Every once in a while, God gives us a glimpse of His gracious, sovereign choosing of particular individuals. One such place is Jeremiah 1.

The significance of this glimpse is that the Lord tells Jeremiah that the choosing didn’t take place in recent days as a result of Jeremiah’s good behavior, faithfulness to the Lord, or any other virtue in the man himself. Instead, the Lord says, Jeremiah was chosen even before he was formed in the womb. He was set apart to his sacred task before he was born! (v. 5)

Of course, this verse is powerful testimony against the murderous practice of abortion (although pro-abortionists couldn’t care less about what the Scriptures say). The Lord declares that forming a child in the mother’s womb is His work. Furthermore, He testifies to a purpose in mind for that yet-to-be-formed, recently conceived person. Life begins at conception; abortion snuffs out that life.

More to the point of the verse, though, is the testimony to God’s sovereign grace in setting apart this particular man for a particular task. Since it is God’s work, the prophet has no room to boast; his place is merely to believe and submit to the sacred calling.

Similarly, Paul reminds us in Titus 3:4-5:

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us….

And in Ephesians 2:8-9:

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.

So, friend, like Jeremiah, you have only the grace of God to be grateful for and to rely upon for your salvation. God’s grace has been extended to you even before you knew it! Rejoice therein! Respond to it as Jeremiah was called upon to respond: in simple faith and humble submission.