How can we ensure we seek God's truth, not just favorable messages? The Setting: A Lesson from 1 Kings 22:8 “‘There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD—Micaiah son of Imlah,’ the king of Israel replied, ‘but I hate him, because he never prophesies good for me, but only bad.’” King Ahab preferred messages that stroked his ego; Micaiah spoke God’s unvarnished word. That tension still presses on us: Will we welcome truth even when it confronts us? Why We Gravitate to Pleasant Words • Our hearts are naturally “deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). • Sin loves affirmation, not exposure (John 3:19–20). • The last days are marked by people “accumulating for themselves teachers to suit their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). Recognizing this bias is the first step toward resisting it. Practices That Anchor Us in God’s Truth 1. Hold Scripture Above Preference – Test every message against the whole counsel of God (Acts 17:11). – Refuse to twist verses to support preconceived opinions (2 Peter 3:16). 2. Invite Voices That Won’t Flatter – Faithful friends “wound” with loving rebuke (Proverbs 27:6). – Spiritual leaders are charged to “correct, rebuke, and encourage” (2 Timothy 4:2). 3. Embrace Conviction as Grace – The Word “judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). – God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:5–6). Conviction signals that He is still shaping us. 4. Pursue a Heart Willing to Obey – “Search me, O God, and know my heart… lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23–24). – Obedience, not mere listening, marks a true seeker (James 1:22). 5. Seek the Spirit’s Illumination – The Spirit guides “into all truth” (John 16:13). – Prayerful dependence guards against selective hearing (Psalm 119:18). Practical Checkpoints Before Receiving Any Message • Does it align with explicit Scriptural teaching? • Does it exalt Christ rather than self? (Colossians 1:18) • Does it promote holiness and repentance? (1 Peter 1:15–16) • Is there godly counsel confirming it? (Proverbs 15:22) • Do I sense conviction rather than convenient affirmation? Living the Lesson Micaiah risked imprisonment to deliver an unwelcome prophecy; Ahab ignored it and perished. Choosing truth over comfort may sting now, but it positions us under God’s protection and blessing. Cherish every faithful, Scripture-saturated message—even when it presses hard—because it is evidence that the Lord is still speaking and shaping us for His glory. |
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