Knowing God’s words

Knowing God’s words

Bible:Jeremiah 23:16,30-40

We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do
we distort the word of God (2 CORINTHIANS 4:2).

Reading

I like writing. But sometimes my words get misunderstood. I feel bad when people feel pressurised or guilty because of something I’ve written—my aim is to encourage! And occasionally people take my words totally out of context, making them say something I never meant. What I realise is that once my writing is printed, it’s out of my hands to control it or how people react to what I’ve said. While my words getting confused or being misunderstood is frustrating, it’s nothing compared to when God’s words are misused! The false prophets in Jeremiah’s day were doing this. They put their own words into God’s mouth, pretending He was saying all sorts of nice, comforting things—“false hopes” for the people (JEREMIAH 23:16).
So the God told His people, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you . . . They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord” (V.16). Then God warned that He punishes those who change His words and throws them away (VV.36,39). Hundreds of years later, Paul made a point of saying that he did not misuse the Bible or put words in God’s mouth (2 CORINTHIANS 4:2). He knew the danger of teaching people his own ideas rather than God’s. All of us need to be careful to use the Bible for His purpose, rather than for our own agenda. We need to be ready to hear what it actually says; not just what we may want it to say.

NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR ABOUT GOD IS TRUE;
EVEN IF IT SOUNDS GOOD!

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries