“Let The One
Who Has My Word
Speak It Faithfully”
“I
have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in
my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue
in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own
minds? They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget
my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship. Let the
prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word
speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and
like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
“Therefore,”
declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words
supposedly from me. Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag
their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’ Indeed, I am against
those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead
my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them.
They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:25-32
There
are people who portray God as angry, vengeful, and eager to punish people for
every minor offense. God, however, describes Himself as merciful and gracious,
and He abounds in goodness and truth. God is both a just Judge and a loving
Father. If we emphasize one over the other, we paint a false picture of God.
The
most important thing we can know about God and proclaim to the world is that
God does not want to punish people; He wants them to repent so that He can
forgive. But to be truly loving, He must be absolutely
just.
Everyone must face God as Savior or as Judge.
Our Daily Bread –