What Are You Saying?

1/11/11

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 1:4-10 (NRSV)

God calls Jeremiah

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
"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."
Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the Lord said to me,
"Do not say, 'I am only a boy';
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you,
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
says the Lord."

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
"Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant."


DEVOTION

Today's scripture gives me great joy, because it is a wonderful reminder that each of us was created by God with a wonderful purpose.

I talk to people every single day who truly believe that they are nothing and nobody. Their self-esteem is low and they don't believe that they are any good to anybody.

But, today's good news is that God made each of us to serve the Kingdom of Love. Each of us has gifts and talents meant to be used to share the good news that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life!

None of us is worthless and all of us are deeply loved by our Creator!

Scripture teaches us that if we can control our tongues, we can be perfect in every other way; perhaps this is why God touched Jeremiah's mouth!

It is by our mouths that we speak life and it is by our mouths that we speak death...

Today, let me encourage you to use your words to lift up God and to build up yourself and others!

Friend, your self talk matters...What are you telling yourself today?


Oh God, thank you that you created me with a wonderful destiny in mind! Please help me to live into your promise for my life by trusting and obeying you as Spirit leads me to share the good news with others. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta