Jeremiah

Have you ever read Jeremiah? I know that I have once when I was younger, but then I used to read my Bible just to see how much of it I could finish and I didn't actually always stop to actually think about what I was reading or how it applied to my life. Recently I've been reading a lot in Luke and Mark, lots of New Testament stuff, but then I thought of Jeremiah for some reason, and wow, so good! I have this Bible that gives an introduction to Jeremiah, and what I read there has stuck out in my head for a whole week already!

In the introduction, it talks about success and what my or my society's definition of success might be. It would be related to achieving goals and acquiring wealth, favor, prestige and power. Generally I would think that successful people enjoy the good life, are financially and emotionally secure, they are leaders, opinion makers and trend setters, their accomplishments are noticed. They know who they are and where they are going, are confident in meeting their goals (this is from the New Living Translation).

When measuring up to these standards, however, Jeremiah would have not been considered a success. He was a prophet for 40 years to Judah, but nobody listened, he was not rich and was thrown into prison, was rejected by his neighbors and family. He stood alone declaring the messages God had told him to say - and he was super successful in God's eyes because he was obedient and faithful to what God had called him to do.

That really stood out to me, that he was successful in God's eyes because he was faithful and obedient to what God had called him to do. So often I do measure people by what the world says that success is, and so often I don't even realize that I have taken the values of my society and made them my own; instead of going to the Bible and making those truths my own and living out of my relationship with Jesus. Oh Lord would you give me eyes to see the world as you do, break my heart with what breaks your heart and may I be faithful and obedient to what you have called me to do.

Jeremiah 1:6-10:

"Oh 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. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord have spoken!" Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,

"Look, I have put my words in your mouth!

Today I appoint you to stand up

against nations and kingdoms.

Some you must uproot and tear down,

destroy and overthrow.

Others you must build up

and plant."

Worship

Well now, let me just say that I am so excited to go to Africa with my friend Andrea in exactly 45 days...and a thank you Jesus that I am able to stay for the last three weeks at Beautiful Gate ministries in Kitwe. This is such an answer to prayer, as Andrea leaves Africa after five weeks, so I am there without her for three weeks, but now I have somewhere to go! My friend Jody from Winkler worked at Beautiful Gate for the past year and a half, so I've heard a bit of how I would be able to serve there. It is a ministry to the children of very poor families, I would be able to help out in a school, visit the families of the children to see what their needs are, and also do evangelism to the street children!

Anyway, something that really challenged me this last weekend was what my pastor was saying on Sunday...about how my culture, tradition and our relationship with Jesus can be in conflict because I am essentially trying to please all three. I am trying to respect my culture, my Mennonite background and also my relationship with Jesus. When I worship Jesus, however, how confident am I to come before Him and worship Him with free and open expression? Am I more concerned about what people, my culture, think about me than I am about what God thinks of me? I was challenged with the thought that nothing is static about Jesus, to stand still is to fall behind. Am I confident in who I am in Christ to make new advances in my relationship with God, to press through the expectations of my cultural norms and Mennonite traditions and to obey Jesus in who He is calling me to be and how He is asking me to worship Him? I need to start approaching God in the way He has made me and not in the way someone else thinks that I am.

In Hebrews 10:22 it says that we can draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...this is like an invitation to approach God and express myself to Him in ways that I have never done before....free and open expression in confidence before Him. I want to be a follower of Jesus Christ, not a victim of society and cultural norms or traditions; I want to advance and occupy new territory for Jesus Christ...beginning by developing my personal relationship with Jesus. That's where it all needs to start. With personal repentence, to dynamically worship God and not to stand still. May we worship with hearts that long to be filled by Him alone.