Today’s Reading, 1 Kings 22 & 2 Chronicles 18
Focal Scripture: 2 Chronicles 18:13 “But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will say whatever my God says.”
Will you speak the truth no matter the cost? Most of the time in my life I will say what needs to be said even if it comes at great personal cost. I have been honest and lost friends. I have been honest and left jobs. I have been honest and explained to people why I feel the way I do about certain situations. However, there have been a handful of times I have not said what was on my heart. Each and every time I have regretted that decision. I was prompted by the spirit to say a truth but talked my way out of it because of the ramifications that would follow.
In today’s reading we see the prophet make a declaration that he would only speak what the Lord commanded. It didn’t matter if it was Ahab or another person. The reading today can be a little confusing because it looks like the prophet lied to Ahab and gave him a favorable report. However, what really happened is that the prophet was mocking the false prophets. He was condemning Ahab and it was to show that he is a true prophet not a people pleaser.
The implication for believers is to make sure that we are always speaking what the Lord has commanded. I need to stop here for a moment and make this very important point. It does not give people the right to be jerks. Jesus spoke truth in love. Truth had an end goal and that was to redeem or correct people. It was never intended to hurt or cause damage. Too often people use biblical truth to treat people like trash. This is not a life changing behavior. Lost people don’t want to be around those who behave this way.
The challenge that we have is to speak truth where it is redemptive not punitive. Be God’s spokesperson and convey his heart while doing that with everyone we come in contact with in our lives. This will be difficult because it will require you to speak truth the way God would to others. This also means you have to have a spirit that is in tune with the Lord.
I know personally I have learned more from not speaking hard truths in love. On one such occasion I kept silent about a situation so I would not cause a rift between two families. My speaking up may not have changed anything but I never tried and that is what bothers me to this day.
Speak what the Lord has commanded you to speak but do it with heart of restoration. After all that is what the gospel is all about anyway.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading 2 Chronicles 19-23
