How Valuable is a Life?

Jeremiah 1:4–10 (NLT)

4 The Lord gave me this message:

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!

10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

INTRODUCTION:

How valuable is a life? More specifically, How valuable is your life?

Life is a gift from God.

Life is a sacred stewardship we render to God.

In order to understand the issues of our day, such as abortion, euthanasia, and others, there are some key facts we must understand.

I- GOD KNOWS EACH AND EVERY PERSON COMPLETELY. (Jeremiah 1:4-6)

Jeremiah 1:4–6 (NLT)

4 The Lord gave me this message:

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

A- He knows the personality completely. (Jeremiah 1:5a)

Jeremiah 1:5a (NLT)

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

1- He knows our strengths.

* He knew Paul completely.

(2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (NLT)

7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2- He knows our weaknesses.

He knew Moses’ weaknesses.

(Exodus 4:10-12)

Exodus 4:10–12 (NLT)

10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?

12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

B- He knows each person’s unique path completely. (Jeremiah 1:5b)

Jeremiah 1:5b (NLT)

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

1- He knows the high points.

a. joys

b. Victories

2- He knows the low points.

a. depression (emotional lows)

b. defeats (spiritual lows)

Example:

God knew the highs and lows of Sampson’s life.

Victories (1,000 Philistines defeated with the Jawbone of a donkey) (Judges 15:14-15)

defeats (moral failure with Delilah)(Judges 16:16-22)

3- God knows all about your life.

(Mark 10:29-31)

Mark 10:29–31 (NLT)

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News,

30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.

31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

C- He knows your particular fears. (Jeremiah 1:6)

Jeremiah 1:6 (NLT)

6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

1- Fear of failure.

a- This was Jeremiah’s fear.

2- Fear of success.

a- This was Jonah’s fear. (Jonah 4:1-3)

Jonah 4:1–3 (NLT)

1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry.

2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.

3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

II- GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EVERY PERSON. (Jeremiah 1:5, 7-10)

Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:7–10 (NLT)

7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!

10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

A- A plan for a relationship with Himself. (Jeremiah 1:5b)

Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

1- Each person is “Set apart”in God’s mind and plan to have a relationship with his creator.

(John 3:16)

John 3:16 (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

(2 Peter 3:9)

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

(Romans 5:8)

Romans 5:8 (NLT)

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

B- A plan for finding and experiencing God’s will. (Jeremiah 1:5c)

Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

1- God has a plan for each person who comes to know Him.

(Romans 12:2)

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2- God has a plan for you which is fulfilling.

(John 10:10)

John 10:10 (NLT)

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

3- God has equipped you to live out this life-plan.

(1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (NLT)

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

C- A plan of sure accomplishment. (Jeremiah 1:7-10)

Jeremiah 1:7–10 (NLT)

7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!

10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

1- A plan that He will accomplish through us. (Jeremiah 1:7)

(Philippians 2:13)

Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

2- A plan that assures us of His personal presence with us. (Jeremiah 1:8)

(Hebrews 13:5)

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

3- A plan that He provides the directions for. (Jeremiah 1:9)

(John 14:16-17)

John 14:16–17 (NLT)

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

4- A plan that is based upon divine appointment. (Jeremiah 1:10)

Jeremiah 1:10 (NLT)

10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

a- Each believer has been called and given a divine appointment for service.

(Ephesians 4:1)

Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

b- Each believer is to live a life worthy of his calling.

(Ephesians 4:7)

Ephesians 4:7 (NLT)

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

c- Each believer is needed in the body of Christ and must do his part.

(Ephesians 4:16)

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

CONCLUSION:

According to the Word of God, every person is valuable. - You are valuable. These scriptural principles support this fact:

God knows each person completely.

God has a plan for each person.

To thwart that plan is both a tragedy and sin. You and I are stewards of the lives that God has given to us. How will you handle the stewardship of your life?