“But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.” (Jeremiah 1:17, ESV)
When I served in the United States Army, I had several uniforms. When we went to the field, we would put on our fatigues and combat gear. It is the same for believers on mission for the Lord. We need to be dressed correctly for the mission to which we have been called.
Jeremiah was called to be a prophet. The Lord told Jeremiah to “dress” himself for his mission. The verb, to “dress” is translated in other versions as to “gird.” Here metaphorically it refers to being emotionally and mentally equipped with strength for action. Jeremiah would find struggles and difficulties in proclaiming the words of the Lord to those Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. Yet he was not to lose courage or resolution in this mission. What was needed to provide this strength and courage? It was faith. Jeremiah needed to trust the Lord for such a mission. In the subsequent verses, the Lord gave Jeremiah words of assurance. He needed to trust in the Lord’s provision.
As believers, we all have a difficult mission. We are embroiled in a spiritual conflict. To overcome the various temptations of the flesh, the world system, and our adversary, we need to be properly clothed. To be the effective witness that the Lord has called us to be, we need to be properly clothed. To be able to speak the word of Truth, we need to be properly clothed.
Paul indicated that through faith we have been clothed with Christ.
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27, KJV)
Yet he also indicated that we must put on Christ.
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14, KJV)
So, by faith we have put on Christ when we received eternal life. Yet we must still endeavor to walk by faith and not by sight. The problem is that our old nature still lingers and wars against the Spirit.
Let us not walk by sight as did the nation of Israel on their first attempt to move into the Promised Land. You will remember that ten of the twelve Israelites that Moses sent in to spy out the land came back and gave a report of gloom to the nation. Due to fear regarding what they saw the nation rebelled against the will of God. They walked by sight and not by faith and paid the penalty of their rebellion by wandering in the wilderness until that rebellious generation died off.
To walk by faith is not to trust in our own inclinations. To walk by faith is to trust in the Lord our God an His ways and direction as revealed in His word under the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit. Remember that faith in the Lord conquers fear.
Renewing the Heart 