’LORD’ in All Caps!
.
Jeremiah 1:7,8,19 KJV
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Matthew 10:19,20 NASB
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
In other words: No Excuses! Again we find LORD in all caps, referring to the one, true, supreme God over all. HE is telling Jeremiah and us that no matter how overwhelming a challenge may seem God will help us deal with it. No matter how hard a task appears, we don’t need to feel inadequate because God is in it with us. That's
the LORD! Remember him? He made the heavens and the earth. He created everything in the universe, including us and all the circumstances surrounding us in our lives.
I also read in this passage from Jeremiah, that God is pretty firm and pretty clear in His instruction. Do what I say. Just do it. It may not be easy. It may not be pleasant. But do it anyway. Because I said so. I don’t know about you, but while I might not have accepted that explanation from one of my parents, when God says it, I’m inclined to listen—and obey!
In Matthew, we go one step further. Not only will God be with us, comfort us, protect us, but Jesus will be our power and our wisdom. That’s quite a promise and a reassurance, isn’t it? We don’t need to defend ourselves or make excuses to others. When we respond to God’s call and command in obedience and humility, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, giving us the words we need, the knowledge we require to act in obedience and be effective disciples of Jesus Christ.
That imparts a tremendous sense of responsibility, too. This tells me that the words I speak ought to be words of love, peace, comfort, encouragement. The things I do better be actions that make the world more livable, peaceable, loving. The way I live my life should reflect what I believe: that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are in charge of my life. And I offer my life to the triune God who created me and gave me a divine purpose.
That’s pretty overwhelming, isn’t it? Which takes us full circle to the Jeremiah passage! From a human perspective, it is impossible! From God’s point of view: a piece of cake! “Don’t rely upon your own power and wisdom, Mary, rely upon mine.” I can almost hear God saying that, and see Him shaking his head. I am so very grateful He is patient and gentle with me! I am pretty hard-headed as anyone will tell you! God knows this, so He sends multiple opportunities for learning and growth my way, until I figure out it’s about Him and His will, not about me and my plan.
Are you hard-headed? Do you have trouble obeying with absolute submission and humility? My advice is give it to God. Let Him work in you as He does in me. He desires only good for us. And He’s big enough, kind enough, gracious enough to wait for us to figure that out.
My prayer today is that you throw out all the old excuses for not doing what God commands. And that you allow Jesus to be your strength, and the Holy Spirit to be your wisdom.
Mary
