Ezekiel 13
Give People Real Hope!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, June 17.
People need hope when they are suffering, but it can be difficult to discern real hope from wishful thinking during hard times. Criminals know this which is why so many scams are targeted at those who are going through hardships, such as financial woes, medical crisis, or personal grief. God used the metaphor of a whitewashed wall to make a distinction between those who give the people His truth and those who speak falsely. At a time of great danger to His people, God raised up prophets to speak hard truths, warning the people of the coming disaster and equipping them to stand firm, but false prophets countered their hard truth, weakening the people’s resolve to repent and draw near to God. In Ezekiel 13:10-14, God addressed the false prophets who were misleading the people with their wishful thinking:
“It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A flooding rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out. Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?’ … And you will know that I am the Lord.”
The false prophets hurt the people with their wishful thinking because they did not motivate them to heed God’s Word, repent of their sin, and prepare for the coming storm. Give people real hope during times of suffering, biblical truths that will guide and strengthen them through their hardships, as well as lead them into eternal life.
Seize the moment and build your life upon the true and eternal teachings of Jesus Christ, who promises to be a firm foundation on which no storm will prevail (Matthew 7:24-27).
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
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