A BURNING COMPELLING TO SPEAK
A BURNING COMPELLING TO SPEAK
If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” —Jeremiah 20:9
Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, “A son is born to you,” making him very glad. Let that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without pity; let him hear a cry in the morning and an alarm at noon, because he did not kill me in the womb; so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb forever great. Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame? —Jeremiah 20:14-18
But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. —II Timothy 1:12
Are there times you would just like to throw your hands up and say, “What’s the use?” Do you get down from time to time? Are you discouraged? Jeremiah got discouraged and said, “Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?” Maybe you have asked a similar question. You look at all that is going on around us— all the evil and wickedness— and you would rather not be here. Well, we may have ups and downs in this life because of this present evil world, but we also know what is ahead— “for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” We need to be faithful now with an eye on our future destiny with Jesus in glory.
Even though Jeremiah suffered discouragement he said, “If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” He knew who he believed and that did not change whether he was up or down. And he could not keep God’s Word to himself. As with the Apostle Paul, he could not hold the message in that God gave him to give out— “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (I Corinthians 9:16).
Does this describe you? Even when you are discouraged this message inside you just can’t stay there. It must be shared. Indeed, it is like “a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” Or, as Paul said, “I am compelled to preach.” Yes, Dear Father, may this describe us as well. Regardless of how we are feeling, may we not be able to hold the message in, but like Paul, be compelled to share this glorious, awesome message with others. Yes, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus and all for Your honor and glory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmqSfr1ENY