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What My God Says
hen the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorable.”
But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”
2 Chronicles 18.12-13
You may read the full story in 2 Chronicles 18 to see what God told the prophet Micaiah to say. Afterwards, recall this incident the next time you hear someone ask, “Why can’t we all just agree to disagree?”
The word which Micaiah spoke was not in agreement with then word from other prophets. However, Micaiah was in unity with God. The reason was simple: Micaiah spoke what God wanted him to speak. Because the king did not like what God spoke through Micaiah, the king called Micaiah’s word “evil.” Such accusations continue toward those who disagree with God’s words today.
When God’s word reproves your lifestyle, it is god’s way of pointing out to you what is wrong in your life, as well as what changes are needed. At this point in your life, you have a choice to make: Change, or do as this king did — call God’s word “evil” and refuse to change.
While you may consult with other people who would tell you a “word” that is “favorable,” like these other prophets did to the king, in your heart, God’s word will continue to disturb you because it has revealed to you the truth about your life. You can’t escape truth. You may mask or suppress truth (Romans 1.18), but this decision will not save you. Only by doing “what my God says” will you be saved in the day of judgment.
Today, “what my God says” is through Jesus (Hebrews 1.1-2; 2.3). Only Jesus’ words will bring true unity. god desires and accepts this type of unity from us. It can exit, but it comes at a price, just as it did with Micaiah. You will not be united with most others in your beliefs and practices, just as Micaiah was not united with the other prophets in their words to the king.
Unity is what Jesus wants of all believers: “Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me” (John 17.20-21). Unity can’t exist if God’s word is mishandled (2 Corinthians 2.17; 4.2). Gospel preaching and teaching must be uniform on doctrinal matters (1 Corinthians 1.10; 1 Timothy 4.1-2; 2 Timothy 4.2-4; Titus 1.9; 2.2).
Simple agreement between men does not necessarily mean that God is in agreement with them. “Two or three” being gathered does not mean he is in our midst (Matthew 18.20). The phrase “in my name” dictates whether the assembling is pleasing to God. Jesus prayed for all who believe on him to believe on him through “their (i.e., the apostles’) word.”
God gave Jesus his word (John 12.49). Jesus said in John 17.8, “I have given unto them (i.e., the apostles) the words which though gavest me” (cf. 1 Corinthians 14.37). Likewise, the unity that is “of the Spirit” is to be united as the Holy Spirit declared through the pen of those who preached the gospel (Ephesians 4.1-6).
Joshua pointed out the two choices that we have when we encounter what God says (Joshua 24.15). The apostle John was given this word from the Holy Spirit: “Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don’t say, ‘Welcome’ to him; for the one who says, ‘Welcome’ to him shares in his evil works” (2 John 1.9-11).
The apostles’ attitudes toward God’s word were as Micaiah’s: “What my God says, that I will speak” (cf. Acts 4.20; 5.29). “Abide” or “go beyond” what God says. “Remain in” or do “not receive” what God says. What choice have you made?
