Listen

The Lord’s word came to me:

“Before I created you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart; I made you a prophet to the nations.”

“Ah, Lord God,” I said, “I don’t know how to speak because I’m only a child.”

The Lord responded, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a child.’ Where I send you, you must go; what I tell you, you must say. Don’t be afraid of them, because I’m with you to rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 1:4-8

Think

Don’t you hate it when someone tells you, “Oh, you’re just a kid” or “Wait until you’re older”? That makes me feel undermined, misunderstood, not taken seriously.

Well, God certainly sees otherwise.

In today’s passage God sees Jeremiah, knows he’s a kid, and purposefully chooses him to be God’s spokesperson.

Jeremiah probably hadn’t accomplished much before, for he’s “only a kid.” He certainly has a lot more to learn. What could he know about being a prophet? Show me someone who’s been there, done that, and knows a thing or two about life. He’s “only a kid,” after all… right?

Right and wrong.

Sure, he’s a kid. There’s no denying his age. Yet God’s purpose for us isn’t age-dependent. God chooses us because of an unconditional love that cares not about age, accomplishment, test scores, or number of wins for the team.

It’s a love based on grace.

It makes no sense, but you needn’t “wait to be an adult” to get it. You simply need to trust and believe that God handpicks you today, too.

Aram Bae

Pray

God of knowledge and truth, I am humbled by your love and favor of me. Thank you for your grace that sees me as a child of God and not as someone who can or can’t do something. Even when I can’t see what you see, may I follow your lead as Jeremiah did. Amen.

Go

May God our Creator bless us and keep us.

May God the Redeemer smile upon us and be gracious towards us.

And may the Spirit of Truth lead us in the path of wisdom and peace.

And all of God’s people said: Amen.