Thoughts for another day


October 11, 2010

Today's verse: Ez. 13:9. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In our churches, gatherings and other places, we find 'men and women of God' who're what I may say, a caricature of what God's men and women should be. (To be honest, I'll put myself also in that category, simply because I fail to live the life Jesus has commanded I live). For most it is a wrong understanding of God's calling in their lives, by which they think they've been called to preach, lay hands on people and give messages so much so that even a 'small-time' preacher, will have some message for you. When you go for counseling they'll ask you this and that and then pretend and pray over you and with deep words of wisdom give you messages you eagerly grab assuming it to come from God, whereas all the time, this stupid person has been giving you what he/she thinks is what he/she has got from God. I'm saying stupid because that's what they are: people whom God has never spoken to, yet dare to give 'messages'.

I once went for a retreat in a very established retreat center near Mumbai. In the course of the retreat we were supposed to go for counseling and so I too went for it. Most love this because this is where you get messages! My turn came to go to a lady who was a regular counselor at the place. But strangely, in the course of discussion, I ended up counseling her rather than being counseled myself! I couldn't understand this for this lady has counseled many people and yet the tables turned when she spoke to me. So what message do you think I get of this Retreat Center? As for me, I have stopped giving messages. I only tell people that I will pray that God grants them what I pray for with the certainty that my prayer will be answered for Jesus Himself says so. It's better for people of God to commune with Him and pray rather than do foolish things by which thy deceive people and gain God's wrath. God's calling to preach and do other things is His calling; you cannot tell Him to call you.

Genuine messengers of God who under the Holy Spirit's prompting can tell you things about your life (they too can't tell you much for God puts but a few things about others in their head) are very few and therefore I urge you to be careful of the many men and women who masquerade as God's messengers. Be careful else you'll be disappointed, deceived and shattered. Our reflection is a strong word by God against these people who claim to be His messengers and yet have only their words and you'll see they always give you positive messages. God's prophets give any message – good or bad. And that's the way it should be for God is not a liar and His Word will prevail. As for going about seeking messages, shun the thought for when needed, God will put His message into your heart no matter whether it's a counselor who gives the message or just an ordinary man who does it; for if God used Caiaphas to prophesy that 'it is better that One Man die that the whole nation perishes, Jn. 11:50 then He may use anybody to give you your message. Question is, will you understand it as God's message?