Most of you probably read our post last week about We Shall Speak - The Jeremiah 1:7 Project, a Rebelutionary blog and writing project that exists to "impact the world with the writing of books, essays, short stories, and poetry all in a bold, Christ-glorifying way" by assembling a team of passionate young Christians to work together towards accomplishing this common goal." Not suprisingly, the theme verse of the project is Jeremiah 1:7 and We Shall Speak has posted an article offering keen insight into the challenge for young people contained within Jeremiah 1:7.
Please read and offer any comments you may have! :-)
A look at Jeremiah 1:7
Our theme verse is Jeremiah 1:7. Why? Because it's a challenge for boldness. It's a command from the Lord. It's not a request.
"Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak."
God is very specific here when He says that we will do as He commands. And He doesn't say "the things that you like that I command of you, you shall speak". He says whatever He commands us. That means going up to the lonely kid at school and speaking the word of God into their lives. That means standing before a crowd and speaking out against what's wrong. That may mean going to another country and sharing Christ to untouched places. Whatever it means for you, you have to do it.
Some people say that you can be too bold. I do not agree with that. You cannot be too bold in anything involving the Gospel. Honestly when you take away everything but the Cross, you either have it, or you don't. Those who do are going to Heaven, those who don't are going to Hell. You might say "But they'll laugh at me. They'll mock me, or they'll ignore me." Well, to be blunt, they aren't going to be laughing at you, mocking you, or ignoring you when they are standing in the fires of Hell. God didn't call us to be passive in deed. He called us to take action.
Mark Twain once said "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." We are never so courageous that we have no fear. But we do have a way to resist the fear, to go on despite the fear, to overcome the fear, and to do what needs to be done. We have a God who has promised never to leave nor forsake us. He doesn't command something that He will not give us the strength to do. In Mark 10:27 we see Jesus telling the disciples that with man things will be impossible, but with God, nothing is impossible. In Philipians 4:13 we see that all things are possible in Christ. In Acts chapters 4, 9, 13, 14, 18, 19, 26, and 28, we see at some point disciples being bold and speaking out boldly. Why? Because it is what God commanded them to do. And as the Lord commanded, so did they.
This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
~Ephesians 3:11-13
In Ephesians we see that it is only through Jesus Christ that we have boldness. What He has called us to He will give us the strength to accomplish! And it is only because of this that you, or I, or anyone else can do anything that God has commanded of us. We need to see that there need not be a need to hesitate. We know not how much time we have left on this earth. This earth is quickly passing, but souls are eternal. The only thing that really matters is where your soul ends up. Every person whos soul has not been dedicated to the cause of Christ, and does not believe that he is their Savior, and that by his blood they are made clean, is one more person condemned to the eternal grasp of Satan. Without Jesus they cannot break loose. You could be the one to help them break loose. When we allow God to speak through us, we are priviledged to aid in the touching of one more heart, one more mind, one more soul. God doesn't need us to speak for Him. And yet He commands us to. We should be able to do so with confidence and boldness in Christ, but still maintaining a gentle humility and love for all mankind.
I extend a challenge to you today. It's not my challenge. It's God's challenge. I'm taking the challenge through my writing. You may take it in your own personal style- speaking, writing, music, or art. But I challenge you to do as God commands, go where God commands, and speak what God commands. And I challenge you to start now, and to never stop. You would be amazed at what you can accomplish with faith that He will do the impossible through you.
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