How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as significant and appointed? Way back even before you were born, God saw you! Here’s what He said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you.” (Jeremiah 1: 5)
Yes, these were the words to Jeremiah, but these words are to us too. If you’re wondering about the circumstances you were born into, God says, “You came from Him.”
Jesus understands more than anyone about being born under different circumstances. His birth mother wasn’t married yet. He had two fathers, earthly and heavenly. His earthly father wasn’t His birth father, but a stepfather; yet, His Heavenly father was, is, and is to come. Talk about complicated situations! Try to figure that one out and explain it to someone. He understands why different conditions could bring about such confusion.
To top it off, he was born in an unknown place, in a dirty, filthy, stable where animal dung was all around him. His crib was a feeding trough that a cow, or donkey, or some unclean animal slopped in. The warm clean blankets, that most babies are snuggled in, could have been a grubby milking cloth that was used to retrieve milk from a cow’s udder. That’s utterly disgusting! Who knew the last time those rags were washed.
The soft, clean sheets weren’t available that day so his little bottom was cushioned by a hunk of straw and hay, which could have been chewed on by a hungry goat.
Yet, God had a purpose for His Son, Jesus’s birth. He had purpose in mind for your birth, as well.
Jeremiah was being called before he was born. He was being placed in his destiny before he was delivered. Before anyone knew, God knew.
- God knew us before He formed us.
- God knew us and set us apart, as His, even before you were born.
Wherever your birth took place, whatever loving home you were raised in, or not raised in; you were His before your days were numbered. Yes, you are His. God says, “You are mine!”
I hope this brings a sense of belonging deep within your soul. God claimed you as His way before anyone else could. He formed you. He appointed you. Now He delights in anointing you.
Tell this to those who struggle with their identity, before you were anyone else’s, “You were and are God’s.” You were not an accident! You were created in the image of God and for God!
You have a father, a heavenly father, that calls you His own. He’s not like any other father. He won’t abandon or shun you. He will be continually faithful to you. He knows that earthly fathers can make mistakes; He knows that you can make mistakes; yet, He calls you His own.
The Hebrew phrase for “I knew you,” is the word chosen.
- We were chosen of God to our calling.
- We were chosen of God to be born.
For various reasons, many struggle with their purpose for being born. God, told Jeremiah, “Today, I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1: 10)
This is pretty much the call of an Old Testament prophet. Yes, it’s the classic description of the relationship between the Lord and his prophet.
After Jeremiah is appointed the first thing he says is “What do you see Jeremiah?” (Jeremiah 1: 11)
- He wants us to see, as He sees.
- He wants us to see ourselves, as He sees us.
- Only then, can we see others as He sees them.
He’s Called Out
God gives him a vision and reveals to him what’s to come to the northern kingdom of Israel. The next step God takes with him is telling him to “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem.” He is calling His people back, “I remember the devotion of your youth how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.” (Jeremiah 2: 2)
When you see those you love going astray, call them back; call them back to their full-blown love and devotion.
- Call them back to their first love–Jesus.
Jeremiah sees, as God sees, how Israel forsakes their God. “My people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols.” (Jeremiah 2: 11)
- God’s people are born by God and for God–to be used by Him.
(Shared from Jeremiah 1-2, Modified)
Even When We Stray
God does not abandon us, even if we strayed. The Psalmist says, “May my cry come before you, O Lord, give me understanding according to your word. May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. We all have strayed like lost sheep.” (Psalm 119: 169, 173, 176)
(Shared from Psalm 119: 145-176)
God Shows No Partiality
Advice was given to Timothy as he was taking care of the widows and the servants in his church. He gives specific instructions about the young and older widows and how to to help them. He graciously finishes with this statement, “Keep these instructions without partiality and do nothing out of favoritism. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands.” (1 Timothy 5: 21-22)
God showed no partiality. There is a time and a season for those to step up into leadership. Those who have been appointed and called will be shown by their acts of service.
You are called! God has His eye and His hand on you before you were born. He delights when we were born, and He rejoices with the angels, even more, when we are born again.
“Everyone born of God overcomes the world.” (1 John 5: 4) We are not of the world, but in the world, and one day we will be taken out.
(Shared from 1 Timothy 5: 1-22, Modified)
Featured Image by Nynne Schrøder on Unsplash
