1 Kings 13
Has God ever given you a command, calling, or vision, and when you start to move, people around you begin to tell you the opposite of what God told you? I have heard of people being called to missions, another state, or a season of singleness, and those closest to them convince them of the complete opposite. 1 Kings 13 is about a prophet of God and an old false prophet. The prophet of God came from Judah to Bethel to give king Jeroboam a word from God. When the king realized he was a prophet of God, he invited him to eat, but the prophet said no because God commanded him not to eat or drink or go back the way he came. A false prophet hears about the prophet of God, finds him, introduces himself as a prophet, and invites him to eat. The prophet of God gave him the same answer he gave the king, “I cannot turn back and go with you… I have been told by the Lord, ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’” Then the old prophet lies to him, claiming that an angel told him to go with him to eat. The prophet of God was convinced and went back with him to eat. When they arrived, the false prophet began to cry and said, God says, “You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to….” When the prophet of God leaves, he gets eaten by a lion.
Have you allowed God's commands, calling, or mission for your life to get killed by the disobedience of listening to others’ opinions, suggestions, or lies? If God is calling you for a season of singleness, and the person you have a crush on tells you they are Christian or tells you, “God told me you’re going to be my wife/husband,” who are you going to believe? God, who already told you to be single for a while, or the desires of opportunity? Or what if God told you to relocate, but your family and friends give you a thousand reasons why you should stay? Who are you going to listen to? If God wants you in the mission field, do not let your fear or insecurities override the voice of God. We are called to trust in Him, not ourselves, not our parents, pastors, friends, or spouse. Provers 3:5 tells us to trust the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding. Verse 6 tells us to submit to him, and he will make our paths straight. I believe many of us need to stop telling God what we have heard and start listening to what God is telling us.
Prayer:
Thank you, God, for your grace and mercy. Thank you for speaking to us. Thank you for your precious Word that speaks the truth. Forgive me for all the times I have allowed the voices of others to shout louder than yours. Forgive me for the times I disobeyed and went back to my old ways. Forgive me for all moments I felt conflicted after you already spoke. Enable me to trust you with all my heart. Help me submit to you. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.
Worship Song: