Jeremiah 1-2
H - "'But you [Jeremiah], dress yourself for work. Arise and say to [Judah] everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares Yahweh, to deliver you.'" - Jeremiah 1:17-19
E - Yahweh calls Jeremiah to be his prophet, though Jeremiah is a young man and afraid. He wants Jeremiah to go to work for him. He promises to protect Jeremiah from his opponents, who will be many. Jeremiah will need supernatural courage to speak what God wants said. It will be Jeremiah's job to speak words of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem.
A - Father, would you like me to dress myself for work? As an elder, pastor, missionary, and evangelist in New Zealand, what am I to say? Am I in a prophetic type role?
R - "Jeff, you are not Jeremiah the prophet, but you are a New Zealand preacher, teacher, and evangelist in the Church age. Your model is more Paul than Jeremiah. And yet there are things to be learned from my call of Jeremiah. Don't you think Paul saw himself as an Isaiah or Jeremiah figure? All my spokesman must say to the unbelieving world all that I tell them. Do not be dismayed by your opponents. Whether you speak to the elite or to the common man, do not fear. Speak the truth in love. Speak to the heart of the matter. Pronounce theological explanations for things. My world is theological, not socio-economic. This is where modern man has gone wrong. Now postmodern man is waffling around with no real place to go. Bring people back to me. I am the ultimate reality. View the world biblically, and do not be ashamed for it. If you are dismayed by the world, I will dismay you before the world."
P - Father, I am seeing more and more the important of viewing all of life theologically and biblically. Truly your word is sufficient. Forgive me for forgetting that spiritual matters come first. Lord, I pray for revival. Raise up numbers of wise servants to preach the clear truth of the gospel message. May our Christian youth see the world theologically and not socio-economically. Help me to do some deep thinking in this area, Lord. I love you.
- Jeff Coleman