Jeremiah 1:4-10 (NRSV)
Read Jeremiah 1:4-10 on biblegateway.com
Verse 4Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, Verse 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." Verse 6Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." Verse 7But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, Verse 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." Verse 9Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. Verse 10See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
Devotion
In this season of Epiphany, we encounter a variety of call narratives: the call of Isaiah, the call of Simon Peter and today the call of Jeremiah. In all of these, there is protest on the part of the one being called: "I am not worthy," declare Isaiah and Peter; "I am too young," insists Jeremiah. In all three narratives, the protestations are overridden by the One who calls. God always provides whatever we need when God calls us. When God calls us, it is God's word that we speak, not our own.
Prayer
Touch my mouth, O Lord, and put your word within me. Amen.