How can we ensure God's messages are accurately communicated in today's world? Setting the Scene – Jeremiah 36:4 “So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and while Jeremiah dictated all the words that the LORD had spoken to him, Baruch wrote them on a scroll.” Lessons from Jeremiah and Baruch • God speaks; His servants record every word, unedited and undiluted. • Accuracy matters more than convenience. Baruch risked his life to write and later read the scroll (vv. 19–26). • Writing preserves truth across generations; oral memory alone is not enough. • The scroll’s authority rested on its divine origin, not on who held it. Echoes Throughout Scripture • “Do not add to His words or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” (Proverbs 30:6) • “You shall not add to the word I command you, nor take away from it.” (Deuteronomy 4:2) • “All Scripture is God-breathed.” (2 Timothy 3:16) • “No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20) • Warnings in Revelation 22:18-19 bracket the canon with the same charge Baruch obeyed. Practical Steps for Faithful Communication Today 1. Stay under the same divine authority – Recognize Scripture as inerrant and complete. – Submit opinions to the text, not vice versa. 2. Handle the text with care – Use reliable translations and, when possible, consult original-language tools. – Keep verses in context; compare Scripture with Scripture. 3. Saturate the message in prayer and obedience – Ask the Holy Spirit for illumination (John 16:13). – Live what you teach; credibility reinforces accuracy. 4. Employ trustworthy methods of sharing – Print, digital, audio, and visual formats—yet always quote the text precisely. – Provide references so listeners can read for themselves (Acts 17:11). 5. Build accountability – Teach within the local church; invite mature believers to review content. – Correct errors quickly and transparently (James 3:1). 6. Guard against distortion – Test every new idea against the whole counsel of God (1 John 4:1). – Beware selective proof-texting; let Scripture speak for itself. Modern “Baruchs” in Action • Pastors preparing sermons line by line. • Parents reading the Bible aloud at the dinner table. • Students sharing verses on social media with full context. • Translators laboring to render the Word faithfully for unreached languages. The call of Jeremiah 36:4 still stands: receive God’s words exactly, record them faithfully, and pass them on unchanged—so every hearer today encounters the same living voice that spoke to Baruch’s pen centuries ago. |
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