Do You Have Fire In Your Bones?
You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed.
I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long.
But if I say, "I will not mention His word or speak anymore in His name," His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
Jeremiah 20:7-9
I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long.
But if I say, "I will not mention His word or speak anymore in His name," His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
Jeremiah 20:7-9
It is refreshing to see the struggles of Jeremiah the prophet as He carried out his very difficult mission of pronouncing impending divine wrath and judgment upon God's children.
All the other prophets were falsely assuring the people that there would be peace and no judgment. All would continue to be well. There was nothing to worry about. But, they were all lying prophets. They had not heard from God.
Naturally, Jeremiah became the odd one out. He was mocked, insulted, and even beaten and imprisoned. He became the joke of the town. This ill-treatment did get to him. Jeremiah felt God had deceived Him. His harsh message fell on unrepentant ears. The truth he proclaimed brought him insult and reproach all day long.
But, deep down in his heart, Jeremiah knew that in spite of the prevailing challenges, God's word was true. He knew that God would protect him from his enemies. Jeremiah knew that in the end, God always wins. This deep conviction spurred him on. He could not help but proclaim the truth he knew. Jeremiah could not hold back the divine truth. The word of God was burning in his heart like fire. It was like fire shut up in his bones!
Question: Do you recoil from sharing and living out the truth of God's word because of opposition? Would you rather shut up to save your skin? God understands your struggles!
But the truth of God's word must be proclaimed nonetheless. Like Jeremiah, we must not allow the fire in our hearts to die out because of opposition. The word of God must be like fire in our bones. Let's proclaim it in word and deed like Jeremiah. Let out the fire in you!
All the other prophets were falsely assuring the people that there would be peace and no judgment. All would continue to be well. There was nothing to worry about. But, they were all lying prophets. They had not heard from God.
Naturally, Jeremiah became the odd one out. He was mocked, insulted, and even beaten and imprisoned. He became the joke of the town. This ill-treatment did get to him. Jeremiah felt God had deceived Him. His harsh message fell on unrepentant ears. The truth he proclaimed brought him insult and reproach all day long.
But, deep down in his heart, Jeremiah knew that in spite of the prevailing challenges, God's word was true. He knew that God would protect him from his enemies. Jeremiah knew that in the end, God always wins. This deep conviction spurred him on. He could not help but proclaim the truth he knew. Jeremiah could not hold back the divine truth. The word of God was burning in his heart like fire. It was like fire shut up in his bones!
Question: Do you recoil from sharing and living out the truth of God's word because of opposition? Would you rather shut up to save your skin? God understands your struggles!
But the truth of God's word must be proclaimed nonetheless. Like Jeremiah, we must not allow the fire in our hearts to die out because of opposition. The word of God must be like fire in our bones. Let's proclaim it in word and deed like Jeremiah. Let out the fire in you!
Prayer: Father, I thank you for the truth of your word. Please help me not to recoil but to boldly proclaim Jesus in word and deed. Amen