Honesty

“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Ps 51:6

God asks me questions often, not so that I can inform Him, but so that I will come face to face with my opinions, formed in my inner parts, or inner man.  He keeps me honest this way, and in many other ways.  God will bring circumstances into all our lives that cause our innermost parts to unify in one emotion or another.  They will bring out anger, defiance, love, empathy . . . we are capable of positive and negative emotions.  We will also form opinions, thoughts that rule the climate of our hearts. 

For the prophet, he or she is set apart to the Lord.  It is of great importance that the prophet’s opinions and emotions are honest, and that they line up with the character of God.  To do this, a prophet must get to know God.  In getting to know God, one also learns how to know themselves. Even if our honesty is ugly, full of hate and self-promotion, God can work with that.  There is nothing in us that will surprise Him.  God will bring us to repentance if that’s where we need to go, and our greatest aspirations will be laid aside for His.  Then He can call us back again to the works He has set us aside to do.

Last night the Lord shared His thoughts about our current religious atmosphere.  He said, “The prophets of this day do not know Me.  They are acquainted with marketing.  I was acquainted with the sorrows and griefs of men. They love praise.  I love people.  They are self-determined.  I did the will of My Father.  They measure themselves by wealth, position and good favor.  I am the rain that falls on the just and the unjust alike, giving all men everywhere the opportunity to measure up to the full stature of God.”

If we find ourselves to not be in God’s character, in part shared in the previous paragraph, we can turn around.  As prophets, we can not only be honest about the error of our ways, but we can turn around and help turn others as well.  This day let us truly listen as the Lord speaks from His nature, and be honest about our own nature.  This is what He desires from us.  Amen.