When I was a small child, my mother would often include my younger sister and me when she baked. We had our own small pans and thought we were being helpful. As she did this, my mother was teaching us how to bake and kept us occupied and out of trouble. It takes much more patience to let children “help” you do a task than if you did it yourself. But from our perspective, it was fun, and we liked to tell others how we helped mom.
God did not need Jeremiah’s help as a prophet, but He wanted to involve him in His work of building the Kingdom of God. In this process the Lord would help Jeremiah to grow in faith as well as enable him to be a prophet proclaiming God’s word to His people.
Jeremiah 1:9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” [1]
Why does God involve us in His work when He does not need our help? Here are just some thoughts I have learned in my own life.
When we are involved in God’s work:
- It builds our relationship with God and we begin to understand God’s ways.
- We must give up our goals and desires for His.
- He opens our eyes to people that are invisible to the world.
- He begins to unfold His plan for our life.
- He gives us a deep satisfaction that the world can not give.
- He gives us a purpose for living.
- He begins to mold us to be more like Him.
- He is teaching us to depend on Him.
As I have been involved in God’s work it has changed my life. Isaiah 6:8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. [2]
To hear Jeremiah’s story, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-call-jeremiah
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.