#DailyDevotion Where Are All The False Teachers When You Need Them?
November 18th
Read Jer 37:1–21
Jer 37: 17 King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, “Is there any word from the LORD?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” (18) Jeremiah also said to King Zedekiah, “What wrong have I done to you or your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison? (19) Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you and against this land’?
The king of Judah still had some respect for the prophet of the Lord, as many in power respect those men who are of God. They respect them but they don’t believe them. Zedekiah (The Lord is Righteous) inquired of Jeremiah. Jeremiah had been preaching all that was going to happen for practically his whole life. The kings and people of Judah would not listen and believe him. Instead they believed the false prophets of the Lord who preach peace, health, wealth and love from the Lord but who never called the people and the kings to repent of their sins.
As the king questions Jeremiah, Jeremiah asks him, “Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you and against this land”? So too, many pastors who daily work hard at calling their people to repentance and faith will one day say to their flocks who follow the false teachers of today, “Where are all these preachers who you listened to and gave your money and wealth to instead of your congregation and pastor so they could preach the good news to you and to your town, city or area? Why are you coming to me for help? Go and seek help from those false teachers who you’ve been listening to and supporting with your life (wealth and money). Go ask them to help you.”
But those false preachers and teacher will be of no help and avail. They have nothing to give, say or do that will help you in the day of your deepest need. Health, wealth, peace and joy without the message of the cross of Christ, why he bore that cross, what you can expect as you are discipled by him and his messengers will ultimately leave you empty like a empty bag of potato chips. God may indeed give you health and wealth as you follow Jesus but more likely you should be expecting to carry a cross, a burden, to be participating in the sufferings of Christ. But as you participate in his sufferings, you can expect comfort, peace and joy from the Lord as he but for the joy set before him suffered the cross and its shame. And if he does bless you with health and wealth, he’s expecting you to be a blessing to the people around you and not to be selfish with it. You are to be using it to help those undergoing the cross in their lives.
Lord Jesus Christ, give us discerning spirits that we may know those who are not your pastors and help us to support our pastors with the wealth given us that the gospel may be preached with joy and boldness in the place where we live and give us faith to believe the word they give to us of repentance, faith and the cross. Amen.