July 17

In 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18, King Ahab is surrounded by prophets—but only one speaks the truth. Micaiah, God’s faithful prophet, dares to deliver a message that no one else wants to hear. While 400 others promise victory, Micaiah declares what God has truly said: defeat is coming. Ahab rejects the warning, listens to the crowd, and dies in battle just as God had foretold.

It’s a powerful reminder that truth is not always popular—and popular voices are not always true. The voices we choose to listen to shape our decisions, our direction, and ultimately our destiny. Like Jehoshaphat, who almost got swept into Ahab’s downfall, we need discernment. We must learn to seek God’s voice above all others, especially when it challenges our comfort or assumptions.

In Matthew 2, we see another contrast in how people respond to the truth. The Magi follow God’s leading, even across great distance and danger, to worship Jesus. Herod, on the other hand, responds to the news of the Messiah with fear, lies, and violence. The same truth—Jesus has been born—leads one group to worship and another to resist.

Throughout these passages, the question is the same: When God speaks, how will we respond? Will we reject the truth to protect our pride, or will we humble ourselves and follow—even when it's hard?

God is still speaking today—through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Our calling is to be like Micaiah: willing to speak truth in love. And like the Magi: willing to follow truth wherever it leads.

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