Me, A Prophet?

 God calls each of us to be a "prophet", just as God called Jeremiah.  In the first chapter of Jeremiah, we read how Jeremiah protested against this calling, claiming that he was too young to be a prophet and did not know how to speak.  He was only a teenager.  Well, God did not let Jeremiah get away with that excuse.  And God doesn't let us get away with it either.  Read these words carefully:

 "The word of Yahweh was addressed to me, saying: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.'  I said, 'Ah, Lord Yahweh; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child!'  But Yahweh replied, 'Do not say, "I am a child".  Go now to those to whom I send you and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you -- it is Yahweh who speaks!'   Then Yahweh put out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me: 'There!  I am putting my words into your mouth..." (Jeremiah 1:4-9)

When you think about God calling you to be a prophet, perhaps not to a whole nation as Jeremiah was, but at least to a few people, how do you feel?

·     To whom has God already sent you as a prophet?

·     To whom do you think God wants you to go at this point in your life?

What do you think God wants you to communicate, in action and/or in words, to that person or group?

 And what kinds of protection do you think God is offering you?

 And the Lord said, "Go!"

An adaptation of the call to Jeremiah and Isaiah (6:1-8) to be prophets

 And the Lord said, "Go!"

and I said, "Who, me?"

and God said, "Yes, you!"

and I said, "But I'm not ready yet.

I got a job, friends, school,

and mom needs my help with the kids;

you know there's no one to take my place."

And God said, "You're stalling."

Again the Lord said, "Go!"

and I said, "But I don't want to,"

and God said, "I didn't ask if you wanted to."

and I said, "Listen, I'm not the kind of person

to get involved in controversy.

Besides, my family won't like it,

and what will my friends think!"

And God said, "Baloney!"

And yet a third time the Lord said, "Go!"

and I said, "Do I have to?"

and God said, "Do you love me?"

and I said, "Look, I'm scared.

People are going to hate me

and cut me into little pieces.

I can't take it all by myself."

And God said, "Where do you think I'll be?"

And the Lord said, "Go!"

and I sighed, "Here I am, send me!"

Rewrite the dialogue as you would imagine it going between God and yourself. 

What would be your excuses?

Note: adapted from James McGinnis'

Christian High School & Youth Group Teacher Resource Book (Institute for Peace & Justice, 2003)

and

Peacemaking and the Powers (Institute for Peace & Justice, 2005)