Craving for the Spiritual Grain
Scripture Passage: Jeremiah 23:23-32 (NASB)
23 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord,
“And not a God far off?
24 Can a person hide himself in hiding places
So that I do not see him?” declares the Lord.
“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.
25 “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!’ 26 How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the deceitfulness of their own heart, 27 who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they report to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal? 28 The prophet who has a dream may report his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word truthfully. What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is My word not like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock? 30 Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares!’ 32 Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and reported them and led My people astray by their lies and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them nor command them, nor do they provide this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.
SUMMARY
Through Jeremiah, God condemns the false prophets of Judah, who were misusing God’s name and claiming they received dreams from God. The false prophets were leading people astray from the Lord. They were spreading the deceitfulness of their own hearts to the people. God is against such prophets, and He surely did not send them. These false prophets lie and they are reckless.
MEDITATION AND REFLECTION
This passage warns me not to solely trust man, whether it’s a pastor or a spiritual leader, to feed me spiritually. I need to seek God’s Word personally for myself, for my spiritual grain. It gives me wisdom and discernment when I hear something that goes against the Word of God. The grain of His Word is my strength, and I will turn away from the straw that has no spiritual benefit, and can actually harm my spiritual growth.
APPLICATION
I will feast on God’s Word directly from His Holy Bible to get the beneficial grain I need each day. I want to hear from God directly from the source. His Word is one of His greatest gifts to me, which tells me everything I need to know in this life, so I don’t need to be solely dependent on another person to give me the word of God. I ask the Holy Spirit to help me “chew” on the words and make them mine, so that I can use the "grain of truth" in my daily living.
I will also pray intently for the preachers and pastors of our church, that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. I pray they would teach us, lead us, and not act or speak in their flesh, but in the Spirit of our Lord.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
Would your Holy Spirit give me an appetite to hunger the spiritual grain, so that when I encounter spiritual “straw”, I can reject it. You are truly an excellent father who nurtures and nourishes me with your goodness as I grow. As I read your word, build me up spiritually and take me deeper into spiritual maturity.
I pray for our pastors and leaders, so they would only preach in the Spirit of our Lord, to give life and grain to our church.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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