Conflicting Messages

Jeremiah declared that God wanted Judah to submit to Babylon and that the people should accept the coming period of exile. However, others, claiming to speak for God, convincingly prophesied that He wanted the people to resist Babylon and that He would deliver them. Jeremiah’s message sounded strange and even implausible. Yet he was the one who truly had received God’s message; the others had not.

It is possible that each of us may have similar experiences. One path may seem logical, endorsed by people who appear trustworthy. However, the example from Jeremiah reminds us how important it is that we never take God’s will for granted. We must seek His Spirit to guide us in every situation. We must submit our plans and thoughts to Him, willing to let Him speak to us, challenge us, guide us, and give us new direction.

We must learn to be willing to put aside our own interests and desires. No matter how logical a message may sound, we must have discernment and seek God’s guidance. It may be a word that we want to be true, but this does not mean that it is God’s Word. We must be willing to lay every message and idea on the altar before God. We must seek Him and desire to hear from Him.

Today, ask God to give you discernment and wisdom. Commit the decisions you must make to Him, and ask for His will and direction. Seek to be sensitive to His Spirit and alert to His warnings. Ask Him to open your heart and mind to receive new insights, even to be corrected. And don’t presume that you know everything. Seek to be teachable, ready to learn from Him.