Daily Devotion 13 January 2026

You did not choose Me, but I chose you. John 15: 16

READING: Jeremiah 1: 4-10

The word of the Lord first came to Jeremiah in the 13th year of King Josiah’s reign, which was 627 BCE. But his story still speaks clearly to us today.

The word of the Lord continues to come to us today as we read about Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). The Word also comes to us through His Holy Spirit, through other people and events.

God tells Jeremiah that even before he was born, God set him apart to proclaim God’s word to the nations.

Christ also sets us, His followers, apart to tell others about God’s salvation. The Great Commission says, “go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jeremiah at first protests that he is young, inexperienced, and untrained.

We should accept with appropriate humility our responsibility to proclaim the word of the Lord. We should recognise and acknowledge our limitations. But we should not seek to evade the call that God has placed on our lives.

God told Jeremiah that he should focus rather on obedience and dependence, trusting that God will help him.

Noone is qualified to speak on behalf of God. But, in Genesis 1, we read that, where there was once nothing but darkness and chaos, God’s word created something. In Jeremiah’s case, where there was nothing but a young man, God created a prophet. God loves to create light out of darkness, a world out of chaos and prophets out of people.

Throughout the Bible, God almost always calls people who seem too young, too shy, too old, too immoral to speak for the Lord.

Our calling to speak for God isn’t based on our suitability, mental or physical health, virtues or talents. Our God is willing to take a risk on us and also give us everything we need.

Obedience and trust are our only requirements. In verse 8 God says, “I am with you and will rescue you.”

We hear this reassurance again in 2 Timothy 1:9 that God’s grace will cover our calling, and in Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations … and surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Prayer

Almighty God, I thank You for choosing me to work for You. I am not worthy, but I obey You, look for your grace, and trust to see your power perfected in my weakness. In Jesus name, Amen