My Model, Volume 1 (Age Grade: 9-12 years). Jeremiah - The Obedient Prophet.

 Jeremiah, one of the greatest prophets in Bible history, lived a passionate life, deeply consumed with the work that God handed to him. He was extremely obedient to the Lord, doing all that He instructed, even in life-threatening situations. I would love to narrate this story, not leaving out any enticing part of it, but first, permit me to take you to Jeremiah's first encounter with the Lord.

 Jeremiah's Call. 

It might interest you to know that Jeremiah wasn't an adult; just like you, reading this article, he was about seventeen when the Lord called him.

 The Lord said; 

Jeremiah 1:5 ICB [5] 'Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.'

Jeremiah was set apart by God to become a prophet, even before his birth. This is the same for everyone created by God; the Lord has set you apart for a good work. Yes, I'm talking to you, reading this article.

Immediately, when Jeremiah received this information, he became aware that he was very young and felt he could not achieve God's purpose. 

Then he said to the Lord:

Jeremiah 1:6 ICB

[6] Then I said, “But Lord God, I don’t know how to speak. I am only a boy.”

Then the Lord insisted:

Jeremiah 1:7 ICB

[7] But the Lord said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am only a boy.’ You must go everywhere that I send you. You must say everything I tell you to say.”

He went ahead to boost Jeremiah's confidence, telling him that he had fortified him against every challenge or obstacle. The Lord had already put that ability to resist every obstacle within before he was even born. He referred to him as a "Bronze wall," just as He called Peter a "Rock."

Jeremiah's Sacrifices

Can you imagine Jeremiah's pain when he was told not to get married in the place where he resides? He wasn't even allowed to mourn with the relatives of the dead, nor join in any feast like weddings, child dedications, or property dedications. I wonder what he felt. Imagine when you can't relate to your family and friends around you because of a calling, but it wasn't just a calling; it was his life. The Bible tells us that it was for his own good; Jeremiah obeyed anyway.

The Writer's Note

Have you ever given the Lord the space to talk to you about your purpose? Have you been seeking the Lord? Is the Lord at the center of your life? He can only speak to you when you have accepted Him as your Lord and walk in alignment with Him. He will then come to you at different phases of your life to communicate your assignment. After the first communication, especially the one that contains the mandate (words spoken by God to direct you on your own path/purpose)the Lord comes at different times to tell you your next assignment, which is still connected to the first mandate. So, we need to give Him the right atmosphere. Things that corrupt the right atmosphere all fall under sin (disobedience, faithlessness, low self-esteem, complacency, etc.). Whereas obedience, prayer, fasting, personal study of God's word, fellowship with brethren, and rendering services to God and humanity stir up the right atmosphere. 

If you fall into the category of those who have never heard the audible voice of God, don't worry; you will still know what the Lord wants you to do. It will be felt inside of you (your spirit, heart); there will be a knowing just like a newborn babe at his mother's breast. It's rare for the babe to be told to suck; he just goes ahead and sucks, as he was born with that knowledge. Same as you, you are born with that knowing of who you are and what you are meant to be. You derive maximum joy and contentment while fulfilling your purpose, just as a babe derives joy from sucking. I can only imagine.

Do you know that the call of Jeremiah still exists here in the world? There are children of the Most High God who have been called to correct the errors in nations, priests, kings, renowned people, etc. Are you the Jeremiah that your nation needs? Just as Jeremiah sacrificed a lot, if you want to make a mark on earth, be prepared to sacrifice a great deal for your purpose. At every point, the Lord will tell you what He wants you to let go of; it might not necessarily be bad, but it won't be good for you at that time in your life. Let's take, for example, that I used to always watch Mount Zion (a Christian movie channel) and other Christian movies. During a retreat in my church, I felt the Holy Spirit beckoning me to stop. I obeyed without asking questions, although it wasn't easy. After several months of obedience, I discovered the reason for that instruction: I didn't even have time to watch the movies anymore; it was time for me to be watched by others. I pray God gives us more grace to always obey His instructions.

Affirmation

I am created to honor my Maker. I do all that He wants me to do all that He wants me to do. I acknowledge Him as my Lord, Saviour and friend. 

Questions; Please answer the questions on the comment section.

1) Do you think Jeremiah can be called your model, if yes, why?

2) What can you give up for the call of God?

Shalom.