Monday July 3rd, 2017 Jeremiah 20:7-13
If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (verse 9)
Jeremiah was a reluctant prophet with a distasteful message of destruction to preach to God’s rebellious people. They did not want to hear what he had to say, and the religious authorities made Jeremiah’s life miserable. Nor did Jeremiah want to proclaim God’s message. He accuses God of being unfair with him, of enticing him to be a prophet and then giving him this unpleasant message. He resolves not to speak.
Yet Jeremiah finds that he must speak, in spite of his reluctance, his abhorrence of his task and the obstinacy of the people. God’s word has become a burning fire, and he cannot hold it in.
In our baptism we were commissioned to be God’s prophets, and we have the good and exciting news of forgiveness, reconciliation with God and eternal life in Jesus Christ to share. If Jeremiah could not help but proclaim God’s message, we have even more reason to share the good news given to us. How can we hold it in?
We thank you, gracious God, for the good news delivered to us. Let it burn in us so that we must share it with others. Amen. — DLK
Contributed by A Burning Fire
Jeremiah was a reluctant prophet with a distasteful message of destruction to preach to God's rebellious people. They did not want to hear what he had to say, and the religious authorities made Jeremiah's life miserable. Nor did Jeremiah want to proclaim God's message. He accuses God of being unfair with him, of enticing him to be a prophet and then giving him this unpleasant message. He resolves not to speak.
Yet Jeremiah finds that he must speak, in spite of his reluctance, his abhorrence of his task and the obstinacy of the people. God's word has become a burning fire, and he cannot hold it in.
In our baptism we were commissioned to be God's prophets, and we have the good and exciting news of forgiveness, reconciliation with God and eternal life in Jesus Christ to share. If Jeremiah could not help but proclaim God's message, we have even more reason to share the good news given to us. How can we hold it in?
