The Resolve of the Called

Jeremiah 26:7-15 - So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You will surely die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without an inhabitant’?” And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and sat down in the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house.  And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and all the people, saying, “This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.” Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard. Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you. As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you.  But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Jeremiah, a prophet, faithfully spoke the words that the Lord gave to him. And in this instance, the people, the priests, the prophets, and the princes all were determined that Jeremiah should die. They were not happy with what Jeremiah had to say. But Jeremiah’s response was “Do what you want but should you take my life, know that innocent blood will be on your hands.” He was resolved to deliver the word of the Lord and when challenged, he would not back down.

In North America, it is not common to be threatened with death for speaking God’s truth. In some other countries, this is more common place. But if you, like me, live in an environment of relative religious freedom, sometimes a laissez-faire attitude can develop. We can lack an urgency and a firm resolve to stand for the truth, to speak the truth, and to share the truth. Without challenge, our faith can be weak. My prayer, both for me and for you, is that we would stand firm on the truth, that we would freely and joyfully speak the truth, and that our hearts would love our neighbors enough to share the life-giving truth with them, and like Paul, that we would resolve “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way.” (Romans 1:16)