Jeremiah 14:14 Then
the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my
name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are
prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the
delusions of their own minds.” (NIV)
Times were hard for the
prophet Jeremiah and his people. They were surrounded by their enemies and the
collapse of their community was imminent. God had tried to make His intentions
clear by using Jeremiah as His mouthpiece, but the people did not want to hear
or embrace the truth. Instead, they listened to lying prophets who were making
false claims about their nation and its leaders; they were fooled by religious
charlatans who just wanted to preserve their own status and power.
Jeremiah was not popular
because his words attacked the unchecked egos of the leaders, as well as the
foolishness of the people. No one wanted to be told that they were wrong,
especially if it involved humiliation and shame, so God’s people chose to cling
to false words and foolish ways simply because their pride was dented and their
decisions were delusional. Jeremiah was given words from God that eventually
put the prophet’s life in danger, but the Truth is often like that – it causes discomfort,
dislike, and disturbance to those who are willing to speak out.
So, today, let’s all think
about what is really true and what is blatantly false. Let us ask God for the
gift of discernment to recognize His true messengers and to reject false
prophets. May we also really ponder over our own current beliefs and decisions
by asking ourselves this: is this what God honestly considers to be true or have
I foolishly deluded myself?
Point to ponder
How do I decide what is
true? Do I base it on my personal feelings or do I filter it through God’s words?
Prayer: Lord God, we
live in turbulent times and find ourselves not knowing what truth actually is.
Help us to discern between what is fake and authentic. Teach us to beware of
those who would tell us lies that we want to hear, instead of the truth You
want us to embrace. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at
11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊
Today’s image is one of
John’s drawings called “Light of Liberty.” If you would like to view a larger
version, please click this link: Light.
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