““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.”” (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV)
I love this verse for many reasons, not the least of which is that it reminds us that a fetus is a human (by the way, fetus is simply a Latin word that means offspring or little child). Also notice the intimacy with God described here. He knows us. That verb (yada) describes the most intimate and deepest knowledge.
In Jeremiah’s case, he was also set apart and appointed. I think that is true of you and me as well. We’re set apart for God’s purposes. The same God that has known us intimately from the womb has wonderful purposes for our lives.
But my favorite description is the last: appointed. The word in Hebrew is nathan…literally “to give.” Because God loves the nations and wants them to have His word, God gave Jeremiah to the nations as His spokesperson.
Did you know that you are God’s gift to this world? It’s true. In his intimate knowledge of you, God has set you apart for a great purpose and plan. When you walk in that, you are his gift to the world. You partner with Him in ministry. We often talk about receiving spiritual gifts…but there’s also a sense in which we are spiritual gifts.
Serve God in the purpose to which he’s called you – you are a gift! I hope you’ll join us Sunday at New Life Church for our first sermon in our study of the Prophet Jeremiah.
