Even When No One Listens

Jeremiah was just a young man when God called him to be a prophet—a messenger to speak to the people on God’s behalf. Jeremiah was to tell the people of Judah to repent of their evil and to follow God instead. Even though Jeremiah felt too young and unqualified, God still used him to warn the people judgment was coming. Sadly, nobody listened. People don’t always want to hear what a younger person is telling them. Older people sometimes believe they are wiser than young people. And sometimes younger people don’t want to hear what an older person is telling them. At times, we all resist being told the tRuth God asks each and every Christian, no matter their age, to tell His wondrous story—to teach others how to be saved from sin and death. Yet it is truly hard to tell others about Jesus when they willingly turn away and reject the good news. Though people didn’t listen and threatened his life, Jeremiah persevered and spoke the truth boldly and in love—just as all believers are called to (Ephesians 4:15; 6:19-20). He listened for God’s voice and spoke when God commanded. In the same way, even when no one listens, God asks us to speak and tell, and He will not abandon us as we do (Matthew 28:20). Like Jeremiah, God will empower us to tell the true story of the gospel. • Anna Gregory • What is the hardest thing for you about telling others about Jesus? What questions do you have about sharing your faith? • Who are trusted Christians in your life you can go to with those questions? • Read 2 Timothy 2:23-26. What does it mean to witness well—even when no one listens? Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Jeremiah 1:1-9; 11:1-5