I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:
TO ORDAIN US
Jeremiah 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations
We understand that God created us with meticulous detail and design. We know that God understands us even better than we understand ourselves. We also are aware that God has set us apart, and that He has a specific purpose for our lives. God now gets really specific with Jeremiah. God reminds Jeremiah of the specific calling on Jeremiah’s life. God says, “I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”. This word “ordained” in the Hebrew has multiple meanings and applications. It means to appoint, to deliver, to perform, to commit. What did that mean to Jeremiah? What does that mean to us?
“I ORDAINED THEE”
When God made this claim to Jeremiah, God was showing us that He has done the same thing for us. God created us, understands us, and has a plan for us. But even more importantly, God will sustain us. God has not just “appointed” us for a specific task, God has “committed” to give us the power and ability to do it. God will “deliver” us when needed, empower us when needed, discipline us when needed, and carry us when needed. This word “ordained” means that God has not just planned it, but He will also perform it. This verse in Exodus describes how unable we are to perform anything without the Lord:
* Exodus 18:18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
And then one of my favorite verses, and most powerful promises in God’s Word:
* Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
God has “created” you, “considered” you, and “called” you. But what a miraculous blessing that God has also promised to “complete” the entire plan. He will perform it. It does not matter who or what comes against you, if you are submitting to God’s plan, God will perform it. Nobody and nothing can stop Him because He “ordained” it. Remember:
* Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?