Do not diminish a word
In our reading through the Bible together, our passage for today was Jeremiah 26-27. I got as far as 26:2 and came to an abrupt stop. Here is the verse. Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word.
“Do not diminish a word;” what a command to Jeremiah in the face of false prophets, wayward people, and ungodly leaders. In fact, if you read on in 2611 they say he deserves to die for sharing these words. My abrupt stop occurred because I think of the cultural situation today. First, this has not caught God by surprise. Second, He has called us; and if He has called us, He has provided for our equipping to speak all the words — all the truth in grace and love — to a rotting, decaying culture. Third, He (the Holy Spirit is within us) is with us in every conversation. We do not need to seek confrontation, but when the opportunities arise (I Peter 3:15) to speak all the words of truth, we need to share with boldness, clarity, grace, compassion and love as we seek to share the life giving message of the Savior.
Where do you find these words? Where do you find this equipping? In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
“Do not diminish a word.” We must be a people, we must be a church that will not waver from the words of God in order to be more attractive or palatable to a lost world. It is only the Truth of God that saves the lost. Christ never failed with compassion, love, mercy and grace to tell the truth, even with the hardest of cases. The words of life came from the Messiah to the Samaritan woman at the well, yet Jesus still told her to go and sin no more. The call to salvation is a total surrender to Christ of our will and our sin. Do not diminish a word.
Pressing On,
Senior Pastor Ron Tipton
