Be Sincere In Seeking God
BRD REFLECTIONS
Jeremiah 42; 43 and Psalm 46 (NIV)
(Michael Chan, Pastoral Team Member, Missions)
READ:
Jeremiah 42; 43 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Johanan and his friends asked Jeremiah to “Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” (Jeremiah 42:3)
While their request seemed sincere, they were actually hoping that God would bless the plans they had already decided on. Johanan was afraid to trust God and stay in Judah.
They spoke their own curse, tragically asking for God’s guidance with no intention of following it, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favourable or unfavourable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God.” (Jeremiah 42:5-6)
Johanan and his group’s visit to Jeremiah was hypocritical, as Jeremiah declared, “that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the LORD your God and said, ‘Pray to the LORD our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the LORD your God in all he sent me to tell you.” (Jeremiah 42:20-21)
Being afraid to obey the Lord, Johanan and the people disregarded God’s warning and headed to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:4-7). Sadly, the Israelites’ fear led them to wilfully try to solve their own problems without God. When faced with fear, we should go humbly to God and not do things our own way without His guidance.
They forced Jeremiah to go with them, thinking that God may spare them if Jeremiah was with them. But the people still rejected Jeremiah’s advice. Jeremiah obeyed God by doing what God asked him to do, even as he had been called to minister to a very stubborn people.
APPLY:
God cannot be deceived. God knows what is in my heart and mind. I must not ask God for something that I really do not want.
Am I sincere and honest when seeking God’s will? Do I seek God’s approval of my desires and plans rather than sincerely asking Him for guidance?
Do I go to my pastors, counsellors, leaders or family to ask for advice and hope that I will find someone who will agree with my hidden plans?
I must be sincere in seeking God for His plans and be prepared to obey Him.
Jeremiah, the suffering servant, persists in his faithfulness to God’s Word despite being called a liar and a false prophet. Will I be faithful to fulfil God’s calling in my life? How will I react to false accusations?
DO:
In seeking God’s will, I need to be sincere in not only wanting to know His will, but to obey His will.
I must not ask God to approve or “rubber stamp” what I have already decided in my mind and heart.
I have to be faithful in what God has called me to do.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, search my heart and reveal my true self. Forgive me for the times when I come to seek approval of my desires and plans rather than asking You for Your guidance. I am sorry for the times when I have not carried out Your will after seeking Your face. Teach me to be sincere in seeking Your will and to walk in the centre of Your will all the days of my life. Help me to fulfil Your call in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
