October 31, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“‘For they have not listened to my words,’ declares the Lord, ‘words that I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,’ declares the Lord.”

(Jeremiah 29.19)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Each one of us, mighty ones of God, must make the critical and vital decision to be “one of God’s prophets” or “one of their prophets.” Each one of us must ask this question and answer it. It is not an optional dialogue but one that is required of every person. Yes, whether a person is a believer in Yahweh Elohim, an unbeliever or a non-believer, this decision must be made. It is the dividing line between eternal blessing or eternal damnation. I might as well say it out loud. The world would have us believe, as I reflected yesterday, that there are multiple truths and multiple realities which are equally valid. All one has to see with a casual glance through the pages of history is that nothing could be further from the truth. I suspect there are those who may read this reflection as it has started out and declare “I believe that Jesus is the Christ and He is the only way, truth and life.” By this they mean that their focus is on Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ (for non-Jews) or Messiah (for the Jews). How strange it is that Jesus did not seek such a position as that which would supplant the position of God but so many are willing for Him to hold that position in their lives. Why is it so easy to forget that Jesus came into the world so that the whole world might see God, seek to honor and obey God and to be resolute in being God’s people? Jesus did not come to be the object of our worship and our affection. Jesus came into the world to represent and present the truth of how humankind was to live in right relationship with the God of their creation. Yes, He did say to the disciples on the night when Judas of Kerioth took the fateful steps which would result in Him being crucified, “If you have seen Me you had seen the Father for the Father and I are one.” We must not be so confused that we hear Jesus say, what He did not say, “If you have seen Me then you have seen that I am greater than the Father; there is no oneness and harmony but tyranny and insurrection.” Why would we, as mighty ones of God in Jesus Christ, desire so much to see the Son that we lose sight of the Father? Jesus never lost sight of the Father because He was the good and faithful Son. For our sake, He became as the prodigal and took on all sin in order to cast it to the side and return faithfully to the Father. For our sake, He was not the older son who clothed himself in arrogance and bitterness (as does Israel) and turn away from the father because the father accepted the sinful son and brother return in repentance and humility. Mighty ones of God, we must never forget that “Jesus is the [only] way, truth and life” which leads to the Father. Following His lead not as blind sheep nor as blind guides but as those determined to accept His teachings and His example as their own way of life that is pleasing to God, is our calling. I wonder if we might dishonor God so much by honoring Jesus too much.

This question, which Joshua presented to the exiles of his day, “whom will you serve” affirming “as for me and my house we will choose to serve the Lord our God,” was a declaration of the importance our being in right relationship with one another and God. Through Jeremiah, God was speaking the same challenge to the Jerusalem exiles. Here it in today’s word for reflection: “I have sent My prophets to you but you continue to refuse to listen to them.” What was their blunderous choice? It was to listen to the prophets of their own making who would say whatever the people wanted them to say that would affirm a lifestyle contrary to God’s control and determination. And what was it they refused to hear and their prophets were refusing to say? It was that their previous actions had promoted disastrous consequences. They were living in the fruit of their labors to stand against God. Now in Babylonian exile the choice had become clear: serve a sovereign God and live a life that is pleasing to Him or choose another and live a life that is pleasing to themselves. The problem is that the life that is pleasing to oneself is rarely pleasing and satisfying beyond the moment. One who lives in that way is always seeking the next god who will be pleasing because that god exists only to please the person. That is idolatry and the very essence of sinful intention. The true people of God heard the word of the true prophets who said, “You are getting what you deserve but it does not have to always be this way: repent and turn back to God. Accept His discipline of heart, mind, body and soul and live not for a moment but for an eternity with the God of your salvation! It is God who has saved us by our faith in Jesus as the Christ. Let us join Jesus in having this vision be crystal clear for our eyes. Let us truly see “the way, the truth and the life” which leads only to Heaven and not just anywhere we want it to be. Do not cheapen the gift of God who is Jesus by making Him something or anything that He is not. Choose today whose prophet (truth teller) you shall be: God’s or your own for your own sake. Don’t fashion the truth to suit you. Be fashioned by the truth to honor God.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.