Before You Were Born, the Word Was Given
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 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, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
Jeremiah 1:4-10
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Before You Were Born, the Word Was Given
Jeremiah’s call comes with a holy shock: the Lord knew him before he was formed, set him apart before he breathed, and sent him before he felt ready. Jeremiah’s protest, his youth, his weakness, is met not with reassurance about his potential, but with a promise about God’s Word. The Lord places His words in Jeremiah’s mouth. The power is not in the prophet, but in the Word that uproots and tears down, builds and plants. That pattern finds its fulfillment at the cross. Christ does not come strong in the eyes of the world, but crucified in weakness. Yet through that foolish Word, sin is torn down and forgiveness is planted. Like Jeremiah, the Church still speaks a Word not her own, often trembling, often resisted, but never empty. The risen Christ has touched our lips in Baptism and Absolution. What He sends forth will accomplish His purpose, even through fragile servants.
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 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, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
Jeremiah 1:4-10
+
Before You Were Born, the Word Was Given
Jeremiah’s call comes with a holy shock: the Lord knew him before he was formed, set him apart before he breathed, and sent him before he felt ready. Jeremiah’s protest, his youth, his weakness, is met not with reassurance about his potential, but with a promise about God’s Word. The Lord places His words in Jeremiah’s mouth. The power is not in the prophet, but in the Word that uproots and tears down, builds and plants. That pattern finds its fulfillment at the cross. Christ does not come strong in the eyes of the world, but crucified in weakness. Yet through that foolish Word, sin is torn down and forgiveness is planted. Like Jeremiah, the Church still speaks a Word not her own, often trembling, often resisted, but never empty. The risen Christ has touched our lips in Baptism and Absolution. What He sends forth will accomplish His purpose, even through fragile servants.
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