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Jeremiah 26:1-27:22, II Thessalonians 3:1-18, Psalm 85:1:13, Proverbs 25:16
“Then the priests and the false prophets presented their accusations to the officials and the people. ‘This man should die!’ they said. ‘You have heard it with your own ears what a traitor he is, for he has prophesied against this city.’ Then Jeremiah spoke in his defense, ‘The Lord sent me,’ he said, ‘to prophesy against this Temple and this city. He gave me every word of all that I have spoken. But if you stop sinning and begin obeying the Lord your God, He will cancel all the punishment he has announced against you.” Jeremiah 27:11-13
Whoa! Don’t kill the messenger. Sometimes pastors or others have to deliver unpopular messages from the Lord. I mean the words sting and convict and make us angry. Our first thought is possibly to defend ourselves by attacking the one sharing the truth. Now back then, they were serious about slaying that prophet while today we may just get offended and move our letter to another church, or worse yet, stop going altogether.
Let’s purpose in our hearts to be the mature Christians God has called us to be and weigh the word. Does it have any truth? Do we see God moving in this way? Is this person trustworthy? There will be times when God allows a move to Babylon. There’s no calvary coming. We can’t think enough positive thoughts to make it go away. We can’t finesse the situation or manipulate God into making changes. When you know in your heart that God is sending you a word to get straight or accept the consequences, don’t hurt the one telling you, settle it with the Lord.
PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for anything in my life that is not pleasing to You. I don’t want to walk outside of Your will or be distanced from You. I pray You keep deception far from me. Help me Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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