READING: Jeremiah 11-13, 1 Timothy 5:3-25
“Amen!”
I’ve heard the word many times through the years. Church members express their agreement with a sermon with the word. We end a prayer with the word. Some folks use the word almost in place of “true, true.” I’ve also been in places in the world where the word seemed to be almost “magical” in the minds of the people, as if ending a prayer or a statement with that word guaranteed fulfillment and success. Indeed, I’ve heard the word enough that I probably don’t pay much attention to it anymore.
But, then, I read the response of Jeremiah to God’s call for covenant obedience—including a curse to fall on anyone who disobeyed His covenant. Jeremiah’s answer was simply, “Amen, Lord” (Jer 11:5). Also translated as “So be it, Lord,” the word carried a sense of fundamental agreement. Thus, Jeremiah was saying, “I understand, and I affirm all that you’ve said.”
My prayer today is that my entire life would be an “Amen, Lord” life; that is, I want to be in the place where I say, “So be it, Lord,” regardless of the circumstances. So, I think about these scenarios a bit today:
- If God called us to move overseas, would I simply say, “Amen, Lord”?
- If He called us to give up our riches for others who are hurting, would I affirm, “Amen, Lord”?
- If He asked us to return to the public high school and teach English as a Christian witness, would I quickly say, “Amen, Lord”?
- If God called me to speak prophetically to people I love, would “Amen, Lord” be my words?
An “Amen, Lord” life doesn’t try to avoid what God wants; instead, it obeys regardless of what God demands.
PRAYER: “God, help me to say, ‘So be it,’ to You always. Amen.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Jeremiah 14-17, 1 Timothy 6
