Reflections on Jeremiah 1:1-10
The words, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you," are often evoked in the midst of prayers, I evoke these words often to give hope and assurance that God knows you and has special plans for you. These words are powerful. So often this is where it is left though. We like to think that our Lord is there for our healing, but what does it mean to the calling which He has placed on our lives. When we read further we find the depth to which this leads.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is an older congregation in transition as are many Lutheran congregations across the United States. We find many congregations that are in or nearing the end of a life cycle which is a scary time. In this period a congregation can die and close its doors or it may find rebirth. God has prepared His congregations as His bride and for those that are not prepared they will either die or be renewed in the Spirit. As the faithful body of Christ and a people that are fully reliant on God there are those within those bodies that fall away in the disbelief that God can utilize them. Just like Jeremiah commented on his youth there are many in the body of Christ that say the other in being "too old." God never ends His calling and will pour out His Spirit on those who are His and give faith to those that hear His Word and in whom the Word takes root. His Spirit does not fall short in the providence that our Lord provides, when the Spirit calls all that is needed will be provided. We must only step out in faith and entrust ourselves to our Lord knowing that He will not forget us or leave us.
As we live and are called by our Lord we are meant to walk in a sense of confidence in the midst of uncertainty because it is in the uncertainty that we must be fully reliant on God which is the place which He, our Lord, desires us to be. We mustn't lose faith because of uncertainty, but in faith we can overcome because it is not the work of our hands but the Lord's. Let us be reliant upon Him in all things and hold nothing back and then we may know the great blessings that He has for us.
Father, to you we entrust ourselves and ask for Your Spirit to give us a boldness that can stand in Your truth. Fill us Lord that we may fulfill Your calling. May the peace that You give us fill our hearts. In Your Holy Name Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
