Daily Devotion – January 28, 2022 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1:4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
1:5 “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.”
1:6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.”
1:7 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.
1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.”
1:9 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.
1:10 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.”
Here is a servant of God destined to be a prophet. He has that word directly from God. It is a word meant to give him courage, for in his prophetic work he must speak truth to power. He will make people angry. He will be saying good things, empowering things, and predict destruction as well. He will need courage.
Do you and I have a destiny from God? What could it be? Have we spent much time discerning what God wants us to be doing with the gifts and talents and energies we have been given? And if God told us directly what that destiny is, would we be courageous enough to go and do it and be it?
And what about our local congregations? Do they have a mission from God, something they are destined to do and particularly gifted for? Yes, they do. How would they figure out what that destiny is? They would do spiritual discernment, seeking to understand what they have been good at over the years, what God is up to in their neighborhood right now, and where their members have connections and passions to work. How much energy do local churches spend trying to discern their God-given missional vocation? Wouldn’t that be a good use of their time? And what if they were led to partner with folks already at work in a project God has already begun in their neighborhood? How exciting would that be?
Gracious God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us a destiny in your work in the world. Help us keep our eyes on that ball you want each of us to hit.  Help our local congregations to find their destiny as well, so that we might join you in your work in our towns.  Amen.
