“Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” (Jeremiah 1:6 NKJV)

Have you ever had a situation wherein you knew God wanted you to do something but thought that you couldn’t do it because you weren’t fit to carry out the task? Perhaps this is something that you may even be wrestling with now. Such was the case with Jeremiah who thought that he was too young to fulfill the role of a prophet and thus be God’s spokesperson to the nations. He didn’t think that he could do it because he bought into a lie of a man made tradition that said he didn’t measure up–that he wasn’t qualified to do the work because he was too young. But God’s response to him was:

“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 1:7-8)

Indeed, God can and will use whomever He so desires to carry out His work. Who are we to think that we have the right to make up the rules? Who are we to decide who is or isn’t called by God? He doesn’t have to ask for our approval; nor does He have to explain Himself to anyone. He isn’t bound by man made rules or traditions. He is God!

Listen, if you know that God has been calling you to carry out a specific task, then you can believe that He will give you the strength to perform it. And as was mentioned in the previous lesson, it is our responsibility to answer to the call of Love by exercising the gifts that have been given to us by the Holy Spirit–for the purpose of edifying and building up the body of Christ (the Church).

Will you let fear keep you from answering to that calling? Will you step outside of your comfort zone and be a blazing light for Jesus Christ or will you let prideful leaders who claim to be heralds of the gospel suppress your gift? That is, will you listen to faithless and ungodly men or will you be obedient to God?

The Bible says,

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

Is your faith pleasing to God? Are you diligently seeking to do His will or are you running away from your responsibility to show the world what it means to please Him? Are you willing to go wherever He tells you to? Are you willing to say whatever He commands you to speak no matter what the cost, exercising faith in Him who is the King of kings and Lord of lords? Or will you keep silent, living in fear of what others might say against you for being faithful to God?

Beloved, it’s time to stop feeding fear and start placing trust in Jesus Christ, believing that He will be with us unto the end of the world, just as He promised; it’s time to stop making excuses to be silent and embrace our calling; it’s time to stop allowing man made traditions and the people who worship them dictate our purpose in life; it’s time to listen to and follow the word of God and know that no man can shut the door that He has opened to us; it’s time to stand up and say, ‘Lord, not my will, but yours. Send me!’

Will you stand up for Jesus?  How far will you go for God? Don’t be afraid!

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