What I Must Do!

If I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in! Jeremiah 20:9

Each of us has been blessed by God with numerous talents. Some of these talents help you run your home life. Some make your career possible. Others are utilized by God in the context of ministry. It is a privilege to have been created with these skills, but it also creates a problem. At some point in your life you have to decide between the things you can do and the things you must do.

For Jeremiah, the thing he “must” do is speak out in God’s name. He has just been beaten and put in stocks for doing what God called him to do. In his prophecy, he foretells that the road will continue to be difficult. People are looking for mistakes in his words. They are looking for ways to discredit him because they don’t like what he is saying. It appears from his words that Jeremiah would like to walk away from the continued conflict and do something easier, but he recognizes that this is his calling. God has put a need in his heart to be a public spokesman for truth.

Most men are not called to be public spokesmen, but we are all called to be something. Just like Jeremiah’s responsibility, the calling is both exciting and heavy. We are honored to have been chosen and gifted to accomplish it. But the calling is lived out in an imperfect, critical world, and we soon find there are many activities that are easier on us than pursuing the place of service God has called us to. At these times, the only thing that will keep you at the task is the overwhelming sense that you were made for this.

What is it that you must accomplish in your lifetime? What activities seem easier but distract you from your real calling?

Jesus, give me wisdom to clearly see what I must get done in my lifetime.