Jeremiah 1:4-9 (NIV) 4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 78 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
I Peter 3:13-16 (NIV) 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
A witness is someone who tells what he or she has seen, heard, and personally experienced to be true. We are called to serve God by what we say to others. To say we only witness to God by the way we live is like trying to fly with only one wing. It takes two wings to take off – our works and our words. Both wings are important, but often it’s the word wing that is the most difficult to get off the ground. Jeremiah found this to be true, saying “I do not know how to speak. I am too young.” Jeremiah had his excuses, and we have ours. Beneath those excuses and reasons for silence may be a fear that if we were to speak there would be nothing to say. Do we remain silent because we feel we have nothing to share?
God has reasons for wanting us to speak. If we do not speak, God’s Word may not be heard, God’s life may not be found, and God’s truth may not be obeyed. God calls us to speak His Word. God has chosen us to be channels of God’s truth, grace, and love. If we do not speak, the Word people need to hear may not be heard.
To be a witness means we share with others what our faith has meant to us. If we are serving God and discovering a measure of freedom in that, we have the power to help others find that freedom as well. As we speak of God, our own faith is made more firm, more clear, more important. Let us never underestimate our own need to speak to others about what we have seen and heard of God. The pleasure of discovery comes only if and when we speak and share however much or little we have known of God’s presence and power and work in our life.
“LORD, I do not know how to speak.” “I have put my words in your mouth.” Which one will we listen to? Which one will we follow?
From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope September 27, 1992
© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell
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