"Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jer. 1:5-6)
Too many people are trying to answer God's call by trusting in themselves. Yet, God's call is never based upon our ability. God's call is a call of free and sovereign grace; it is based entirely upon Himself–His love, His sanctification, and the power of His Spirit.
God calls us based upon His own love. You and I cannot earn the love of God; it is freely given to chosen sinners through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the one Man in whom all of God's sons are accepted (Eph. 1:6). God told Jeremiah, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee… (Jer. 1:5)." This knowledge is the intimate knowledge of love. Paul writes, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son… (Rom. 8:29)"; Peter writes, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father… (I Pet. 1:2)". Everything that Christ has done has been imputed to our account, so that we're looked upon as worthy of the favor of the God. Jesus Christ never murmured under the stress of affliction; He, unlike any other man, completely believed in the resurrection saying, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again (John 10:17)." And, God our Father is highly honored by the Man that bows to His afflictions as righteous judgments while hoping in the promise of His grace.
Secondly, God calls us based upon His sanctification. He set us apart and made us holy through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ– "In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph. 2:22)". Sanctification is not the cleansing of the old man; sanctification is the creation of the new man. Just as God created Adam in his image, we are new creations in the image of the Living Christ. Our old man was legally destroyed in His death, and our new man is justified and holy in the power of His resurrection– "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for the make
Thirdly, whenever God calls a sinner, He always calls him into His service (Jer. 1:5). (Gal. 5:13) "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." We are commanded to serve one another, in the power of God's love, with the gifts that He's given us, and for the exaltation of His glory.
Yet, when Jeremiah heard God's call, He cried, "… Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot… (Jer. 1:6)". He understood that a man cannot serve God without the power of His Spirit. Yet, God didn't allow Jeremiah to shriek back from His call, and He will not allow you either. Whenever God calls, He will impress the call upon your conscience– (Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple (Ps. 65:4)." You and I will not be able to escape the force of His commandments. Jeremiah was not called into an option, and the only people who take believing and loving as an option are those who are NOT called. God's call comes to the heart, because He is going to call you by irresistible grace. O, Jeremiah, you must come! (Jer. 1:7) "But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak."
But, God's call will eventually come with comfort. He will not leave you twisting and pining for obedience under the weight of a bare commandment. He will show you that everything He demands of your soul is His gift of free grace. God told Jeremiah, "Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth is hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth (Jer. 1:8)." The Holy Spirit cleanses your conscience with forgiveness and acceptance, so that you're able to love. The exaltation of Jesus Christ as the cause of all grace is the power of our obedience.
Whatever God is calling you unto, He will reveal your inability to perform it; yet in due time, He will show you the power of His grace to give you what He demands. This is the making of a prophet, because no man is able to preach; this is the making of a faithful servant in whatever aspect of life that you are called; and this is the making of a disciple. Reader, YOU must be born again; and all of God's elect shall see their salvation is entirely and freely in Jesus Christ. (Jer. 1:17) "And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee." (I Pet. 1:2) "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
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