Word of Encouragement (6/8/2020)

Yesterday in my sermon, I quoted Jer. 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” This verse connects Samson’s extraordinary conception and calling with Jeremiah’s ordinary conception and more typical calling as a prophet. Even though Jeremiah’s birth was not announced by an angel and his conception was not a miracle, it was really no different from Samson’s. Even though he did not have a miraculous conception, God was still the One who formed him in the womb. Even though there was no angelic announcement beforehand, God consecrated Jeremiah as a prophet before he was born.

But this was not true just for Samson and Jeremiah. Paul says, “…[God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Eph. 1:4). This verse connects us to Samson and Jeremiah. Even as God consecrated Samson and Jeremiah before they were born, God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. What about our calling? Again, Paul says, “…we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). How encouraging these verses are! We may not have the peripherals—e.g., an angelic announcement about our birth or a miraculous conception. But we have the essence of what was true of Samson and Jeremiah—God’s foreknowledge, election, creation, and calling of us even before we were born.

Think about the relationship between these acts of God. According to His foreknowledge and election, God created us and called us. That means there are things in the world we are born to do, things only we can do (at least at this particular time and in this particular place we occupy). How would you fill in the blank?

“[Your name], before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you to _____________.”

I know this may be too broad of a question. It may help you to answer this question for each sphere of your life—at home, at work/school, at church, and in the community at large.

Before you simply list your various responsibilities, however, can you think about how much God has blessed you in Jesus Christ--not only all the possessions you have and the abilities and skills you possess but also the eternal and abundant life you have in Christ and all the amazing promises of God for you? As your heart overflows with a renewed sense of gratitude, you will wonder why God had blessed you so much and realize that there must be a greater purpose than just your enjoyment of comfort and ease in this life. Then, we have the right frame of mind to ask what God might want us to do and start doing it with joy.

The internet and social media are turning us into constant voyeurs and eavesdroppers. It is so easy to get lost watching how other people live and constantly worrying about what other people say, wasting our precious life. We need to learn to focus on what is important. What is more important than knowing God’s purpose for our life and living it out? A life that is worth living, a truly successful life, is to be determined by the intention of the Author of our life. Let us commit ourselves to living a meaningful and purposeful life, not just an easy and comfortable life! This is all the more urgent for us because we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. “…He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor. 5:15).

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