ECWA Daily Manna Food For The Day Study It

WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 2023

TEXT: Jeremiah 1:1-19

1. These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hikiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.

2. The LORD first gave messages to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.

3. The LORD’S messages continued throughout the reign of King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, until the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah, another of Josiah’s sons. In August of that eleventh year the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives.

4. The LORD gave me this message:

5. “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

6. “O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

7. The LORD replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

8. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

9. Then the LORD reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!

10. Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and over throw. Others you must build up and plant.”

11. Then the LORD said, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”

12. And the LORD said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”

13. Then the LORD spoke to me again and asked, “What do you see now?” And I replied, “I see a pot of boiling water, spilling from the north.”

14. “Yes,” The LORD said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land.

15. Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the north to come to Jerusalem. I, the LORD, have spoken! “They will set their thrones at the gates of the city. They will attacks it walls and all the other towns of Judah.

16. I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil- for deserting me and burning incense t other gods.

17. “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them.

18. For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land- the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

19. They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

(New Living Translation Holy Bible)

TOPIC: YOUR LIFE AS PART OF GOD’S PLAN

Jeremiah introduced himself thus: "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." This indicates that God's master plan included Jeremiah, even before he was conceived.

Jeremiah gave excuses that he was too young and lacked the necessary communication skills. But God demonstrated to him that He has all the solutions to his problems, including protecting him from the stubborn nations he was called to address.

Israel had turned her back on God and worshipped detestable idols. They refused to heed all the warnings about the consequences that would follow such idolatrous living.

So God sent Jeremiah with the message of massive destruction through a foreign invasion coming from the north. God gave him assurance that He would provide him with all he required to succeed: courage, communication skills, protection, etc.

God already has a plan, which includes you. Only seek His plan and do not insist that yours must be approved.

QUESTION: Have you discovered the part of God's plan that is designed for you to fit into?

PRAYER: Let your prayer reflect the answer you gave to the question above.