EMPOWERED WITH THE RIGHT WORDS

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then the Lord reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah 1:9-10

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Yesterday, we saw Jeremiah, the priest of the tribe of Benjamin who God had purposed to be His prophet, having some doubts as to whether or not he was the right person for the job. But God reassured him saying that Jeremiah would not go alone in taking His message to wherever God commanded because God would be with him and would rescue him from harm.

But the truth of the matter was that Jeremiah was still very young and not an accomplished speaker. He would be tasked with talking to people who would well be his elders, people who would expect the respect of a young boy, not messages of warning and/or condemnation.

So how would Jeremiah be able to find the proper words to say, words that would empower and strengthen him when he had to deliver news, especially bad news?

Enter our scripture passage for today which contains guidance not just for Jeremiah but anyone who is called to fulfill God’s purposes (and that would include every one of us):

Then the Lord reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”  Jeremiah 1:9-10

Note here that Jeremiah need not worry about what to say because the Lord placed His words in the prophet’s mouth before appointing him over nations and kingdoms in carrying God’s messages with the authority granted him by God.

In other words, Jeremiah was empowered with the right words by God, words that were perfectly right and true because they came from God Himself.

So how does this connect to us today?

Well, how many times have you tried to find the right words to say, especially when it comes down to speaking to others about Jesus and the gospel?

It happens to all of us but we should note that since God and Jesus are one in the same, it only makes sense that Jesus would be able to empower us with the right words, just as God did Jeremiah. Do the scriptures speak to this possibility anywhere?

The answer is yes. Look at these words from Matthew, Chapter 10:

On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  Matthew 10:18-20

The Lord Jesus commanded His disciples (and that includes us today) to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that He commanded.

But how do we know we’re saying the right words, the words that will lead people to seek a personal relationship with Jesus Himself?

It’s simple. We remember that Jesus will empower us with the right words to say. All we need to do is to turn to Him, seek His guidance, and then receive it by way of the Holy Spirit just as Jesus told His disciples to do if they were arrested and hauled before officials to speak about what they were doing. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would give them the right words and even speak through them. In other words, the disciples simply became mouthpieces for the Lord to speak through.

That’s it! We shouldn’t make it too hard or complicated.

When we’re not sure what to say, we just need to stop sweating it and allow the Lord to speak through us. When we do, He will always empower us with the right words because He will put His words in our mouths so that when we speak it will really be Him speaking His truth through us.

Finding the right words to say can be hard for us but it’s never hard for the Lord. Next time you need some help, simply submit to Him and ask Him to speak through you. He will never let you down.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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