Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 29; Isaiah 30; Isaiah 31; James 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 30:10
They tell the seers,
“Stop seeing visions!”
They tell the prophets,
“Don’t tell us what is right.
Tell us nice things.
Tell us lies.
Observation:
Isaiah is speaking of people who refuse to listen to the Lord’s instructions. Most probably, he is talking of the leaders of that time who have enlisted the help of Egypt to protect them instead of turning to the Lord. The prophets may warn them, but they don’t want to hear it. They want “yes-men” around them, telling them what they want to hear instead of what is right.
Application:
We all want to hear nice things- even if it is a lie- because it makes us feel better about ourselves or our situation. But that feeling is short-lived, especially if the truth is hard to take. Because at some point, we will have to face that truth head-on. I don’t have a particular situation in mind, but say you’ve gained 5 lbs and you want to believe you haven’t, that you’ll still look the same and that it isn’t any big deal. Or maybe it is more weight, but at some point, you look in the mirror and realize that your clothes are tight and don’t look right. Or it could be something way more serious than that. The truth is better to take straight up, but most people like hearing the lies better.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for always being a truthful God. Even if it is hard to hear, or hard to bear, let me remember that the truth is better than and good-feeling lies. Amen.
