For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, ‘Violence and destruction!’ For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.” vs. 8
Jeremiah 20:7-13
For the most part it’s wonderful to be a follower of Jesus, walk in the Way of Love, and share the good news with sad and lonely people. It does our heart good to see folks respond with thanksgiving to our message of mercy and unconditional love. Their eyes light up and their smiles show their appreciation. Jeremiah would have been jealous of our privilege! Against his will he had been called as a prophet, and his message was not well received. When he spoke of violence and impending destruction people not only plugged their ears, they treated him with contempt and derision. When we hear his story, we mostly breathe a sigh of relief–it’s so good not to be a prophet! But sometimes, as with Jeremiah, servants of Jesus will be thrust into that prophetic role. The Spirit will put such convictions into our hearts that we are bound to speak regardless of how people might respond. We might resist for a time, perhaps hoping that someone else will say what we have been thinking, but then the words burst forth. And in our prophetic role, we point out the dangers of continuing to degrade the environment. We study causes of global warming, become educated about what can be done, and then become vocal advocates of positive change. And some days it’s not any fun at all!
Thought for the Day: What is my prophetic role?
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