Oh, that my head were waters, And my
eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the
daughter of my people! Jeremiah 9:1
Jeremiah
was invited by God to be a weeping prophet. His call came during turbulent,
agonizing times as his society suffered from pervasive moral and spiritual
decay. The nation of Judah had turned so far from God that it was soon to face
His fierce judgment. This was not a time for merrymaking but for weeping. God
looked for someone He could mold into the kind of prophet needed for such a
bleak time. He found Jeremiah. The cost to Jeremiah was intense; he sacrificed
much of the freedom of his youth in order to be God’s messenger. He forfeited
family and reputation. He endured misunderstanding, ridicule, and persecution.
He was imprisoned and mocked by those to whom he had come to warn of God’s
impending judgment.
Satan
will try to convince you that obedience carries much too high a price, but he
will never tell you the cost of not obeying God. If you are to be used in God’s
service you must expect to make adjustments in your life. Can you measure the
distance between the throne room of heaven and a cattle shed in Bethlehem? How
far is it from the Lordship of the universe to the cross? Don’t be deceived
into thinking there is no cost involved in obedience.
What
adjustments is God asking you to make? Will you face the hardships and
opposition that will come when you align your life with God’s will? Jeremiah
had the deep satisfaction of knowing he was a faithful and beloved servant of
God. Your reward will be the same when you choose to fully obey Christ,
regardless of the cost.
No comments:
Post a Comment