Answer the call

Jeremiah 1:5

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, 

before you were born I set you apart;

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Boom. Could you imagine sitting in your living room and God dropping that bombshell on you? What would your reaction be? How would you respond?

I just finished working my way through the life of David. David's response would have been completely opposite from what Jeremiah said. I'm sure that in most instances we respond more like Jeremiah than we do like David.

Jeremiah 1:6

"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." 

An excuse. We all find excuses for things we are called to do. Or things that God asks us to do. Many times we point out our weaknesses or our flaws. We focus on our lack of education. We focus on our location, sex, or age. We throw a curve ball at God. Or at least we think that we do. We think we know better than God. 

Jeremiah 1:7 & 8

But the Lord said unto me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.

God sends a confirmation to just prove that He wasn't playing with you. If God sends you direction, and you respond to him with an excuse, he will tell you again what you are supposed to do. He doesn't 'stutter.' Let m use a real-life example of this. Recently I was given a task involving a group of ladies. I was praying for who those ladies would be. When I received the final name, I was shocked. This woman is not someone I thought would be in the group. I gave myself excuse after excuse after excuse. This wasn't one of the people I was supposed to include. BUT God confirmed it. Over and over and over and over. 

I constantly feared what this woman would say. I feared how this woman would react. I feared the judgement and thought that she would be receptive to what I was doing. It's been 4 days. I still haven't said a word to the group. This morning I was listening to Elevations service and Steven Furtick was talking about obedience. Which, of course, confirmed everything all over again.

Jeremiah 1:9-10

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."

God would never give you direction to things you couldn't do. Jeremiah was young. But God knew he could do what he was calling him to do. God knows what he's doing. God knows who he is calling. God is asking something of you. You have to decide to be obedient or not. Steven Furtick said something very gut-wrenching this morning. 

"God's Favor Follows Our Obedience."

If you are faced with a decision today of something God is asking you to do, really think about your response. As for me, I'm going to try my best to put my doubts aside and follow instruction. Your decision is up to you.