JEREMIAH 1:7-9

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.  Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth."

TO PONDER

I think one of the biggest issues for many Christians when it comes to bearing witness to Jesus is fear. Fear that we might not know what to say, fear that we might put our relationships at risk, fear that we might mess things up and turn people away from God forever. Any of that sound familiar?

Jeremiah was also somewhat of a reluctant prophet, he thought that the message God gave him to speak to the people was not going to be a popular one. In many ways, he was right. And yet what he had to say was the word that God needed to have spoken to his people.

It is true that the gospel message of Jesus is often not a popular message in our particular culture today. People have often created their own little narratives in which they are their own saviour and don't much like being told that they need someone else to fill that role. But, just like Jeremiah, whatever excuse we might come up with to avoid delivering the message, God has an answer to it.

He puts each of us right where he knows that we are the right people to do the job. None of us are too young or too old to speak to the people God places in our lives. We may not all have years of theological training, but we have all received the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is our helper and will give us the words to speak if only we would ask and listen. We have all had at least some time (some longer than others) being exposed to God's word both at church and in our own devotional and Bible reading times - God has put his word in your heart and on your lips. So do not be afraid to be a witness to Jesus wherever God sends you, for God is with you and will help and rescue you.

PRAYER: Lord, forgive me when I have failed to bear witness to you because of fear of what others might do, say, or think about me. Please help me to be more focussed on and more aware of what you say about me; that you love me, and are with me and will never leave me. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.