But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV)
We are here for a purpose. Every.single.one.of.us. God has plans for all people to prosper and not to harm them, to give them hope and a future – in God’s way, not man’s. But we often say, “We won’t walk in it,” maybe not aloud but certainly by our actions. We seem to choose to go our own paths that leads us to nowhere - fast. We proceed perhaps in the world’s path and way of thinking but not the Fathers. And in the end, it is God to Whom we are all held accountable for this one life we have been given, not the world. Also, the world does not care a whit about us – but God certainly does. He cared enough to send His Son to die for our sins. And He cares enough about us to put burdens within our hearts to help others (and ourselves) grow up in Him – which is, BTW, why we are here. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not to simply take up space or find ways to entertain ourselves to death.
When God places a burden in a man’s heart, it burns like a fire. He desires for us to fulfill it – for our own good and for His glory. Every believer in Christ Jesus has at least one gifting and many have more than one. Surprisingly, He often uses something dormant within us that we are totally unaware of and would probably argue severely against ever being used in that particular way. He places these in our hearts to fan them into flames in our lives to grow us up and to help others as well in their walks. He gives us this fiery burden so that we will bother to do something about it, Amen? And He presses hard on our hearts until we do. Remember, delayed obedience is disobedience. Ask Jonah when you get to heaven.
We want to be faithful, obedient, followers and stewards of the trust that has been placed within us and of which we are held accountable. His desire is for us to grow up in Him as well as to help others in our spheres to grow up in Him and He is faithful to provide all that we need through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Help us, O Lord, not to grow weary and lose heart in pouring out our giftings to strengthen others as well as ourselves.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 (NIV)