Listen To Whom
It really does matter whom you are listening to. I realize that my hearing has slipped a bit in the last few years. I credit some of that to getting older and some of it to the loud music that I enjoy. I do believe that I can listen carefully even without my ears. My eyes can be very useful instruments of hearing. I enjoy reading God’s Word and listening to Him. He speaks to me through His Word. He speaks to me through Creation. He speaks to me through others. I would be wise to listen closely when the Lord speaks to me.
I came across a passage where a prophet was told by God to go home a different way and don’t stop to eat or drink with anyone. An older prophet convinced him otherwise. Check this out…
16 The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17 I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”
18 The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.) 19 So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house. (1 Kings 13:16-19 NIV)
This story really troubled me because one prophet lied to another. Another prophet, who was lying, convinced the prophet who was told by God to go straight home to disobey. This can be very confusing. I can change the channel on my television and find men of God saying different things from a different perspective and even things that I don’t get from the Word of God. A few years ago, I decided that I would let the Lord speak to me through His Word first. He can use other avenues to speak to me, but these other avenues will not contradict what He has already said or is saying to me.
I think it’s dangerous to let others speak into me without checking their message with the Word of God. I’m convinced that there are some people who really mean well when they interpret scripture a certain way, but I’m going to lean into my relationship with the Lord. I will seek answers from the One Who wrote the test. I will put my anchor inside the Word of God. I don’t believe that God acts against Himself. I believe His Word to be reliable, credible, instructional and inspirational. I found the Lord through His Word and I fully intend to listen closely and obey His Word. If what you say to me is contrary to the Word of God, I will respectfully disagree and go with what I know – The Word of God is truth!
Pressing On!
Dwayne