Not Holding Back a Word
I’m thankful I’m not Jeremiah. When God called him to prophesy against the nation of Judah immediately before the deportation to Babylon, Jeremiah balked; he said he was too young for such an important assignment (cf. Jer 1:6). God, of course, wouldn’t accept Jeremiah’s excuse and sent him to the people of Judah.
The people didn’t take kindly to Jeremiah’s message—he was imprisoned threatened with death. God repeatedly strengthened and encouraged Jeremiah, for the message he gave to the prophet wasn’t an easy one—Babylon is coming, and they will be victorious. When God gave Jeremiah a particularly difficult word about the destruction of the temple (a message which would get Jeremiah death threats), God told him, “Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word” (Jer 26:2).
God’s word to the people of Jeremiah’s day was so urgent and important that the prophet could not hold back a single word. God’s word continues to be so urgent that not a single word can be held back. After all, “All [even the parts you don’t particularly like] Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). That breathed-out word, you see, “was never produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet 1:21). That “living and abiding word of God . . . remains forever” (1 Pet 1:23, 25).
Satan often tempts God’s modern spokesmen to hold back a word or two. If someone is in an ungodly marriage, maybe it would be far easier to pretend Jesus’s words in Matthew 19 didn’t exist. If a family member loves denominationalism, maybe he doesn’t speak about the uniqueness of the church. If a major church contributor believes it really doesn’t make a difference how one is saved, maybe the minister shies away from mentioning baptism. If a vocal member of the congregation is engaged in some sin, maybe the preacher decides it’s best just to skip that verse.
Such doesn’t work before God. From time to time, Scripture will step on anyone’s toes—even the preacher’s—for we all “fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). But that’s not a reason to ignore part of Scripture; that’s a reason to work to conform to Scripture all the more. After all, only those who do God’s will shall enter that eternal heavenly kingdom: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21).
Every word matters. Every word came from God. Every word can change your life if you will permit it. Don’t hold back a single word.
This article was originally written by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., for the weekly newsletter at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.