20 Jan February 16th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

IT IS NOT THE MESSENGER — IT IS THE MESSAGE

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.”

Prophesying is not just delivering a direct revelation or command from God to His people.  It also includes the teaching and preaching of His Word.  The prophets of the Old Testament where what today we would call preachers or pastors.  They communicated all of God’s word, both that given by immediate and special revelation as well as that which was written, beginning with the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch, which God revealed to Moses to be given to Israel.

Whether Paul was preaching or Timothy or Silas, when it was the word of God either directly revealed or from recorded words of the Old Testament the message was to be tested.  1 John 4:1-3 gives the test that is to be applied, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.”

This test determines whether the preacher’s message is genuine or not.  If the preachers message passes the test, then listen to it, hold on to it with a firm grip and never let go.  The true and genuine message of the Gospel is the only message that saves.  It alone points you to Jesus who is the only one through whom you received God’s gift of salvation.  His blood, and no other, cleanses you of all of your sins.

It is therefore not the messenger that determines the validity of the message he delivers.  It is the message he delivers that is critical.  Listen carefully then to the preacher, test what he says to be sure it is the genuine Gospel and no other.  He must point you to Jesus through whom you are saved.

Prayer:  O Lord, continue to send Your Prophets to bring Your word into this world and especially into my life and heart.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

God of the prophets, bless the prophets’ sons;

Elijah’s mantle o’er Elisha cast.

Each age its solemn task may claim but once;

Make each one nobler, stronger than the last.

Anoint them prophets, men who are intent

To be Your witnesses in word and deed.

Their hearts aflame, their lips made eloquent,

Their eyes awake to ev’ry human need.

Anoint them priests, strong intercessors they,

For pardon and for love and hope and peace,

That, through their pleading, guilty sinners may

Find Jesus’ mercy and from sin release.

Anoint them kings, yes, kingly kings, O Lord,

Anoint them with the Spirit of Your Son.

Theirs not a jeweled crown, a bloodstained sword;

Theirs, by sweet love, for Christ a kingdom won.

Make them apostles, heralds of Your cross,

Forth let them go to tell the world of grace.

Inspired by You, may they count all but loss

And stand at last with joy before Your face.

(LSB 682)