The Saturday after Septuagesima Sunday
Posted on February 7, 2026 by under
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10 (NKJV)
1:4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then said I:
“Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7 But the Lord said to me:
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me:
“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 “See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”
Devotion
The Lord corrected Jeremiah, telling him, “Do not say that.” Our good and holy Creator calls us to our roles and duties. He establishes all good order, and so our callings, our vocations, which come from Him are the work that He prepares for us! As St. Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:8-10).
We, like Jeremiah, may feel afraid or uncertain in our duties, but we are also to remember that the Lord promises to be with us and work through us according to His Word and Spirit. We should have confidence in that, and pray often so that we may remember it.
It seems like the world is overwhelmed by the power of sin and foolishness. But our Lord says, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). St. John also reiterates this: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:3-4). We have peace because our Lord works through us!
Collect: O Lord, we beseech Thee favorably to hear the prayers of Thy people: that we, who are justly punished for our offenses, may be mercifully delivered by Thy goodness, for the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
