Jeremiah 15:15-17
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” vs. 16
Not only did Jeremiah have a special name (in Hebrew Jeremiah means “Yahweh exults”), but he had a special calling: he ate the words of the Lord and proclaimed them to the people. Strangely, given the content of his message and the response to his words, he found delight and joy in both his name and his calling. So even though the tone of his proclamation was doom and gloom and he never failed to irritate his listeners, he evidently liked who he was and what he did. We, who so often get tied in knots about whether others like us or not, can learn from Jeremiah. We too have been named and claimed. It happens in our baptisms, and we then feast on the Word every time we receive Holy Communion. This in itself is occasion for great joy and delight, but then we have the greater privilege of proclaiming a message, not of gloom and doom, but of grace and truth. It really doesn’t make any difference whether others like us or not, though it’s always nice when they do. What counts is our standing with God, and the sure and certain knowledge that we are loved and forgiven. That identity can never be taken from us…it’s ours forever.
Thought for the Day: How can I know if people like me?
0 Comments