Called by God for a Purpose

This week we are reading the call of Jeremiah to his prophetic ministry.  The difference between his time and ours is that God called specific individuals then, but since Jesus time God calls us all.  That is what the day of Pentecost is all about.  From that time on the Spirit of God would be poured out on all flesh. Not just on the few, but on the many. 

God’s purpose is for the his message to be shared with all flesh by words and deed, so that all humanity might experience the healing and happiness that comes from being in harmony with … (I cannot find a word inclusive or expansive enough to put here). 

Jeremiah was called to proclaim judgement and salvation in response to the people’s obedience to the message they had been given.  We are called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Both ministries fulfil God’s purpose of connecting people with God and his purpose for humanity.  When you became a Christian you were called to follow Jesus, which is a call to ministry no less real than what happened to Jeremiah.  His call was specific and clear.  The specific call for us is to follow Jesus and it is in the process of discipleship (learning) and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we discover our more specific call. 

When a person is touched by the deep love of God, there is a natural development of concern, which Thomas Bandy describes as “Heartburst”.  Somewhere in this heartburst of concern, the Spirit of God is calling.  Understandably this heartburst is big, even overwhelming, or it wouldn’t hold the concern that it does.  All the same, it is also the thing that needs to be addressed.  So it is scary.  Jeremiah was scared and put up reasons why he was unqualified, but God just reassured him of God’s presence and power.  I think the feeling of inadequacy is universal for humans faced with big challenges, and the excuses are many and very real, logical and understandable, but still the concern remains.  And the call remains. 

Jesus said, “I will be with you always” and the New Testament is full of stories of what people can do in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul’s teaching about the gifts of the Holy Spirit is all about God providing resources for us to fulfil our call.  God’s purpose is to call ordinary people to follow their God given heartburst to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to people in desperate need of healing and happiness.

Adrian.