Jeremiah 1:17-19 (NIV): “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand 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 will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Today God sends His people as He has always sent them – to the wicked; to the officials and to the nobodies; to those in power, and those with no power; to the unfaithful religious people, as well as to those with no trust in religion at all. He sends them forth with a message that at one and the same time gives hope to those seeking God, and puts fear and hatred into those whose hearts have grown cold.
And, as always, the reality of God’s sending makes His people fearful. We see that the godless have no fear of the godly; we know that God’s mission for us often results in persecution. But still He sends us because we must go. People can’t know God without hearing of Him. And the best way, the most convincing way for them to hear of Him is for them to hear it from those of us who actually know Him. But we, as God’s people, do not need to be afraid. Just as He empowered Jeremiah to do the work of his calling, so He empowers us, whom He sends today. Just as He gave Jeremiah strength and determination, so He gives the same to us today. Just as He promised Jeremiah that He would be with him and rescue him, so He has promised to us today that He will never leave us or forsake us.
So why are God’s people so afraid? Too many of us are not filled with His Spirit, so they have no access to His power, and they have a hard time hearing His voice. Those of us whom God has filled with His Holy Spirit He empowers; those He empowers, He moves out of our comfort zones into the mission field. But we never have to worry. We have His promise and, with His Spirit flowing through our lives, we have His ever-abiding presence as well.
Father, thank You, not only for Your promises, but for their fulfillment, which many of us can attest to. Inspire in all of those who are not currently filled with Your Spirit a deep hunger and thirst for all of You, and for Your righteousness, so that they might be filled. Empower us, and send us strongly out, so that we can be salt and light; so that we can truly make Your kingdom a here and now reality. Amen.