Accept Your Commission - Jeremiah 1:1-19

Do you consider yourself as a successful person? Have you read the life of Jeremiah and do you vision this great prophet as a successful man? Will you be happy with your life if it emulates anything near the success he had? How do you define the word success? The most of the answers to this last question will look something like this—“I will be successful if I can acquire a reasonable amount of wealth; at least enough to live comfortably and care for my family—and in so doing can obtain a level of prestige, favor and power to be financially and emotionally secure. I must obtain and hold a good number of friends and admirers and enjoy the fruits of my labor. I know who I am and where I am going and will work confidently to meet my goals and in the process I will be a success.” In a few words, this seems to be an admirable ambition…BUT

By these standards, Jeremiah was a miserable failure. He witnessed for God and to His people in Judah for forty years—but no one would listen and his work seemed doomed to failure. He acquired no material success either; he lived a deprived life; was thrown into prison, and once was even tossed into a cistern. He was taken to Egypt against his will; he was rejected by his family and friends, his audience, and even by the Kings. He stood alone throughout his life. In the eyes of his world, and especially our world today, he was a failure—and by our definition given above, Jeremiah was definitely a failure; he was very unsuccessful…BUT

In the eyes of God—Jeremiah was one of the most successful people in all of bible history. Why? He was successful “Because he ACCEPTED HIS COMMISSION FROM GOD.” As a member of God’s church, [a Christian] have you accepted your commission? Do you attempt daily to do what you can to answer the call? One important command was for you to study the word to show yourself approved. Have you studied the portion of scripture that reveals the last command He gave to you and me just before his ascension? His bodily work was finished on the cross; He was on his way back to heaven and He charged his church to remain diligent in their preaching and teaching about what He had done for man. He said, “Go into all the world, preach and teach unbelievers;…feed My sheep, pray, lift the fallen, do good to others as you would that they do for you,” on and on our commission is a great one. It is not a burden; but very demanding, time consuming but enjoyable; and rewarding beyond your deepest imagination.

The first chapter of this book records Jeremiah’s personal call from God and indicates that the assignment would be difficult. He said in verses 4 and 5 that “The word of the Lord came to me:” ‘I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born,…”’. Without thinking, some, if not most, of us would say that we have never had an experience like that. Think about it for a moment. We were all created individually and specifically for God’s purpose. Though not audibly, God has spoken to us through his inspired and divine written word, which is now complete and contains all promises that came as a result of the new covenant. We know more about what God expects of us than Jeremiah ever could have known. If we fail to follow His orders, what excuse will we give on the Day of Judgment?

Parenthetically, let me say that this passage should challenge all who believe in abortion. God said that He recognized Jeremiah, chose him and set him apart as a prophet before he was born. If an unborn fetus is not a person, then how could God have known his destiny? And to whom or what was He talking and assigning this responsibility? Would he have chosen a glob of useless protoplasm? No. He spoke of an unborn fetus in the mother’s womb as a person.

For those of you [if there are any] who doubt the call of God on the life of man, I ask you how you explain the conversation between God and Jeremiah? Read through these first verses, listen to the call of God, and then note that Jeremiah rejected the call and even protested saying, “Oh, no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am [only] a youth.” {Emphasis mine] Then note God’s answer or response. God told him not to make the excuse of being young, go where I tell you and say what I want you to say. And then the promise was “Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you.” We have two serious problems as rebellious sinners. First we fail to read His word to see what he has told us to do. Then when we read and learn his commands, we fail to follow; either out of fear of failure or maybe just because we are not willing to follow Him. The reason can only be neglect, unbelief, or laziness, all are serious sins.

I jut cannot complete this lesson without begging you to read chapter one and REREAD verses 7-19. God spoke to Jeremiah through this vision; He speaks to us through his Word.

Jeremiah was called by God to prophesy to Judah [the southern kingdom] who had rebelled and were serving idols made by their hands. He told them that they would be in captivity for 70 years in Babylon and that they would eventually return from exile. Jeremiah survived the fall, but was forcefully sent to Egypt. He remained faithful in spite of Jerusalem’s destruction. He was totally ignored and despised but because of his determined obedience he remained strong and courageous.

There are many other examples in the bible that show us how we must persevere in the Lord in order to be SUCCESSFUL; however, this one is all you need to tell and show you how God measures success in our lives. No matter how you and I define success, if it does not lead to a right relationship with God—it is the wrong definition. Then how can you get it right? First, read God’s word and follow the plan of salvation that leads you to surrender your life to Christ. Then study the word and see what God has commissioned you to do. The title of the lesson today explains the rest of the plan.—it says: ACCEPT YOUR COMMISSION. Have you?

Please pray for me that I may be able to honestly, and sincerely, keep in practice the admonitions that are recorded in His word; and please pray that readers will react more favorable than the hearers of Jeremiah the Prophet. Then remember. It is a fact. If they don’t believe and act accordingly, “There will be a pay-day some-day. {Note: This is the title to a wonderful message preached by Robert G. Lee at Belleview Baptist in Memphis before his untimely death.}