How do we miss this message?

When I read the Bible, especially the Old Testament, it is far too easy to get wrapped up in the words and start looking at them as a story. This is no surprise and nothing to be ashamed of since we read stories in books since we were children and still read stories in the newspaper or even of friends blogs, tweets, and status updates. What's amazing about God's Word to us is not just that it happened. What's amazing is that it happens.

We do not often see false prophets falsely prophesying about peace today, but there's a deeper meaning being told to us in Jeremiah 28. When we look at where the false prophet Hananiah was in his life, we see that he thought he was close to God. He thought he understood God and even heard from God. In actuality, he was terribly wrong and his assumptions caused his own death. He made the same mistake that I've made countless times. Instead of devoting his time to God, listening to His words both written and delivered through the Holy Spirit in prayer, Hananiah was lazy and arrogant by thinking he knew about God and His plan. We know that God loves us beyond our understanding and that He has our best in mind, but we look at what's best through worldly eyes. Throughout the entire Bible, God uses sacrifice greatly to change people greatly; His own son who is our savior not excluded.

When we read the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, we typically often make a grave misconception that we are the good seed. Seeing the truth that we are not the good seed is painful and can only be revealed to us through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. As your relationship with Christ grows, Jesus becomes greater in our lives and we become less.

The second message in Jeremiah 28 is about the consequence of saying what goes against God's plan. Hananiah assumed God wanted peace and joy in the lives of His people. This understanding of God was correct; Hannaniah made the mistake when he looked at the situation through his own perspective instead of drawing near to God so that he could know God's perspective. God cared so much about His people that He willingly gave them into suffering so that they could see their evil ways and draw closer to God. Without this suffering, they did not obey God which was far more harmful to them than temporary physical suffering. We often make the same mistake and believe that God wants us to be healthy, wealthy, and without any struggles or temptations in our life. I've never seen a promotion at work cause someone to love God more; however, when someone is diagnosed with cancer, they suddenly realize what is truly important to them.

The worst events in my life are the ones I've thanked God for the most because of how He used them to change me. Listen to God before you tell others that He desires to remove suffering in their lives. Sometimes, He desires to do a mighty works through their miraculous healing. Other times, He wants them to join Him in Paradise and use their death to change others. Jesus broke my blind heart of stone so that I could see Him through the latter scenario and I can never thank Him enough for such mercy and love.

Created about 1 year ago