The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 1:4-10, “Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a
prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command
you, you shall speak.
8 “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in
your mouth.
10 “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and
to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

This is not the only Scriptural reference to the LORD’s call upon a specific person. It parallels somewhat His call to Moses; yet,
it contains the specific elements of His call to each of us, when once we have yielded our lives to Him. Does a child belong to his parents? Do they have the right to form and control the child’s life? Absolutely, they do! In fact, parental failure to train and discipline children results in the very chaos that permeates our world today!

“I knew you…before you were born…” Yes, specifically the LORD identifies Jeremiah. Simultaneously, He identifies each of us who have been spiritually born again. We were all known by the LORD before we were known by our human parents. It is the LORD who consecrates –sets us apart—and appoints (assigns) us to fulfill the roles He has for us in life. That role may have many facets, but primarily it is to tell others of Him and encourage them to accept Him as LORD and Savior of their lives.

The objection voiced by Jeremiah (“I do not know how to speak because I am a youth.”) is paralleled by each of us in one way or another. We simply don’t know what to say. That’s good! Then we become dependent upon Him to put into our minds what
is needed for each specific person to whom we speak. We are not to be afraid, for we are not responsible for another person’s
response. Our words become His Words, and He accepts responsibility for the ultimate outcome of the witness.

When we examine the witness of various New Testament personalities, we see both acceptance and rejection of their witness.
Furthermore, the LORD was always enabling them, as He will always enable us. What a joy it is to lead someone to Christ! What a joy is expressed by those who come to know Him! Some who have argued with me when I witnessed have rejoiced most
exuberantly when they received Him. It’s like a having a doctor do surgery. Do you want to be well or do you want to risk going without his expertise? The major difference is with the LORD you are dealing with eternity. I pray for you daily.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom