Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

11 August 2024

Reading From Jeremiah 14-17

“Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.”

–Jeremiah 14:14-16

     The children of God must be very careful about who they listen to and who they follow.  We are so fortunate to have the written record of the Word of God.  By the Scriptures we measure what our leaders and fellow believers say regarding life, faith and practice.  We have the God-given ability to benefit from the whole counsel of the His Word from cover to cover in all its beautiful harmony and truth. 

     Those of us who listen to the Lord and share His love and message with others must also be diligent to only speak what we know He would have us communicate, no more, no less.  As we minister to those in our spheres of influence, it is vital that we spend time with the Father through reading, studying and meditating on the Scriptures so that we can absorb its truths into every fiber of our beings. 

     By hiding His Word in our hearts, we accumulate a storehouse of knowledge and wisdom to draw from at a moment’s notice to encourage, exhort and bless.  What we claim comes from the Lord must be in perfect alignment with the written record, for He will never contradict Himself.  He is not a man that He should lie.  Yahweh will always be faithful to keep His Word and fulfill every promise He has made.  Glory to Jesus!

“Lord God, keep us from speaking anything false, but only that which is edifying to those around us.  Bless us with continuing revelation of who You are, who we are in You, and our destiny in You.  Bring us together as Your family and open our ears to hear Your voice and follow Your path.  Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever and that You continue to speak to us today.  Help us to be good listeners and faithful communicators for You.  Amen.”

I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.

–Psalm 119:11

You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

–Deuteronomy 18:21-22

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

–Galatians 1:8-9