Jeremiah 1:1-5
God examines everyone from the perspective of divine purpose. While men look at the outward appearance and physical achievements, God looks at the heart, and checks if the person in question is treading on the path of His purpose.
Today, we want to examine the life of Jeremiah, a young man who fulfilled God’s purpose in his generation. In spite of his humble and insignificant beginning, this young man became the mouth piece of God to the entire region of Judah, Israel and the neighbouring nations…
…of the priests that were in Anathoth…
God is not a respecter of persons! Who would have thought that a great and major prophet like Jeremiah, who would later become the prophet of God unto the nations, could emerge from such a small community!
According to our anchor text, Jeremiah began his ministerial career as a priest in a small town called Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. He definitely was a descendant of Levi. His career in priesthood started at a very tender age. He must have gone through series of teachings from his father, Hikiah…
This young priest did not depart from his place of primary assignment, Anathoth! He did not try to ‘relocate’ to Jerusalem, the main city to press buttons for promotion. He would rather dwell in the place of service, knowing that promotion could only come from the Lord (Psalm 75:6-7).
Your beginning may be small and insignificant, but God will enlarge your coast as you dwell in His appointed place for you, and await His salvation (Job 8:7).
To whom the word of the Lord came…
In the course of carrying out his priestly assignment, he encountered God for the first time, under the reign of King Josiah. Jeremiah must have been carrying out his priestly function diligently, and he probably did this quietly, serving God in fear and trembling until the day of divine visitation. Right in the place of service, this young man experienced open heaven! The word of the Lord came to him…
May you experience such a heavenly visitation in the name of Jesus Christ!
It’s possible for one to be serving God diligently and sincerely (to the best of his knowledge) and yet, God realises that he is grossly under-utilising the potentials that God has placed within him.
Jeremiah served God well as a priest, but a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory was yet to be revealed in him…
However, I believe that, as a priest, he was seeking God after the due order. When we seek God after the due order (serving Him in spirit and in truth), He will always manifest His glory and power.
The prophetic ministry of Jeremiah spanned into about four different regimes. The Lord said to him:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], and before you were born, I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:5).
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (Rom. 8:29-30).
This indeed marked a turning point in the life and ministry of Jeremiah. His life experienced a dramatic turnaround…
Receive grace to locate and to fulfil the purpose of God for your life, in the name of Jesus Christ!
PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
Resident Pastor
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