Who Will You Trust?
Day 3: The Command Before the Promise
Scripture
“The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.”The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.) So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.”
1 Kings 13: 16-18
Devotional
As women of God, our father in heaven speaks to us. There are areas of our lives where clear direction is provided, but we choose to listen to popular culture. As single women who desire to be married, online dating seems to be the best choice to increase the odds of marriage. However, I distinctly remember receiving a word from God that a husband was not going to find me on a dating app. Nevertheless, I download, delete, download again, all with the same result—toxic relationships that do not reflect the bond between man and woman God’s word describes.
In 1 Kings 13, popular culture represents the old prophet. It is always the people who are in similar circumstances or have experienced a similar path who quickly lead us astray. “I too am a prophet, as you are” established common ground between the man of God and the old prophet. Similarly, my single Christian friends rattle off the names of apps, they and other friends have used to find love. Other believers—single and married —also tell me that I can Bumble my way into love, but God told me otherwise.
The culture looks like us, speaks like us, and often are called by the same name —Woman of God. The question is, will we trust God or the culture?
Discussion Question
1. What word (command) has God given you that is unpopular or contrary to the culture?
2. What has led you, currently or in your past, to embrace the culture over the commands of God?