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I'm Too...
Jon Burgess“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.” Jeremiah 1:5-7
Oh the irony of correcting the Creator. Oh the futility in telling the One who made him that he made a mistake in calling him a prophet. Jeremiah tells the God who is outside of time that His timing is off because he's not old enough to be a prophet. He addresses God as "Sovereign Lord" which literally means- the One who is in control and a can see what I cannot see. And yet, Jeremiah immediately follows that accurate assessment of God's awesomeness with an inaccurate assessment of his own usefulness. Jeremiah had logic and tradition on his side. Prophets in the history of Israel were usually much older and therefore more learned and respected. Why would anyone listen to this young whipper snapper still wet behind the ears? Still, Jeremiah's protestations did not deter Gods expectations. Where Jeremiah saw opposition God saw opportunity. Where Jeremiah saw limitations God saw liberation. Where Jeremiah argued for an excused absence God offered exclusive access to be present in the move of God about to take place.
Am I saying excuse me or use me to the God who made me? Jeremiah's excuse was "I'm too young". What's your excuse for sitting this one out when God has called You to lead this one out? I'm too old? I'm too busy? I'm too tired? I'm too weak? I'm too sinful? I'm too uneducated? I'm too sick? I'm too ugly? I'm too unskilled? I'm too uncoordinated? I'm too in debt? I'm too impatient? Don't miss out on the next move of God because you don't think God can move through you. For every excuse you offer His answer is the same as the one He gave Jeremiah- "you must go wherever I send you and you must say whatever I tell you." Why? Because for everyone one of our excuses He is the exception! Where we cannot He can! Where we aren't strong He is! Where we aren't enough He's more then enough! His calling is excuse proof and He is calling you!
In the face of my Maker my excuses don't make a whole lot of sense. Thank You for calling me when I was young and using me in spite of myself. Instead of fighting against Your leading let me fight the excuses that would seek to sabotage Your call on my life! Let me move from my "I'm too..." excuses to "I'm with You" obedience.
