God is with us to deliver us.
Not only is God with us but the great Apostle Paul shows us a more excellent way, namely the way of Love. With the power of great Love in our hearts there is no gift greater than Love. The origin of this love is God and love never fails.
“Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.”
You see when we turn to the power of God in His Son Jesus Christ nothing is to far or to much for us. We just need to decided will we let his love and purpose for our lives prevail. In the Gospel Jesus is home amongst his own people. As he has closed the scroll of the prophet and having told them the scripture is fulfilled in their hearing they pause, those around him start to think that they know him, they know where he is from and who his father is. But in reality they don’t know him, and he reminds them that a prophet is never welcome in his home town amongst his own people, and he uses two examples of God’s deliverance of those who where outside of “chosen people” how God’s love and mercy extended beyond them to Gentiles.
This is another point for our take away, be encouraged because your history, your past, where you’ve been and what you’ve done cannot keep God from loving you and working His will in your life. You and I matter so much to God that there is no in group nor out group, all are important to God.
Jesus walks through their midst even as the reject him, and grow angry with him. I don’t know about you but I need to hear this word, I need to be encouraged by Jesus. For Jesus never said we wouldn’t experience the rejection and hate as he did, but what He did promise us is that we matter so much to Him that he will be with us and walk with us through the rejection, hardship and pain.
Be encouraged today, Take Courage You Matter to God and to Us!