“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4-5 NKJV)

There’s no doubt that God was specifically addressing Jeremiah here; but could it be possible that there’s a message in this that applies to us too? If so, what could it be? Well, it’s obvious that since God knew who Jeremiah was before he existed and created him for a purpose, then that means He must have known us before we existed and created us for a purpose too. But what purpose were we created for and are we really fulfilling it?

It has been said that we were created to serve God. I agree with this. But does such servitude constitute a lack of liberty of conscience and free will or does it mean something else?

I submit that we weren’t created by God to be lifeless puppets; instead, we were brought into existence to be blessed and to be a blessing and to enjoy life and to give praise to our Creator every step of the way. In other words, service to God isn’t about carrying out menial tasks; it’s an expression of love.

And just as Jeremiah was called to enter into a special service for God, each one of us who belongs to the body of Christ has a calling too–to edify and build up the Church of Jesus Christ and thus answer to the call of Love.

Now I’m not trying to suggest that all are prophets here. For, there are diversities of gifts, which means each member has an important part to play in the Church—some having more responsibilities than others. Of course, I don’t know what your gift is. That is between you and God. However, I will tell you this: if you aren’t using the gift that God has given you to His glory, then you are not being faithful to God.

To further emphasize the point that I’m trying to bring to light here, please read the following message that was spoken by Jesus:

“the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:14-46 NKJV)

Indeed, Jesus made it very clear here that serving God is not about hoarding His blessings, but about sharing them in the spirit of Love.

With that being said, I would like to remind you of something else that Jesus said:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV)

Jesus gave you everything when He poured out His life for you. Is it too much to ask you to give your life to Him? Oh, but then you might say that you do believe in Jesus Christ and have given your life to Him. But what are you doing to show it? Have you placed the gift that God has given you to edify and build up the Church under a basket or are you sharing it with others?  Are you really being faithful to the One whom you claim to believe in?

But maybe you think that you’ve already done your part in sharing your gift. If that is the case then I have to ask you another question:  does God give us gifts to use only once or are they meant to be shared for as long as there’s a Church that needs to be built up and edified? I think you already know the answer to this question. But do you really know what’s inside of your heart? Do you really love the people whom Jesus died for? If so, how far reaching is that love?

You can read more on the gifts of the Spirit and their purpose here: Romans 12; 1Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:1-16

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