Heed and Answer The Call

Dear Diary,

#Heed_and_Answer_the_Call

In my devotion this week I have been focusing on Jeremiah 1. Here are some facts I gathered from this passage.

1. God not only foreordains life and existence, He also predetermines before birth what’s to be a person’s calling, v.5. “Before you were conceived in your mother’s womb, God knew you and set you apart for Himself.” Yeeeiii, si, it’s an honorable thing to be known by God!
2. In His own counsel, God influences a person’s origin and growth in the womb to prepare a person for what he/she is to become and accomplish especially in the redemption scheme. Listen, there are no illegitimate babies. God has it all figured out, v.5. Pengine you were a case of “Unwanted pregnancy” but God did not make a mistake to let you be conceived. You mommy may have attempted abortion but, alas! You came unapologetic. Indeed no one can thwart God’s purposes and plans.
3. God Himself consecrates/sets apart the person He chooses to use for a specific task. Unless the Lord sanctifies whomever He has called, he/she remains unfit for God’s Holy Service. For God to use you, He has to regenerate you by His Spirit so that you can be able to serve your divine purpose, v.5.
4. A person must recognise God’s voice and sense His specific call upon his/her life. Friend, this call is not a product of philosophical musing as to what your calling is/might be.  It’s not even an irresistible impulse felt within. It is a real revelation vouchsafed to you.
5. As soon as a person is consciously aware of God’s call, he/she must willingly take up his/her allotted calling. A person may be consciously aware of his weakness and inexperience for such a call but God equips the person with gifts and grace necessary to discharge the divine duties, v. 6-7. No excuse whatsoever to hinder in the way of accepting God’s call.
6. God gives a palpable confirmatory token to a person He has called for a specific purpose, v.6. First, He gives an assurance of His presence. He says, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” v. 8. It’s easy to feel terrified to speak before high and mighty personages, but God gives assurance of his presence. Secondly, God promises protection and deliverance from distress and danger which the discharge of the fulfilment of the call can bring. Thirdly, God gives a tangible pledge of His inspiration, v. 9. God stretched His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth. To me this means that a person who been called by God must speak what has been inspired to him by the Lord Himself. Fourthly, God gives a tangible confirmatory of swift fulfilment of His promise/word, v.12. Fifthly, God gives a tangible confirmation of divine assistance, v. 19.
7. A person who has been consecrated for a divine purpose must stand stoutly and fearlessly proclaim what God has inspired him/her to speak. Or else disaster will come upon Him, v. 17-18.

Application

Friend, I don’t know you but I am certain that you are not an accident. You are alive at such a time as this because God has something for you to do. You are His workmanship. I have no clue what your allotted call is but take the challenge. Be sure God has spoken to you then stand on His word, step out in faith and discharge the ministry He has ordained you for. You have a tangible confirmatory token of His presence, deliverance, inspiration, fulfilment of His word and divine assistance.

God bless you as you heed to His call.

Yours faithful scribbler,

NzakuNashipae