then i said “Agh Lord God! look, i don't know how to speak- i am only a youth”
but the Lord said to me
“do not say ‘i am only a youth’
for to all to whom i send you
you shall go
and whatever i command you
and whatever i command you
you shall speak.
do not be afraid of them
for i am with you to deliver you"
for i am with you to deliver you"
jeremiah 1:6-7 //
did you get that? go back and read it all the way through if you found yourself skipping some words or just scanning it. i do that a lot. read it slowly. hear those words that are meant for you.
do you hear yourself in jeremiah's voice? i do. it brings all my insecurities and fears to the surface. ever since like forever i've been shy and ever since like before forever i've been scared of and resistant to the idea of evangelism. sharing the gospel has always seemed like such a daunting thing to me. i was and am just like jeremiah. i use excuse after excuse after excuse. why? a lot of times it's because of one of these.
- fear of embarrassment
- fear of misrepresenting the gospel
- fear of rejection
- fear of failure
are you noticing a trend? it's fear. i am afraid of so many things when God has already set all these fears to rest. look up these verses: psalm 118:6, hebrews 13:6, psalm 27:1, isaiah 43:1. really just google them right now. those are the words God gave you on the fear of man. paul was beaten and stoned and imprisoned and put to shame over and over and over for telling people about the God who loved them enough to die for them in order to give them life in perfection forever. here's what he said.
but I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us // romans 8:18
you know where that fear comes from? it comes from our enemy. the devil uses it time and time again to numb us and mute us so that God won't be glorified and so that his name won't spread and so that people millions and millions of individual humans will die and go to hell. that's a harsh reality to face. don't let fear be the reason you don't tell people about the life that Jesus gives.
but how in the world do you overcome fear? fear is so powerful. but you know what's more powerful? Love. God's love is all-encompassing and safe and so full of grace.
there is no fear in love. but perfect love drives out fear. // 1 john 4:18
love God and love people. it's that simple. love God enough to really take up your cross and follow him. live the life of a servant that Jesus did. give freely of yourself for Christ's sake. and give freely of yourself for the lost and broken souls around you. love them enough to get past yourself. go out of your comfort zone and speak the raw, beautiful truth to them. show them the love Christ showed to you. and for the love of God in the most respectful way please don't stand off in pride, too disgusted by their sin to draw near to them. Jesus ate with the lowest of people: prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, and all who were seen as unclean.i see this attitude of hypocrisy and pride in myself all the time. "yeah, i'm a sinner, but not like them. i'm not that bad." this is so incredibly contrary to the truth and beauty of the gospel. do i not remember?
neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. and such were some of you. but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit. // 1 corinthians 6:11
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. and such were some of you. but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit. // 1 corinthians 6:11
and this is where love comes in again and again as it always does. in all cases and
above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. // 1 peter 4:8
so, back to the original trail of thought: speak truth in love and share the gospel. think about the individuals around you. remember how empty and dark your life was before Christ came in and filled the emptiness of your life and shed light in all the dark places- that's how they're living. and that's how they will keep living until they find Jesus. and they can't find Jesus unless someone tells them about him. and if they don't find Jesus they will live and die and live in eternity in misery and torment separated from God forever.
so now read the text over. and listen to what he says.
do not say 'i am only a youth'
and you will go
and you will speak
and do not be afraid of them
and then read those and think about the reasons he gives after each command. and realize that evangelism isn't an option. i don't know why i always see it as that. it's a command. so, go, and speak, and do not be afraid of them cause God is with you and he is with you to deliver you. he is faithful when we are faithless. trust in him<3
