-Strength for Today- "Are You Willing to Speak Up?" - Jeremiah 26:1-9.
Have you ever had the experience in which something was going on that wasn’t right, but for the sake of being:
- Politically, or
- Socially correct,
You just left it alone, only to later be “consciously convicted” that you should’ve spoken up for what was right, and for the truth. Or you’ve been in a situation, where you were being attacked by others, and people that you thought would speak up and say something on your behalf just remained “sheepishly silent.”
There's a song that goes, “if you can use anything Lord, you can use me.” Now, that’s a dangerous song to sing, because once you’ve been transformed by the Holy Spirit, (Romans 12:2), God is more than willing to use you. But as God did with Jeremiah, there were some critical facts that He left out. Jeremiah begins preaching and preached for twenty years under a good king by the name of Josiah. Josiah did his best to get the people to turn back to God. Because the Babylonians were coming with God’s judgment. During this time Jeremiah’s only message was to the people were:
- Repentance, and
- Change your ways,
Now for twenty years, he proclaimed this message of doom. Do you know how foolish he must’ve looked? Who do you think has the most credibility with the people? The people made fun of Jeremiah as he walked the streets preaching. He didn’t like the ridicule any more than we do when people laugh at us because of our faith.
Therefore, when standing alone, don’t be afraid of the “naysayers,” after all our lives and ministry are dependent on just how much:
- We trust God to handle our lives,
- After being faithful to Him.
Jeremiah’s life let us know, that our task won’t to be easy. But Jesus assures us, that everything is going to be all right!
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory His army shall he lead, till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer; where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Written by: George Duffield, Jr. -1858