The word of the Lord came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. The Lord said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled." -Jeremiah 1:11, 12
The Bible says in the 1st chapter of Jeremiah that the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. That means that the Spirit of God placed a message in the prophet’s heart, and since it was from God it was intended to be told. Understand that when God places something on our hearts that is meant to be shared with others, then we will know it. This is where we find the prophet Jeremiah. What the Lord told him in chapter 1:5 was this: Before I formed you I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart as a prophet to the people. God called Jeremiah in a manner that was so deeply personal that before he was even born, God already had a plan for his life. Long before Jeremiah stood before the people and proclaimed a message from the Lord, God had planned that this would be his calling. Because Jeremiah had been faithful to that calling he could move forward in boldness and confidence of God’s love, power, and guidance.
Just as God called Jeremiah before he was born, God still does that today. When each one of us was being formed within the wombs of our mothers God knew who we were and He had a plan for our lives. Like the prophet Jeremiah, God set us apart for service in His kingdom. This is why I believe that all life is sacred and that every child deserves a chance at life. If we believe that God creates life, then it follows that what God creates is sacred. We as a society have missed the mark and are way out of touch with God if we stop believing that every little baby is sacred to God. Any society that ceases to value and cherish human life, even before the child is born, is headed down a path to destruction.
-God reaches out to all people because He loves all people, and that loves begins before we ever step foot into this world. Such is the personal nature of our standing with God. He loves us and He knows us in a manner that is deeply personal. I believe that for the nine months that my dear mother carried me in her womb that God knew that my purpose in life was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before you were born God knew what His plan for your life was and that you were to be a vital part of His kingdom. Lets’ not forget that God has long desired that people come to faith in Him: II Peter 3:9 says:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
God calls us personally, lovingly, and gently, because He cares for us. And because He is with us, we need not live in fear, but rather we can walk by faith.
