Thought for the Week

I am pleased Pastor Joel Kletzing is writing in the Herald. I believe him to be a man of God. Once you have read what he has written, check it out to see if it is true. Then, check out what I have written to see if it is true as well. Through the history of the people of God, both Jewish and Christian, there have been those who did not speak the truth. There were false prophets. Jeremiah particularly had trouble with them. There were also false teachers, Paul, John, and others had trouble with them. Those in Jeremiah's time prophesied what people wanted to hear but was not true. God had intent to punish Israel for their idolatry. Nobody likes to be punished. That was true for Israel as well. So the people, wanting to escape the punishment, listened to those who told them God would not punish them. They would escape. God intended to punish them so they would learn to obey Him and not be willfully defiant or reject God. Jeremiah urged people to submit to God's punishment, learn through it, and come to full obedience to God. God's chief goal and desire is not punishment but obedience. The sooner we learn to obey, the less God has to punish. The more pleased God is and the more pleased men can be as well. In New Testament times, there were false teachers. They taught all kinds of heresies, false doctrines, denied the deity of Jesus Christ, said He had not come in the flesh or that He had not actually died for the sin of mankind but only feigned death. One place Scripture proposes men have itchy ears and seek someone, a teacher or teachers, who can satisfy the itch with fables and false stories. You remember Paul, who had been known as Saul of Tarsus, had been a persecutor of Christ and Christians. Once Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus, and Saul was fully persuaded Jesus really was the Christ, the Messiah of God, it was like a light came on in his brain. Scriptures took on a whole new meaning. Paul had a new understanding. It happens. One of our daughters was having trouble with Algebra. Teachers tried to help, I tried to help but nothing did. Then, one day, she said, it was like a 'light came on'. She understood and could go forward on her own. The Holy Spirit, and The Scripture are a combination of 'the light came on'. When we listen to the Holy Spirit and search those Scriptures, we can move forward. The story is given in Acts 17:10ff. The people of Berea listened eagerly to hear Paul tell the story of Jesus Christ. It is a good and exciting story. But they were not satisfied to simply hear and be thrilled by the story, they searched the Scripture to be sure what they were hearing was the 'truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth'. They are honored because they did this. They also are lifted up as an example for us. We too should listen eagerly but then search the Scriptures to be sure what we are hearing is truth. It is wise to pray when reading Scripture. It is wise to pray when listening to preaching and or teaching of Scripture. We want and need to have God involved in this study process. I can read the 'owner's manual' for my car but it is far better to have a qualified mechanic standing by to assist when attempting to fix the car. I need God to be standing by when I'm due for a 'check-up' or a 'tune-up'. Right?

Scriptures to Read

Jeremiah 14:11-18

Jeremiah 23:25-32

Jeremiah 38:14-20

II Peter 2:1-12

I John 4:1-6

James 1:19-26

II Timothy 4:1-5