GOD'S WORD DAILY

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 61 SEPTEMBER 17, 2001

HOW JESUS LOVED, Part 16
WORD OF THE DAY:"TELLS IT STRAIGHT UP"

Scripture reference: Matthew 22:18; Matthew 16:3,4, 23;
Matthew 15:7-9;Matthew 23:17, 23, 24

Matthew 22:18

" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? "

Matthew 16:3b,4

O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but
can ye not discern the signs of the times?

     A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;
      and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of
      the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Matthew 16:23

      But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an
     offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things
     that be of God, but those that be of men.

Matthew 16:7-9

      Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
      This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth
     me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
      But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

First, let us keep in mind, that there is a difference between name
calling, backbiting and speaking maliciously against our brothers and
sisters in Christ, vs. doing the work of a prophet and being straight up.
Doing the work of a prophet includes calling things as God sees them,
being vocal with God's message and being bold to deliver God's message
with authority. Prophets cannot be wimpy. They have to be strong and bold
and outspoken.

The ability to do the work of a prophet speaks loudly about the love
prophets have for God and for God's people. They are willing to sacrifice
their own popularity for the good of the people, who will reap a harvest
of fruit, if they will take heed.

Prophets are not necessarily popular people. Many times, prophets have to
speak the Word of the Lord but it is not received with meekness and repentance.
Sometimes people get offended, indignant and angry. Sometimes, they recognize
their error and repent. Many prophets of God were tortured or killed because
the people did not like what was said!

Jesus loved God and loved God's people so much that He spoke boldly against sin,
he spoke God's Word with authority and without fear. He was straight up and wasn't
afraid to offend people with the Word.

-Carol Kenreigh

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