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
Oh, dear Jeremiah, thank you for reminding us of our baptismal vocation and createdness in one conversation. How often we sell ourselves short, forgetting that we have been created for the purpose of partnership with God. Just imagine, God working with and through the human creature, mere mortals: some of us tillers and tenders, some of us namers and proclaimers, some healers, some teachers, each of us called and gifted—just as we are.
“Do not say ‘I am only…’ For I appointed you” says the Lord—equipped and empowered you to build up and tear down, to pluck up and to plant. Yes, even you in all your ‘only-ness’!
Prayer
Creator God, what a curiosity it is that you have created us to be your partner in this earthly adventure. Open the eyes of our hearts so we may see ourselves through the eyes of our Maker and give thanks for the generous invitation to live as yours in the world. Amen.
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