Does God's word control Us?

Read Jeremiah 20.

Jeremiah had delivered the message just as the LORD had instructed him.  The reaction was swift and painful.  The chief officer of the Temple, a priest named Pashhur, judged Jeremiah as inciting the people and had him beaten with 40 lashes (Deuteronomy 25:2-3). Then, he placed Jeremiah in stocks so the people could mock the prophet as he suffered.

But Jeremiah changed neither his mind nor his message.  Instead, he called Pashhur "Terror on Every Side" to emphasize what was going to happen to this priest, Jerusalem, and Judah.  Then, Jeremiah named the enemy who will bring the terror upon them.  In a prophetic word, this is the first mention of Babylon in the book and he used it four times (vv.4-6).

Hurting physically and emotionally from this experience, Jeremiah cried out to God with unusual transparency.  He faithfully preached God's word and suffering within a inch of his life became his reward.  It felt as though the LORD had "deceived" him.  He thought about not speaking on God's behalf any longer.  He wanted to quit.  But the word of God was like a raging fire within him.  He could not hold it in.  God would be victorious but eternity was at stake for the people (v.11).

Notice the seesaw of his emotions.  When he remember God's perspective he could "Sing to the LORD; and praise the LORD!"  But when he took his eyes off the LORD and looked at his circumstances, he just wanted to die (vv.13-18).

The Apostle Paul also suffered repeatedly as he spread the good news of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire.  Why would a man keep doing this?  He explained: "For the love of God controls (constrains, arrests, seizes) us."  "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:14, 20)

May the good news of Jesus so burn within us today that we must share it with others.  Their eternity is at stake.