Today: Sunday May 21, 2017

Bible Text: Jeremiah 23:23-32

Key Verse: “Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them…” (Jeremiah 23:32).

Messengers of God who are called prophets derive their message and strength from no other source but God, who owns the Word. Although, there is power in the Word, God’s expectation is that those delivering His Word should themselves be endowed with power, Christlike Holiness and obedience.

Where these virtues are absent in the messenger, there occurs a disconnect between him and the One who sends him on the mission of preaching. God promptly disowns such people even when they still proceed presumptuously to sermonise. The true prophets at the time of Jeremiah were like wheat, useful and nourishing to the people. The false prophets were the chaff or straw, completely useless to the assembly of the brethren.

These fake prophets who had lost touch with the heavenly vision still dreamed and prophesied. But the Lord said they were characterised by deceit of their own heart, since they did not hear from Him. Though they had a message, it was one designed to turn the people from their Creator. Wherever they did so, openly or secretly, there was no hiding place for them. Can anyone hide himself in secret places that the Lord shall not see him? God no longer called them His prophets. But it is instructive to note in the passage that He repeatedly referred to the people as “My people” (verses 27 and 32).

While God will disown false prophets, He will not reject those who refuse to accept false teaching and their peddlers. In this age of proximity to the return of Christ when the world is awash with heretical characters cloaked in religion and misleading doctrines, the serious believer in Jesus must stick to the Bible without compromising and hold on to the Cross to the end.

Thought for the day: Strive to reject end-time false doctrines and their propagators.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Timothy 1-4