23RD APRIL
Jeremiah 23:21-22
“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds.”
Spend time listening to God if you wish to speak to people in his name!
We like speaking into people’s lives, but we must be careful to be God’s servant when we do so. We want to be thought of as wise, as having a word in season. We want to be the one to encourage or challenge someone. But what’s God doing in their lives? What does he want to say? That’s crucial.
These prophets were bringing a message of encouragement to God’s people. Perhaps they thought that’s what God wanted to communicate but they never spent time with God to be led by him or get his message. What God wanted to do was warn his people. That warning was never delivered. If it had been delivered, the people would have repented. But because the prophets didn’t take the time to listen to God, both they and the people would face God’s judgment.
God wants you to spend time with him, just reading his word and listening to him. Then you can minister to others the way he wants you to.
MAKE IT PERSONAL:
Have you ever taken the time to pray about being able to listen to and hear God’s voice? Why is this an important thing to do?