God’s Plans, Promises & Our Excuses

God calls ...will we go

Jeremiah 1-2 Long ago, Jeremiah, a priest of Anathoth, was called by God to preach and prophesy God’s word. When God called him, He said: Before I formed you, I chose you; before you were born, I set you apart. Before you were born, I appointed you to be a prophet. Our perfect God plans ahead of time for the service He has designed with our gifts in mind. Where you are now is not just a coincidence or fate, but His perfect plan just for you. You may not be called to be a priest or a prophet, but God planned in eternity past for your role. It may be a parent, teacher, bus driver, pastor, or neighbor. Wherever you find yourself, stop and praise God for His plan for you.

Yet, Moses had his excuses: “I am not an eloquent man, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” [Ex 4:10] So too, Jeremiah’s excuses were. “Oh, Sovereign Lord, really, I do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.” [Jer. 1:6]

How like Moses and Jeremiah we are! What excuse are we using? Jesus reminded the disciples: “Go and Tell,” but we drag our feet with lots and lots of reasons why someone else is better qualified.  We say, like Moses, choose someone else.[Ex 4:13] But, beloved, God has chosen you and me in eternity past! He not only formed you, but He also chose you, and He has ordained you–not someone else!  Will you step and “go and tell?” 

Climate Change?

Gen 6 6o 9 climate change2a Gen 6 to 9 The story of Noah presents some serious challenges to the thinking of today that our planet is doomed and will self-destruct in six years. Enter into our story righteous and blameless Noah. God chose to save him and his family from the destruction he had planned because the wickedness of man was very great on the earth. In fact, every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was evil—ALL THE TIME! While Noah was blameless, God was patient. He delayed the destruction for some time and in that time righteous Noah built an Ark for the preservation of animal life along with himself and family.

God did indeed flood the earth and when Noah emerged the earth had been restored. God established a covenant with Noah that promised that He would never again curse and destroy the earth because of man’s sin—even though men are evil from childhood on. We are the recipients of that promise.

“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.” [Gen. 8:22]

Why does God remain so patient?  “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” [2Pet 3]

So while God has promised to do His part what about us? God has left the earth in our care. Are we taking care of the earth? Are we repentant when we sin? Are we blameless as Noah? These are questions we need to be asking.

 

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