SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 13
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Most of the time I can find something in the passage that connects, through which the Lord places a message in my heart. Most of the time I can find a connection to Jesus. But I am having a hard time today. Yes, when the Lord tells us to say or do something, we should say it or do it. But this poor prophet is tricked!?!? He is lied to. God shows mercy to Jereboam, and restores his shrivelled hand. Why didn’t he gave Jereboam mauled, and this prophet have his hand shrivelled?
The only message I can maybe glean from this is be careful, be wise, our actions have consequences! I suppose then that Jesus’s words in Luke 13 are a warning and a call to respond as well: Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. [Luke 13:1-5]
I sense a warning in this passage. But it is not a negative, judgmental warning, it is a positive, compassionate warning. These stories are recorded to remind us that we need to take God serious, and that there are consequences if we don’t. Sure, there are some questionable details in the story that I might balk at, but the basic point is getting through.
So once again, as I wrestle through something, I hear something, a message gets through!
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for eventually getting through with a message. Help me to heed Your loving, gentle warning.
Heavenly Father, this passage makes me question how easily or how often I am swayed from Your instructions / leadings for my life? This man of God was so confident of Your directions yet so quickly believed the lie of one who identified himself as a ‘prophet’ as well.
How sad that I can relate to this. Have there not been times in my own life when I felt certain of Your leading only to have a fellow believer ‘discourage’ me or ‘talk’ me out of it even after several fellow believers had ‘affirmed’ Your leading. Why LORD? Father, grant to me a discerning heart always! When I am tempted to change course may it be always You that I seek discernment from.
LORD, every week (and often throughout the week) we are given opportunity to hear Your Truth, Your message for our lives and what do we do with it? Do I follow through for a while and then allow distraction to ‘change’ the focus of Your plans/ will for my life? My heart’s desire is to be a sheep who knows her Shepherd’s voice so well that no one could ever draw me away from my Shepherd’s leading and protection. Help me Father to be still and truly know Your good and perfect plans for my life for this moment, for today, tomorrow and the next…..
Seeing the hand of the Lord needs eyes that see. Jeroboam thoughts were only on his own ways and not God’s. After the healing of His arm, he did not give the Lord thanks, nor did it sink in why the outstretch arm was shriveled. Upon its healing he did not praise the Lord nor turn from his eveil ways.
The man of God heard from God the very words not to come back. After receiving a new word from the prophet, whose way do you follow? To be sure, ask the Lord. Commune with the father. In all my travels i must travel and depend upon Him. I need to listen to the voice saying, this is the way, walk in it. At times those closest to us may be those who sidetrack us in ministry.
Help me daily Lord to be intune to Your way following your Spirit’s work within me and guiding me as I live each day in your kingdom as a kingdom worker.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one, stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk, till traveling days are done.