JAN 4

Isaiah 8:16-22
Memorise Acts 17:11
“they… searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Dear teen, when seeking wisdom and advice or faced with life’s problems, who do you consult? Your best friends at school? Articles in a magazine or on the internet? Secular books or blogs written by successful and famous people or life coaches?

Isaiah 8:19-20 states: “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” In times of trouble, instead of seeking God, the people of Israel sought necromancers who claimed to be familiar with the spirits of the dead, and to wizards who supposedly performed magic. Isaiah pointed out it was folly for the living to seek answers from the dead. They should instead follow the Law, not only because the Law expressly forbade consulting such necromancers and wizards (Deuteronomy 18:10-11), but also they should judge according to the Law all the advice these necromancers and wizards gave. If anyone of them thus contradicted the Law, this proved that they were not of God. Verses 21-22 go on further to describe the desolate godless life that such people have, full of darkness and anguish, for they do not live by God’s law.

The people of Israel consulted these necromancers and wizards because they thought that the advice was supernatural and powerful. You too might have your favourite sources of advice. Be very careful; judge all advice according to the Bible. If the advice contradicts the Bible even in part, you should shun the advice, for it is clear that the advice is not godly. Look “to the law and to the testimony” first! Search God’s Word for what it says on the problem. So often teens think the Bible does not say anything on the subject, and therefore do not look. When you look to other sources which are not godly, you are not only running the risk of sinning against God and turning away from God, but you also have to bear the consequences of any wrong decisions made by you.

Thought: Do I care about making the right decision?
Prayer: May I realise that every decision has consequences.