Jeremiah’s Call
4 The Lord gave me this message:
5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”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.”
Jer 1:4-10 (NLT)
As a pastor I would love to be able to say that I, too, had such a calling; the clear, distinctive voice of God ringing in my ears; the undoubtedly comprehensible knowledge that this leading to Christian ministry was the very hand of God, in my life. While the leading part may be true, my journey has certainly not been as lucid as that of Jeremiah’s, and probably not so for most other pastors I know as well. Such an experience does not appear to be the norm in God’s most intimate interactions with God’s people today. (In fact, outside this voice of God, Jeremiah's future probably didn't seem very clear at all to him, either).
But God does call us each, I believe; a calling that might initially take shape as an “Ah Ha!” moment for us; or that deep sense of inner certainty that stirs our very souls, and suddenly makes our faith journey less dense and redirects the direction we had set for our lives. Something read. Something heard – maybe for the umpteenth time – but really for the first time. A friend’s touch that eases the pain. An embrace that frees us from the loneliness of our lives. A sermon remembered, long after the echo of the words has died. A life-death moment, in which life prevailed. All of these – and more – are ways in which God often graces the very fabric of who we are, and lifts us to new heights of being, by drawing us closer to the very source of life itself.
This call – this act of God – this very presence of the divine opening itself to us – into us - is only half known, however, unless it invokes a response from the very depths of who we are. For being called means also to follow – to follow that God-voice within. To be called by God, as was Jeremiah, means that in some way, great or small, our life steps out on a new path; a path not yet traveled, at least in the ways we are use to traveling. It means an honoring of the very One who calls, and an intimate acknowledgement on our part that what we are called towards is now binding upon our lives.
This calling/following may lead us to new places, experiences, events of joy and happiness, which we never realized as even possible. This calling/following may also lead us, however, to places, experiences, events that are ones that we would rather not engage. That’s the unknown with which we struggle, when we encounter the voice of the Lord, and when we respond by giving ourselves over to the new reality that we are being led to inhabit. The invitation may be clear – the gifts may be recognized – yet the where and how of the playing out of our response may be murky at best. This is the threshold of faith – the placement of complete trust in the One who has called us by name. Maybe even from our mother’s womb.
So, what is God calling you to this day? How has the Lord set you apart to be a voice to the world you encounter each day? That is what you – what I – get to wrestle with each moment of each day. I can only pray that we are listening.
Speak to me this day – this moment, O Lord. Make clear(er) the pathways down which you wish to walk with me. Joyous or non, I will honor you by stepping out in faith and trust, knowing that as your precious child we make that journey hand-in-hand; and all for the glory of your Kingdom.
Amen.
Rev. Michael Kirchhoff
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