Resignation Day

Jer 20:7  O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. 8  For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. 9  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. 10  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. 11  But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

Preachers joke about Monday being "resignation day." But sometimes it is no joke. They are so discouraged from those “Murphy's Law” Sundays, when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Sis. Peabody left in a huff when her special wasn't sufficiently appreciated. Bro. Diotrophes stomped into the pastor's office before the song service and threw his church key on the desk because of some conjured up slight of his person by a staff member. Few "Amens" were offered during the sermon, the altar was rift of penitents, the offering couldn't buy a beggar's meal from the city mission, the Sunday school teachers were late, again! The van broke down en route, the sound system was possessed by demons, that crying uncontrollable imp kept interrupting his sermon, etc, etc.

Head’s up, your preacher isn't always that man of faith and trust you are convinced he is. He doesn't sleep in suit and tie and pray before eating every snack. He likes to watch cop shows where bad guys get blown away. Why, he even goes potty! When it comes to ups and downs, he sometimes fails to take the long look. There are those occasions where even he heeds the Luciferian whispers to pack it all in.

Jeremiah was in such a state in this passage. He had been put in stocks as a public humiliation for delivering God's word faithfully. Last Sabbath, his congregants heckled him and were raising clenched fists and sticking out their tongues during his sermon. He had had enough! He resigned! "As long as I have breath, I will never preach another sermon! Let 'em go to heck, I am going to sell used cars!"

Imagine him about Wednesday, perched above the Valley of Hinnom, looking down upon their idolatry. His breathing is finally beginning to regulate, his nerves settling, the knots in his stomach starting to untie, his rage abating. His conscience began to remind him of his calling. His passion for the Lord once again evidenced itself as the fire in his bones began to burn anew. All of the sudden, he was getting antsy for next Sunday to roll around again so he could deliver his soul. “Bring on the deacons and the musicians and the nursery workers, I am equal to the battle!” The Holy Spirit gave him unction and his spirit recalled that the Lord was upon him with power. He remembered that his ministry was not a dash, but a marathon and God had guaranteed success over the enemy.

"Preach the Word!" a voice from deep within compelled, drowning out the doubts, discouragement and depression the foe had suggested. "Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts, preacher! Put on your big boy pants, fulfill your calling."

Soon, God's man, His flawed servant, His messenger none-the-less, was back on his soap box delivering the heart of God to an undeserving people.

Sundays come and go. There are those glory, hallelujah Sabbaths, punctuated by some pretty gory, ‘hell’elujah disasters, but the Word of the Lord shall forever stand, and His counsel must be faithfully delivered. If God can use a talking a** to speak to Balaam, He can use a crestfallen parson to speak to dull ears, hard hearts and slow bellies.

Resign yourself to preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke and exort with all longsuffering.

Your reward is on high and you have a very long, all expenses paid vacation coming very soon.