PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Aug
08

Assurance, Direction, Provision

Jeff Weinkauf

Scripture
Jeremiah 1:4-104The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. 9Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Observation
As a master communicator, God knows how to speak life to His kids. Today’s scripture is Jeremiah’s appointment to office. A calling much greater than he felt he could handle. But before God unpacks the task fully, He connects with Jeremiah very personally. God tells him “Before you Jeremiah were a physically formed human being (incidentally, which I myself happened to have made) I knew who you were.” Then also, “before anyone else even saw you outside of your mother, I already had this task set aside for you.”. You’re not an afterthought, in fact my knowledge of you and my appointment of you to this station predates, YOU. Of course the huge nature of this moment causes (all of us) to so often focus on where we are short. As if at some level we’re saying “are you sure you have the right person?” The very thing you are asking me to do, I don’t know how to do. Oh and by the way, I have no standing to do this, thing you’re asking me to do. I’m young and inexperienced. This is where God becomes lovingly firm with Jeremiah. Don’t say that you’re too young – don’t let your focus shift from the truth of what I’m telling you to what you’re afraid of. Let’s be clear here, “you must go everywhere I send you, and say what ever I command you.” And, when you are afraid (not if) I’ll rescue you. Scripture says God “declared it”. So no room for misunderstanding the call there, I WILL do this declares the Lord. Then, after saying “I know you” (assurance), and “you must” (direction) God ends by reaching out His hand, and giving him His own words. (provision). 
Application
While the story of Jeremiah’s calling is powerful, there is also much to be leaned from the skill with which God communicates it. God understands (intimately) our shortfalls, motives, hang ups etc. He is not concerned like we are with these roadblocks, but skillfully navigates around our objections with assurance, then direction, and ultimately provision. I can use this same model as well when calling and commissioning those in my sphere. 
Prayer
Please God help me to also be a skillful communicator like you are. God I pray for a double portion of this anointing. Help me to love your people and to speak words of life. Amen 

Devotions for August 08

Jeremiah 1,2
John 10

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