February 2, 2025 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1st Corinthians 13: 1-13; Luke 4:21-30
Are You Ready?
I beat you all up hard last week. There is one thing that I would like to add for this week. There are some who come to church to escape from the world and all its troubles. We want to leave it at the Sanctuary doors. However, when you leave here on Sunday Mornings, what you left behind one hour ago is still there. Friends, regular attendance in church can help prepare you for what does lie beyond those doors. Without the Lord’s preparation each week, the world can get the best of us and lead us away from Him.
For this week we’ve heard the cliché “Leaders are born, not made” right. Yet on the other hand we see advertisements, commercials and fliers about seminars or workshops that can guarantee us success in Leadership. Years ago, I wanted to be a Primary Instructor in EMS. I decided to take a class through Community Hospital to teach me how to teach others on becoming EMT’s. The class had nothing to do with Emergency Medical Services, strictly about leadership; in fact, it was on the premise of human resources. Yet two of the leaders of the class had already made up their mind before I started the class I would not pass. For years I looked at this in a very detrimental way. Could it have been just one more way God was equipping the called? You can go to any bookstore to find something about self-help and leadership. There is such a market on leadership training that companies will spend hundreds even thousands of dollars to send someone to get trained. They will get an expert to come in and train their employees. I am continually getting emails to do so. An expert is someone from out of town who has some experience in the situation you want knowledge of.
The Old Testament Scriptures doesn’t say Jeremiah was sent to some leadership seminar. Jeremiah was chosen to be a prophet even before he was born by God. He was chosen while still in the womb. God had determined Jeremiah’s destiny before he had taken his first breath, before his parents had even laid eyes on him, Jeremiah was to become a prophet. Yet Jeremiah could have used free will and denied God plan.
God is the Creator of the Heavens and earth, so it makes sense to believe that God is also the creator of the universe. So, if God created those things and the leaders of the past then it also makes sense to believe that the leaders of the future, who are not here yet, are being created by that same God. Then the God of the universe still does and will again use humans to do His will here on earth just like He did with Moses, Jonah and Jeremiah, which means He is probably calling to use even us.
Repeatedly we have read God issues the call to someone, they always have a response. Jeremiah’s come back was “I don’t know how to speak; I’m only a child”. Theologians have argued for eons whether Jeremiah meant this literally, figuratively or theologically. Whether or not Jeremiah was literally a child in age; figuratively as not having enough practice in speaking publicly; or theologically he didn’t have enough years of study to be considered a wise man of the synagogue to preach completely alone. Only men of extensive learning were permitted to go and preach the torah. There isn’t evidence to give us sufficient information as to why Jeremiah made that statement. We only have historical events of people in the past Scriptural readings.
Moses when he received God’s call, he told God to find someone else, because he wasn’t eloquently in speech. That didn’t water with God. Jonah ran away to the water. When Jonah finally did as God asked and the people he preached to did as God said through Jonah and guess what, Jonah got mad. The one common denominator with every story, when they refused or had an excuse God said don’t worry about it, I will not forsake you. Moses don’t fret I will be with you. God heard Jonah’s pleas, so God was with him. God was also with Jonah at the tree. Here in Jeremiah God says do not be afraid because I will rescue you. Jeremiah was afraid of being hurt or killed. God gave each Called messengers help and encouragement to be the leader He called them to be and do the task He set them to do.
When God calls us, we are to go forward in faith and love. God does not promise that it will be an easy for us. There will be dangers and loneliness. It will come with rejection and hostility, even from some that we love. God says He will endure it with us, He will be right there beside us, because He loves us. He will give us what it takes to do the task.
It is one thing to go out in the ministry of Christ, but we also must do it with love. The New Testament reading today tells us that we are to have love for others. This is the Love Chapter in the Bible. We could do all the right things God tells us to do, but if we do it without love for God and our fellow humans than it is worthless. We must use the same Godly love He gives to us by passing it on. Let me give you an example. With Valentine’s Day coming let’s say I was to give Lyla a package of Almond Joys, its candy, isn’t it? I know how much she loves almonds. Does that speak love to her? We are supposed to give candy to the ones we love on Valentine’s Day. Well, if you know Lyla as I do I know her, she does not like coconuts. That does not speak love to her. Yet if I give her a box of Whitman Sampler heart shaped candy, though it may contain a piece or two of chocolate covered coconut, it still speaks love to her. It is still candy but it’s how the delivery is made. Love is the most important ingredient. We are not to just do something out of obligation, we need the love ingredient.
The message God asked Jeremiah to deliver was not what the people thought they would hear from God. They had thoughts of being blessed; not to suffer any more hardships being God’s people. Everything will be hunky dory. What they heard from God was they needed to repent and love others.
God’s call to all His prophets is very specific and so is the message He wants delivered. God says He will put the words into our mouths. Jeremiah was called to deliver a message of wrath to a people who have drifted away from God. God is giving them the choice. Jeremiah was given a huge task, when he gave this message, he had no clue how the people would react. Will they act in good faith or will they take out their frustrations on Jeremiah.
We live in a nation that was developed by, founded on, biblical principles, we’ve become a backslidden country. We would like to think we are not as bad as the Israelites but that is so far from the truth. All you must do is watch the news one night and see the hurt and need in our world, just outside. Those openly claiming to be Christians are declining in numbers, numbers in the Church are in reverse. Is it time for us to hear a word from a prophet? But whom shall the message come from?
But you know what? That is not such a hard question, and we all know the answer. We claim to have heard the truth and believe in Christ as the savior for the world. We claim Him as hope for the past, present and future in our lives. We pray for Peace, Hope and Love for the world and in our lives. We don’t have to go overseas or halfway around the world to follow Christ’s ministry. All we must do is just look right outside our doors for a ministry in need. The good news for us as not so motivated people is that it does not take much to proclaim God’s love for the world. We are not too old, too young, not a public speaker, that excuse did not work for Moses and won’t do us either. All we must do is live it. Say a love filled kind word to someone. Give a smile to a passerby. If God calls you to go on a mission, say yes with love. Running away from God did not work for Jonah, God will follow us until we accept His challenge. There are so many people looking for role models. Last week we talked about passing on our culture to the young, so show them how to live by just doing it.
So many people don’t come to church because they see Christianity as dull and restrictive, go out and live it, show them that it is challenging but there is so much joy that comes with sharing love for people and God. People need a sense of belonging; we can help them fulfill that need and desire. We can be with them so that they do not have to go through trials and troubles alone. Give them the courage and strength to carry on. God is right there with them and Us. Yes, even the Great Prophets were reluctant when they first got started, but God promised to be right there beside them, and He will be right there with us. So, you have the potential to become a great leader also. You are in good company. Regular attendance, online or in person
will help prepare you for what lies ahead. Are You Ready?
