I’m Still Young
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.
Jeremiah 1:7
Read Jeremiah 1:1-10
Jeremiah sought to escape the Lord’s call to him to become a prophet. It is
true that Jeremiah was young, and a person who has little life experience
ought not to think too highly of himself. Putting on the brakes in that regard
is not a bad thing. A person ought not to think that real wisdom is within his
grasp when actually he still has a lot to learn.
But when the Lord calls a person to a specific task, then such reasoning is no
longer valid. You are never too young to serve Him! Many precious promises
in the Bible are directed to young people. By them the Lord encourages
you to ask for Him and to seek Him. He has promised that if you seek Him
early, that is, when you are young, you shall find Him. And that is why the
Lord told Jeremiah that he must not protest by saying: I am but a child.
The Lord promised to strengthen and support him wherever he would speak
as His prophet. Jeremiah was a modest young man, not someone who would
place himself at the forefront, yet he was called to be a prophet. He would
have to pronounce calamities and judgment to the nation. And when the
Lord calls someone to a specific task, He will also give everything necessary
to fulfill that calling. Was Jeremiah put to shame? No, he was not. In a similar
way the Lord is also willing to give you all you need to fulfill His demands
as well. Perhaps you ask: How is that possible? This can only be through
regeneration, by being given a new heart, faith, courage and strength from
above. We read: Open wide thy mouth (Ps. 81:12). This command is not
restricted to any age.
Thought: When the devil encourages you to take part in worldly pleasures
do you protest using the argument: I am too young? Why would you do so
when the Lord calls?
Psalter 431: 3 (based on Psalm 81)
“Open,” saith the Lord,
“Wide thy mouth, believing
This My covenant-word:
‘I will.” if thou plead,
Fill thine every need,
All thy wants relieving.'”
