Be careful of the Instruction.

MORNING DEVOTIONAL – From the Edges
Pastor Calvin Cook –
JEREMIAH 29:8&9
I am asking the question this morning; Is the instruction I am receiving sound and is it edifying to my wellbeing? In the William Shakespeare poem “The Tempest” we read these words:
“Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open and show riches.
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.”
Ideas, thoughts, instructions, demands, needs, suggestions, come at us from a thousand different directions in a thousand different ways. We need solid advice as to what we should be listening to and receiving as sound and good instruction. As Jeremiah delivered the word of the Lord to the people of Israel this sound instruction was offered in Jeremiah 29:8-9
“8Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.”
A great reminder for us that even when someone or something tells us – this is good, or right, or perfect, we might be deceived.
We are living even within a world with the new development of artificial intelligence that we are not even sure if it is a real person speaking or a computer-generated voice. Though the information might be exact where it is coming from. I am really trying to move into the place where that which I put into my heart and soul is sound and from the heart of God.
This becomes so very important that we are trusting within the word of God as contained within scriptures. Even though there are thousands of different versions of the Bible in all languages we can be assured of God’s word being sound and true and good.
Bad instruction will steal our hope, attack our fortitude, draw us away from what is important. What is important – Jesus said it best when he answered the religious leaders as to what was the most important. We read the instruction in Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
On this instruction what will keep us assured of the hope we are searching for. All the words of instruction can begin with loving and focusing on God.
The last words from Shakespeare’s quote this morning – “I cried to dream again” is guiding my prayer –
Lord may I long for your presence in my life, may I long to be right with you, may I long to love you with my whole heart, so that I will not be deceived by the challenges of this time and the wrong instruction that is coming at me – fill me with you this day. In Jesus mighty name I pray.