So it was with the prophets and so it goes today. We can say, "ah God, I just don't have the time to start that ministry" or "oh God, you know that I am not a gifted public speaker." Maybe you will think that you aren't smart enough or that you are too old. Whatever the reason you give yourself, the response God gave to Jeremiah still applies today:
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD - Jeremiah 1:7-8
The Lord is telling you today, "Don't say you do not have the time"; "Don't say that you are too old"; "Don't say you are not smart enough" for He is with you and will rescue you. Moses had a speech impediment and David was but a shepherd boy. Remember, it is not you, but God in you!
Secondly, this also confirms that there are many levels to the calling God has for you. God is always willing to take you to your next level; you just have to be willing. Paul was of advanced age at the time he wrote this epistle. He had undertaken three harrowing missionary journeys. In his own words:
Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 2Corinthians 11:23-28
Anyone else feel like they would be looking to retire after that resume? Paul could have been satisfied with his conversion and salvation but he wanted the next level Jesus would have for him. He could have been content with his first missionary journey, or even his second but he wanted that next level God had for him every time. He could have settled for the results of the third missionary journey or even accepted his situation in prison as being the end of his pursuits but this verse clearly shows that he still was not satisfied! He still wanted to take hold of that which God had taken hold of him! He still wanted to press on!
This is the desire that is so sorely lacking in our walks today. We can be assured of our salvation, tithe correctly, read the word, pray and worship God but are we pressing on? Do we truly seek that next level God has for us? Complacency is the enemy of progress. We can find a ministry that we are comfortable in and think that it is the end of our calling. What if Peter had called it quits after the crucifixion? What if David was satisfied with the slaying of Goliath? What would have happened if Paul had sat on his accomplishments after his first missionary journey? We must press on to take hold of what God has taken hold of us for!
The last truth in this verse deals with perfection. Even given the many accomplishments Paul had experienced and the visions from God almighty, he readily admits that he has not attained perfection. Yet despite this admission it has absolutely no effect on his desire to press on! Too often we can hold ourselves back because we think we are not worthy of the calling God has for us. Here is the news flash, none of us are worthy:
