Do not treat prophecies with contempt…
1 Thessalonians 5:20 NIV
Do Not Despise Prophecies
We Canadians like to be liked by people around the world. But there are times when there are hard feelings towards us by other countries. For example, anti-Canadian sentiments have been observed in Brazil. People there boycotted Canadian goods to protest a Canadian ban of Brazilian beef imports, reportedly because of fears of mad-cow disease. A few Brazilians believed the Canadian ban was motivated by a trade dispute between the two nations. There have been some disputes between Canada and Brazil over aircraft manufacturing as well.
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As we study the Hebrew Scriptures, we quickly discover that one of the marks of the God of the Israelites is that He speaks. No other gods, whom the Bible calls no gods at all, ever spoke. The contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal is a clear illustration of this. No matter what his prophets did, Baal remained silent. How different is our God, who has fully revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. Too often, we don’t take the time to listen to Him, but He still speaks, through His Word, through the wise counsel of godly people, and by the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. So, Paul gives us a warning in 1 Thessalonians 5:20: “Do not treat prophecies with contempt…” I have been grateful when others have wisely spoken into my life with godly counsel. I’m grateful when God has gently nudged me by His Spirit in the quietness of my time in prayer and in His Word. When that counsel aligns with God’s Word, and it must, we are called to prayerfully consider it. The Holy Spirit is still at work today, reaching out to us, reminding us that His voice is living and active.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley