Sermon Snippet – The Holy Calling of God – Part IV
INTRODUCTION – After a week on a different subject, we return today to II Timothy 1:8-12. Here, we are told that God has “called us with [a] holy calling” (verse 9). We have previously studied that this calling for all Christians extends to our homes and to our work, requires both patience and faithfulness, and delivers us from fear. Today, from Jeremiah 1:4-10, let us learn even more about God and His calling.
1. THIS HOLY CALLING CONFIRMS THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE
Verse 5 is potently pro-life. To say that God knows us is more than a revelation of His omniscience and foreknowledge (of course, it includes these); it is a personal interest in each individual. He has “formed” us; each one of us is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This is not merely a general statement, for Psalm 139:1-16 is gloriously specific. God knows all about us, cares about everything in our lives, and clearly tells us these truths. Back in Jeremiah 1:5, we should note the word “sanctified.” It means to be set apart to our holy God and reminds us of II Timothy 1:9, where we began this study. All that God does is holy. We should also note the past tenses of the verbs, indicating that God’s claim to our lives is prior to all other claims. Because He is always good, we can be sure that this claim is for our good, now and forever. His tender solicitude extends from eternity past to life everlasting.
2. THIS HOLY CALLING ADDS PURPOSE TO OUR LIVES
We already have purpose, for we are created in God’s image, as we have seen from Genesis 1. The word “ordained” (also in Jeremiah 1:5 and also in the past tense) tells us that God is adding a precise purpose to our lives. Jeremiah’s mission was to preach to the nation of Israel and to other “nations” (verse 5). His response to this divine ordination is instructive (verse 6), for if Satan cannot convince us to be apathetic and lazy, he will seek to discourage us with our inadequacies. Yes, on our own, we are not up to the task. However, the promise of God’s presence (verses 6-10) is real, and we can thus say, “I can do all things through Christ [Who] strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
CONCLUSION – Let us make four necessary applications. First, the prior claim of God means that we are directly accountable to Him. This accountability includes receiving the gift of eternal salvation through faith in God the Son, Jesus Christ. He died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins, rose from the dead the third day as He promised to prove that He is the God of life, and provides each one of us the opportunity to enter into an everlasting relationship with Him. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2b).