Bible Text:

 Text:“Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.                                                               (Isaiah 54:2)

Fred Rogers always made people feel special. One of his favorite songs began with the words, “I like you as you are.” He also had several sayings, such as, “Nobody else is as special as you are,” and “Nobody else is exactly like you.” 

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah seems to be saying something similar in the opening verses of his book. The implications are that Jeremiah is a teenager, or perhaps even younger. God says to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” (1:5) 

Fundamentally that is good theology. It sounds a little Presbyterian in stereotypical style—it seems a form of predestination! But it is still good theology. 

Each of us is made special in the image of God. Each of you is uniquely gifted and called. 

Someone has said, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.” Someone else said, “People always want to be in the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention.” In God’s plan, you are the center of attention. 

Paul says that God has adopted us into his family. Somehow that seems like a fairly helpful image. Deep within the forest a turtle was trying to climb a tree. He climbed all the way up to the very top of the tree, then spread his four legs and jumped. 

Obviously he fell quickly to the ground. Undeterred, he got up, shook himself off, and started up the tree again. Again he got all the way to the top, spread his legs, and jumped. He fell a second time. Three or four times he did this. Two birds were sitting in the tree, watching all of this take place. Finally the mother bird said to the father bird, “Do you suppose it’s time to tell him he’s adopted?” 

We are all adopted sons and daughters of God. 

Elaine and I have one adopted daughter. She was with us for a long time as a foster child. We were finally able to adopt her at the age of 13. On that adoption day we had a special family party for her. It was a big day. We said, “Welcome to the family. You are a Bauknight now.” 

We are all adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters, and we are all especially called and gifted. 

Baptism is a sign of being welcomed into God’s family. Confirmation is a sign that we recognize that family as our own.

 What is the next step after Confirmation? Probably the next step is to unearth and use your special or spiritual gifts.  

I read a story recently that I want to share with you. It is a personal story from a colleague and friend. In the fall of 1957 he was a junior in high school. When he got home late one night from a date, everyone in the house was asleep. He decided that before he turned out the lights he would read a bit from his Bible and have his evening prayer. He had a little devotional book that he had used for a while and he used it that night. This is what he says. 

The Scripture appointed for that day in my little devotional book was Jeremiah 1:4-10 [the very one that we read here in this service a few moments ago]. It is a story of the call from God to Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. I began reading it as I did every other assigned Scripture on many nights before, and I really wasn’t expecting anything extraordinary to happen at all.

I’m not sure I can adequately put it into words, but all of a sudden it seemed as if the words on the page of my Bible were more than just letters printed on a piece of paper. All of a sudden they became alive and personal and powerful—incredibly so. They were actually words coming out of the mouth of God and being spoken directly to me, especially the first words in the passage where God says to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you and appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.” The more I read those words with my eyes, the more I heard those words with my ears, it was as though God Himself was actually addressing me. It was as though God was calling me into the ministry of the church. I found myself saying, “Hey, God, this can’t be right, because I’m not a preacher type. And besides, I’m just a kid.”

Then I read the next verse in Jeremiah 1:6, where Jeremiah says to God, “Ah, Lord God, I cannot do this. I don’t know how to speak, for I’m only a boy.” And I thought to myself, those are my words precisely. I can’t believe it. Then God answered Jeremiah and said, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’ for to all whom I send you, you shall go and wherever I command you, you shall speak.” And with that, God put his hand out to Jeremiah and touched his mouth, and from that time on Jeremiah was a prophet of God.

But I began to think to myself, that’s exactly what’s happening to me too, in this very moment. God is calling me into the ministry of the church.[i] 

God may not be calling you confirmands into the ministry. That’s not the point. God is calling you to do something special with your life. God is calling you to do something that will honor and glorify God. 

I believe God has put us all here for a special purpose. I believe God has put all 42 confirmands here for a special purpose. You can ignore that purpose or you can discover it and learn to fly on eagles’ wings. You can go your own way, or you can discover that for which God has made and equipped you. 

My encouragement to you today is to choose the path for which you were created. Choose the path for which God has designed you. Choose the path which will add meaning and depth to your life beyond measure. 

The same is true for all of us. Choose the path according to the way in which God has gifted you. In our spiritual gifts class we have people attending who are in their 20s and in their early 80s. Choose the path for which God has equipped you. It makes a huge difference in your outlook and in your inner peace.

 God likes you as you are. God wants to see you blossom into the person you were created to be.

 The Chapel Choir sang an anthem this morning which I find very meaningful. Listen again to the powerful words as I read them to you. 

I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; in a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell. When you heard the wonder of the Word I was there to cheer you on; you were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong. If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one; I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk till rising sun. 

In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun. When the evening gently closes in and you shut your weary eyes, I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise. I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold.[ii]