Good Morning Friends,
“I said, ‘Ah, Sovereign Lord, the prophets keep
telling them, “You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give
you lasting peace in this place.”’ 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.’” (Jeremiah 14:13-14)
We all like to hear good news. We want to hear
messages about peace and prosperity. When economic times are tough, we listen
for the economists who will tell us the good times are just around the corner. We
like hearing that terrorism is under control, that safety has returned. We like
hearing predictions of good things to come for us and those around us. So did
Israel in Jeremiah’s day.
Jeremiah told them that judgment was around the
corner. He told them that God was angry and His patience had run out. The
people didn’t want to listen to him. They mocked him and abused him and turned
away from him.
Other prophets told Israel what they wanted to
hear. They reminded them that they were God’s special people. They told them
that God would rescue them from danger and protect them from attacks – like He
had done in the past. The people listened to them. They were rewarded with
popularity and praise and prosperity for themselves.
The problem was that Jeremiah was speaking
truth and those who prophesied good times ahead were lying!
Which would you prefer to hear – good news that
is a lie or hard news that is true?
“The time will come when men will not put up
with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather
around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to
hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
(2 Timothy 4:3-4)
His, by Grace, Steve
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