PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Jeremiah 23-24
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’” (Jeremiah 23:31)
I heard a concern recently: ministers don’t say ‘thus says the Lord’ anymore.
Guilty as charged, I admit that I will not claim my words to be God’s word.
It is not because I doubt the authority of God in scripture, or that God is speaking.
It is just that I’m not convinced that my wagging tongue equals God’s word.
I am a servant of Jesus, the Word of God, and his Spirit speaks through me.
As a follower of Jesus, you are his servant, and he speaks through you too.
But we are flawed and limited servants, our message is never perfect or absolute.
This is the wonder of grace, that Jesus speaks through flawed and limited servants.
The authority behind what we say is the Spirit’s power (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
It is not our wisdom or eloquence, nor the ‘rightness’ of what we say.
I do my best to speak truth, but my confidence is not in my truth but God!
My concern is today is the opposite: too many people say ‘thus says the Lord’.
Instead of trusting in God’s authority, they claim God’s authority for themselves.
God is speaking through us, but never assume that your words are God’s word!
PRAYER
Lord, I know at times I speak as if what I say is absolute truth. Thank you for reminding me to humble my words before yours, and to trust you to speak through and despite me.
The word of the Lord.
I need to listen to His voice saying – this is the way. Walk in it. Not my will but His be done. My heart must be in tune to His will. I am here to serve Him. Jesus is first. Others are second. You/me are in last place. This is the JOY principal for the joy of the Lord God is my strength.
You will keep in perfect peace those who minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
“They strengthen the hands of evildoers,…They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.” How do I contribute to strengthening the hands of evil doers – those who give us false hope? Am I in some way contributing to their influence – their authority? How can I be one of the ‘good figs’ – obedient to the Lord’s directive? By seeking God’s will – by listening to the HS’s leading – so that I might be able to discern when I am putting my hope and confidence in things that are not the way of the Lord. That I may constantly look to the Lord and seek His counsel. If not I can easily be deceived and become complacent. “Lead me, Guide me along the way…”