A Lesson from Jeremiah

"If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in His name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." -Jeremiah 20:9

As I was continuing my study through the book of Jeremiah this week, God spoke to me through the above verse. Jeremiah was called by God to prophesy to the Children of Israel. His purpose from God was to tell the people that they need to repent from turning their backs on God and worshiping idols. If they refused to repent, God was going to send judgment upon them from Babylon.

Jeremiah continued to speak to the people exactly what God had instructed him to say. However, the people become frustrated with Jeremiah, and he is arrested at the beginning of chapter 20 by Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer. After this, Jeremiah is frustrated with the people and the situation, but he remembers that God has placed a fire within his bones to tell the people that they need to repent. Jeremiah has to tell the people or else he grows weary even though they reject him and do not want to hear it.

If you read through the book of Jeremiah, you see the dialogue between Jeremiah and God. You begin to understand the connection of the prophet to God. If Jeremiah refused to commune with God, he would not have been the prophet that is found within scripture. He probably would not have been mentioned or been mentioned negatively for not following God.

In order for us to follow God, we have to know where He is leading. How do we know this? We spend time in His Word each day and pray to Him. While we do this, we tell others about Jesus Christ. If we are true Christians, we should have the same burning desire within our hearts to tell others about Christ. Now, Jeremiah's calling was to the people of God, the Children of Israel. Our calling is to go forth and make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

We should make disciples through the sharing of Christ and the conversion of sinners. The question I leave with you today is very important. Do you have a burning fire within your bones to tell others about Jesus Christ and to disciple them? If the answer is no, pray to God and ask for Him to give you that desire. There may be something in your life that needs to change. Seek God through His Word and prayer, and reach out to those in your local church.