In Jeremiah 1:4-10, God reminded Jeremiah he was made for more!
Look at what God said to him in verse 5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. You know what this verse tells me?
- You are distinguished. You are set apart. You stand alone as unique and special. The definition for distinguished is: successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect.
You are distinguished! What makes you special? What makes you distinguished? You were hand-made by God. Scripture tells us that our original parents (and we all have the same pair) were made from dirt. Dirt isn’t very distinguished! Dirt doesn’t sound important. It isn’t. But it is what happened next in Genesis 2:7 that changed everything! God breathed into Adam the breath of life and when He did, man became a living soul. Man became more than dirt. Man became distinguished dirt! More than that. Man became alive with the image of God stamped on their lives. Wouldn’t we all agree that God is distinguished? Okay, then we, who are hand-made by Him in His image are also distinguished.
- You have a destiny. Look again at the end of verse 1: I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Who gets appointed to do stuff? The person who gets appointed to a position is someone the appointer has great confidence in. It is someone the appointer believes can get the job done. It is someone the appointer has worked with and has invested in and believes in. Jeremiah was appointed to be a prophet to the nations. What has God appointed you to do? All believers have been appointed by God.
John 15:16 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
You have been created by God with special gifts and talents and with a unique personality to bear fruit in your life, to do good things in your life. Jeremiah 29:11-For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Don’t underestimate yourself. You can go places! You can accomplish things! You can live a life of significance and impact! God has a plan for your life! God has an appointment for you! You have a place! You have a destiny! There is a reason you are here! You aren’t an accident! You were purposed by God for a purpose!
- You are to have dominion. Dominion means “authority, power, and command.”
Look at Jeremiah 1:7ff: 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. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORDreached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.
Jeremiah had been selling himself short. He had been talking negatively about himself. He had been putting himself down and been self-destructive regarding his potential. God corrected him. He told him in verse 7 to stop speaking as if he couldn’t accomplish anything. He told Jeremiah in verse 8 not to be afraid of having dominion. Listen, negative self-talk isn’t going to do anything but talk you out of having the dominion God intends for your life. God told Jeremiah to stop it. God is telling us to stop it.
- You have a decision to make.L
Do you want the made for more life for which you have been distinguished? You can have it. It is yours in Christ Jesus. Today you can walk away from negative self-talk and self-destructive behaviors, and students I don’t have to spell out for you what I mean. You can get out of abusive relationships. You can make good decisions. You haven’t ruined your life. You aren’t in too deep. It isn’t too late. You can get help for your addiction, your sexual confusion, and the pain that has entered your life because you have been the victim of other people’s heartless and cowardly comments, accusations and power plays. You can stop devaluing yourself through sexting and you can quit trying to make yourself feel better through cyber bullying. You can hear what God is saying and choose to trust Him. You can find your significance in Him!You were made for great things. Big things. You were made to change the world in some way. Will you embrace the more for which God created you?