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Chapter 23 of Jeremiah the Prophet
talks about the dangers of men bringing a message not from God.
Only the Lord knows what a given group of people need on a given
day, at a given hour. A message from God is alive with
power: power to help, power to save, power to heal broken lives.
Messages from men amount to very little.
God speaks clearly through Jeremiah,
saying:
For who has stood in the council of
the LORD so as to see and to hear his word? Who has given heed to
his word so as to proclaim it? (Jeremiah 23:18, NRSV)
Had they 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 doings. (Jer. 23:22)
Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one
who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common
with wheat? says the LORD. Is not my word like fire, says the
LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? (Jer.
23:28,29, NRSV)
If anyone be truly called of God to
proclaim his Word, then be true to your calling. Spend time
alone with the Lord each day, and most especially before you stand
before a group of people to share the truth of God. Declare
faithfully what God is saying.
May the Lord Jesus kindly bless all
who stand faithfully, week after week, giving the message God has
given them for the people in their community and congregation.
Pray often for your brothers who share God's Word with you, and
treat them with honor. They are instruments of truth and
liberation among you. And may the Lord enable all of us to
hear and receive His good Word in faith and obedience.
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word, message, speak, preach, sermon, preacher,
teacher, pastor, elder, God |
