Our Personal Responsibility To God
1 Kings 13:17 says, “For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.”
An old prophet in Bethel tried to convince “the man of God” (v. 11), to return with him “and eat bread” (v. 15). However, the man said that God commanded him not to eat “bread nor drink water there, nor turn again.” The old prophet was so persistent that he lied to him about an angel with a message from the Lord to bring him back (v. 18). So, the man of God complied (v. 19). Since he disobeyed a direct command from “the mouth of the Lord” (v. 21), a lion killed him (v. 24), after he left the old prophet’s house. When the old prophet heard the news, he realized that the man’s disobedience led to his demise (v. 26). He brought his bones back to the city “and they mourned over him” (v. 30).
There are many self-proclaimed prophets today (1 Jn 4:1), but they lie! They are the “blind leaders of the blind” (Mt 15:14), because they have been blinded by “the god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4). Those who will be eventually condemned (Jn 3:18), because they believed a lie (2 Thes 2:11), have no one to blame but themselves. Because God has already given us His “word which by the gospel is preached” (1 Pet 1:25), but they refuse to believe! It has always been God’s will “that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). He clearly manifests Himself to all sinners in many different ways every day.
They are easily understood; “so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:20)! Sadly, many people would rather search the Internet for answers that they like to hear (2 Tim 4:3), rather than searching the scriptures that testifies about our Saviour Jesus Christ (Jn 5:39). We cannot blame others for our failures. It is our responsibility to “prove all things” (1 Thes 5:21). By studying God’s word, believing it, and obeying it! God bless you!
- Pastor Melito Barrera
Share this post
