Jeremiah 23:23-29 (NRSV)
Read Jeremiah 23:23-29 on biblegateway.com
Verse 23Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Verse 24Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. Verse 25I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, "I have dreamed, I have dreamed!" Verse 26How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back-those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? Verse 27They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Verse 28Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Verse 29Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Devotion
Let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully.
Do you ever speak for God? It’s kind of a scary prospect. Whether you’re a pastor struggling to preach on a difficult text or a Christian trying to explain your faith in Jesus to a non-believer, it can be a daunting task to try and find the right things to say.
That’s especially the case when God’s word isn’t always the easy word. Confirmation students often ask if their non-Christian friends will be in heaven, or if bad things that happen in the world are a sign of God’s judgment. Sometimes the reassuring answer isn’t always the right one ... and sometimes we don't know what the 'right' answer is anyway. So how can we speak God’s word faithfully? Like Jeremiah, when we point to the character of God – a God who is merciful, powerful, trustworthy, and deeply in love with creation – we can count on God to make God’s message known.
Prayer
God, make my life today a testimony of my love for you. Amen.