Devotional - Luke Lusted - Threefold Office | A Greater Prophet

First Baptist Shreveport

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” Deuteronomy 18:15

Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? We all recognize this important oath being given before a witness testifying in court. This oath or affirmation is given by a witness stating that they will testify truthfully. According to the New York State Unified Court System, this oath is used to deter false testimony and awaken the witness to their moral duty to tell the truth. Lawyers have a special obligation to know the law, uphold the law, and build a case around evidence and arguments that reveal the truth. In the courtroom, the truth matters and can often be the difference between freedom and conviction, life and death. Attorneys serve as a representative voice for their clients, acting on their behalf and in their best interest as agents or deputies. This is much like the prophets of the Bible. A prophet is God’s representative, acting on His behalf. They serve as God’s representatives by faithfully communicating His Word and truths to His people. In simple terms, a prophet speaks the words that God gave him to say (Deut. 18:18). They are given truth, commanded to be obedient to that truth, and called to share that truth with others. This truth, God’s revelation, is the difference between freedom and bondage, life and death. God is making himself known by His Word. He made Himself known at creation by speaking things into existence by the power of His Word, through the Old Testament by speaking to and through the prophets, and in Jesus Christ, the final and greater prophet.

If God has spoken to us by His Son, we must hear Him and believe Him. Jesus brings about a message of hope, peace, love, and reconciliation. He also brings about a message of eternal life and salvation in Him. We find this message in the Bible, God’s Word, where His unified plan is revealed. How can we be obedient to God’s Word and teach these truths to others if we don’t know our Bible? We must spend time reading and studying our Bibles. We must first start as His revelation to know what God has revealed. We don’t want to remove or add to God’s Word like Adam and Eve. We want to be a faithful and obedient people. Lastly, we must pursue gospel-centered preaching and teaching and media content that upholds truth—that which is noble, pure, and praiseworthy—in all spheres of life. Is the content you consume faithful to the teachings of the Bible? Do the TV shows, podcasts, magazines, and movies you consume support the teachings of Jesus, or do they contradict the truths found in Scripture? In all that we do and say, we should seek the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.