I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant. Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah 1:1-10

through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “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.”

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Why?

The appointment and choice are from the Lord. The Lord gives the mission to Jeremiah.

Even Jeremiah tries to refuse God's mission " For I am too young" God refused him and encouraged him, Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.

To be a servant of the Lord is a mission and is a glory, so as we to be a Christian is God's chosen and God's grace come upon me. So to be a servants of the Lord should be glad for God is with us and will rescue us.

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在信仰不堅的時代，又有巴比侖、埃及的外患，難怪神揀選耶利米成為先知是非常辛苦的使命。

神在耶利米出生前神已經揀選他。神的觀點，年紀輕不一定不愛主不能被神使用。年紀大也不一定合神所用。耶利米怕年輕會做不好，沒有果效，不敢承擔。神看的神用手按住他的口。

先知的立場要超過國家、民族、社會。跳脫國家、政權的意識。

人不喜歡拆毀，但是重建之前必須先拆毀。

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How?

To be a servant of the Lord is hard but it is an honor mission in our life. We should honor and respect every servant of the Lord in the churches and missionary places.