Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
Jealous For Truth
Pastor Scott
Monday, February 16, 2004
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"And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak."
(1 Kings 22:14)
How will we ever know what God is doing in our lives if we're not ready to hear the truth? In 1 Kings 22, Jehoshaphat really wanted to know the will of God, so he asked, "Can we inquire at the word of the Lord?" We're getting ready to do something important--finding a life's mate, surrendering my life to go to Africa or serve in the nursery. We need to hear what God has to say about this in our lives. "Is there not a prophet where we might inquire?" (22:7) There were many prophets hanging their shield on every corner. They'd tell you what you want to hear or tell you the obvious. But there is One who knows who is trying to talk to you. There's a Person who really knows your future--what you need to be doing, who you need to be with and what will bring the most glory to Him. Are you ready for the truth?
"And the king of Israel [responded and said], There is...one man, Micaiah..., but I hate him; for he [never prophesies] good [about] me..." (22:8). Do you want to know the truth, or do you want to hear something good about yourself? If you're going to get quiet before God and hear what the Spirit has to say about your life for eternity, then you'll need to deal with some things that are pretty brutal, because dying is ugly. To walk in the spirit is to die daily to self. Dying hurts. It's not pleasant to look upon. It's a daily process for the man who'll walk in the spirit and hear the voice of God, because it will speak always truth, not always what's good about you. If you're going to hear the voice of the Lord and walk in the spirit, you've got to be ready and hungry for the truth.
"And all of the prophets prophesied [and said], Go up to Ramothgilead, and proper: for the LORD shall deliver it into [your] hands. And [when] the messenger [had gone forth to find] Micaiah, [he said, All the prophets are in agreement, of one mind and mouth speaking good.] Let [your] word...be like the word of one of them...And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak" (22:12-14). Here you are, getting ready to make a decision that can affect your life and the lives of those around you. The world system and the father of lies are telling you what you want to hear. Don't you want somebody like Micaiah in your life?
"[Micaiah comes before the king and says], Go, and proper: for the LORD shall deliver [you]. And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure [you] that [you] tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?" (22:15-16). Most of us know it's not the truth, but we want to believe the lie. Because we believe the lie, it becomes "truth." We can tell or hear a story so many times that it becomes true to us. We've heard it so many times that it's as of we were there and saw it. What are we believing to be true? How jealous are we to know the truth? The truth will make us free.