CREDIT: Nano Banana 2 AI
Dear Followers of Jesus,
When things keep going badly, change seems impossible! Then, along comes someone who seems to say all the right things. Who makes the bad seem to go away … or about to. Their words seem perfect! “The war will end soon,” “The cure will be here soon,” “This little flyer will help you ace your impossible test,” and so on. We react with blind optimism; only to be disappointed by the hollow promises.
False hope provided by empty words isn’t a new thing. It’s been around forever. For example, Israel was in exile in Babylon because they continually listened to those who said what they wanted to hear … instead of listening to God and His prophets. Jeremiah heard one of these guys – Hananiah – tell Israel, “Don’t worry! The exile will be over in two years. Everything will be fine!” Jeremiah responded, “I hope you’re right, but” he added, “for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.” (Jeremiah 28:9) He said this because He knew what God said, even if it wasn’t what Israel wanted to hear. God’s Word is God’s Word. It’s the truth and it won’t be changed – even if we don’t like what it says sometimes.
Jesus had some tough things to say to His disciples that seem to say He’s all about destroying families. (Matthew 10:34-39) However, it’s a warning that proclaiming God’s Word – the easy and the hard to hear – will create animosity and division; even between those closest to us. It’s hard teaching, but it’s for our own good. Because trying to modify God’s Word to make it sound better or easier leads to eternal division from God – eternal death. God sent Jesus, not to sugarcoat God’s Word, but to help us see how to live our lives in this world – even when it might cause trouble for us – so we can receive our reward, eternal life with Him. Let’s listen to Him and live.
In Jesus’ Love,
Pastor Jim