Prepared for Your Best Performance
In Jeremiah 1:4-10 we read about how God called Jeremiah to be God's official spokesman. Jeremiah questioned God and said he wasn't up to snuff for such an awesome role. But God said He knew what He was doing. God says the same thing to you—that when He asks you to do something, He equips you to do it…He makes you Prepared for Your Best Performance. January 28, 2007
The American public has a seemingly endless appetite for viewing the humiliation of some the most talent-deprived, tone-deaf, totally-delusional contestants on the biggest talent show in the world, American Idol. Don’t these people get it? Each of us, with the exception of a few talented people here today, realizes that our solo singing is best performed in the shower. Not in front of millions, especially Randy, Paula, and Simon. Of course, if that’s what everybody thought, American Idol would be a flop. Worse yet, hidden talent would remain undiscovered. As the saying goes, “The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except the very best.” Today, God is telling you it’s time for you to perform. Are you ready?
Jeremiah wasn’t. When God assigned Jeremiah as his official spokesman, Jeremiah stuttered and stammered, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” Although he really wasn’t a little boy at this time, lack of experience certainly played a number on Jeremiah’s nerves. Ever feel that way when God is handing you some heavy responsibility? “You don’t get it, God, I’m not cut out for this … you’re asking the wrong person … I can’t … no way!” Do you hear how faith-less such an attitude is? And though it may seem like a humble response, it’s really the height of arrogance for the creature to tell the Creator he’s making a mistake. “Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker,” God responds. “Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ … Do you give me orders about the work of my hands” (Isaiah 45:9,11).
God is insulted when anyone questions his orders. God impeached Saul as king for disobeying his assignment. God made Zechariah deaf and dumb for arguing about God’s ability to keep his promise. God chased Jonah the runaway prophet with a mighty storm. Who am I to tell God that I can’t do what God tells me to do? “Do not say, ‘I am only a child,” God corrects Jeremiah. Like a father patiently encouraging a worried child, God responds to a believer’s fear not with the closed fist of hard anger but the open arms of helpful love. Even God’s responses to people like Zechariah and Jonah were loving disciplines for their benefit and blessing. We have a loving Lord. Just listen …
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you … I set you apart … I appointed you.” Your loving Lord specially formed you for a special purpose according to a special plan he developed long, long ago. You have all the skills necessary for that job and they will work, as long as you use them God’s way.
“You must go to everyone I send you to.” People needed the help that only Jeremiah could give, just like the loving Lord puts people in your life who need the kind of help that you can offer best based on your relationship and skills. God places you at this time in history and at this particular place in the life of this particular person because you’re the best one for the job. There’s no one else who can do what you can do. You must go.
“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.” The loving Lord knows how intimidating it can be for you to relate to other people, especially someone superior in ability or intellect or position, someone you don’t want to let down again, or someone who can change your career status with a snap of their fingers. But none of them outranks God, and he promises that he is part of the arrangement - the biggest part - when you relate to those people. Don’t be afraid.
Jesus wasn’t afraid. Oh, he should have been. He confronted his own friends, neighbors, and business associates about their misguided religious opinions. He condemned their false faith and compared them to the rebellious Israelites who bowed to idols. Although he consoled them by showing up in their synagogue and proclaiming himself to be their true Savior they would have nothing to do with it - or him. They rejected him and his message and tried to throw him off a cliff! But Jesus wasn’t afraid. Equipped with the skills and opportunities he needed to carry out his assignment, Jesus performed perfectly. Set apart from eternity for his role as the Savior, Jesus performed perfectly. Even when the efforts of Jesus were met with criticism or all out rejected, Jesus performed perfectly because he was faithful to God and that’s what matters the most. Jesus performed perfectly … for you. His perfect performance all the way to the cross is, by faith, your perfect forgiveness from all sins. His perfect performance under every one of God’s commands is, by faith, your perfect strength. Perfectly forgiven and fortified by Jesus, you are Prepared for Your Best Performance. You don’t just do God’s work. You are God’s work!
Your phone rings. “Hi, I’m the producer of the biggest talent show in the world and we want you to win this year’s show, but you have to perform.”
“But I can’t sing,” you protest nervously.
“Fine. Can you dance?”
“No.”
“Can you juggle?”
“No.”
“Can you eat a handful of Madagascar cockroaches?”
“Not without getting sick.”
“What can you do?”
“I can do anything God has planned for me and help, love, and serve anyone he puts in my life, at anytime he decides is best. Is that good enough?”
“That’s all I want,” God replies, pleased at your confident spirit of willing service. “You’re already a winner.”
When it comes to fulfilling God’s role for you in this world, there is no audition. You don’t put on stage makeup and step into the spotlight dreaming of making a big impression. Taking responsibility for that role - at church as part of our VIP program, serving friends, family, or strangers, or daily accomplishing your God-given tasks with your God-given abilities - is not an audition on your part but an already approved assignment from your loving Lord. You are Prepared for Your Best Performance.
So this week when you are facing heavy responsibilities again, remember - you and God can do anything! Amen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (www.gracedowntown.org) on January 28 2007
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