Before You Say God Told You

The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.

Jeremiah 23:28

Read Jeremiah 23. Focus on verses 1 through 6 and 16 through 32. “God told me” changes a conversation. A suggestion can be discussed. A personal preference can be questioned. But once someone attaches God's name to a claim, disagreement may begin to feel like disobedience. Those three words carry a responsibility greater than the certainty of the person saying them. Jeremiah 23 confronts leaders who have scattered the people and prophets who speak visions from their own minds. Their reassurance does not turn people from evil. It allows them to continue while believing that everything is well. God asks who has stood in His counsel and heard His word. The issue is the source and faithfulness of the message. A dream, a persuasive manner, or another person's repeated phrase cannot establish that God has spoken. The chapter contrasts a dream with God's word as straw differs from grain. A message can have religious vocabulary while lacking the substance that would actually nourish faithfulness. Confidence of delivery is an inadequate test. This is important when advice touches marriage, money, relocation, ministry, or a major commitment. Someone's sincere impression should not remove your responsibility to think carefully. You can listen respectfully while asking how the claim fits Scripture, what facts it accounts for, and whether the speaker is willing to be questioned. It also matters in the way we offer advice. “I think this may be wise” can be a more faithful sentence than borrowing divine authority for a personal judgment. Humility does not weaken good counsel. It allows the listener to evaluate it honestly. God's promised righteous king appears earlier in the chapter, a ruler who will practice justice rather than scatter the flock. Christian readers hear hope for the Messiah in that promise. The promised ruler's righteousness gives us a standard by which to examine claims made in God's name. Does the message produce truthfulness, justice, and responsible obedience? Or does it protect the speaker, flatter the listener, and make questioning difficult? We do not need to become suspicious of every word of encouragement. We do need to honor God's name enough to avoid using it as a shortcut around careful discernment. A statement that is genuinely faithful can withstand being examined with reverence and patience. Put It into Practice Examine one important piece of spiritual advice against Scripture and the relevant facts. When giving counsel, clearly distinguish biblical instruction from your own judgment.

Has a spiritual claim made you feel unable to ask reasonable questions about a serious decision?

God of the true word, guard me from confusing confidence with revelation. Make me careful when speaking about Your will and discerning when others do. Deepen my knowledge of Scripture so I can recognize faithful counsel. Amen.