Called and chosen

“The Lord’s message came to me, ‘Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.’” (Jeremiah 1:4-5 NET)

Jeremiah was selected by God to be a prophet, someone to declare a message that God gave him. Before he was born, while he was in his mother’s womb, he was chosen by God for this role. He would not only bring God’s message to God’s people, but to the nations. The Hebrew word for ‘nations’ usually refers to those who were non-Israelites. The message that Jeremiah would bring would be for a wider audience – we see this when we read through the book of his prophecy (which is also the longest book in the Bible).

Many today like to think that they are also specially chosen by God and often quote these verses to prove it. These verses say nothing about us as Christians today and how we are called. (Although I’ve seen these verses used as a type of ‘proof text’, I’ve not seen the entire quote applied to people today – we’ve not been appointed to be a prophet). It is true that Christians are called and chosen, but this is not in the same way that Jeremiah was chosen.

The opening of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians has the most extensive discussion about God selecting Christians. It says nothing about being chosen for a particular path in life but that God has chosen Christians, those ‘in Christ’, to be holy and blameless. This is the people who have forgiveness and are now ‘in Christ’. God chose a group of people who are obedient to be forgiven and to live a certain way. We need to be part of that group! But no where does it say in scripture that we have a special path that God has chosen us for, as he chose Jeremiah. Because we are Christians we are chosen to tell others about Jesus.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

But what would it be like to be chosen to be a prophet of God? Notice Jeremiah’s reaction.

“I answered, ‘Oh, Sovereign Lord, Really I do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.’ The Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am too young.” But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,’ says the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me. Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.’” (Jeremiah 1:6-10 NET)

Jeremiah seemed overwhelmed at the enormity and difficulty of the task he had been given – after all, he was young. God told him that his age was not a problem. He was to go where God sent him and deliver God’s message without fear. When we read though Jeremiah and Lamentations we discover that he did just that, despite having to endure persecution and hardship.

There is a parallel in God’s answer to Jeremiah and what he wants of us. We, too, have a message to declare (Matthew 28:19-20). These instructions were initially given to the apostles but notice they were to teach those who were immersed “to obey everything I have commanded you” – which would include going into the world and making disciples.

We may feel overwhelmed as Jeremiah did. We may feel we are too young (see 1 Timothy 4:11-12) and don’t know enough. By studying God’s word we will know what we need to teach. God expects us to tell others about Jesus. We need to open our mouths.

Image by Peggy_Marco from pixabay.com. Free for use.

Readings for next week: Revelation 19-22; Jeremiah 1-4