Test The Spirits!
Reading: I John 4
My Verse: "Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world" (4:1).
Dear Lord God, thank You for Your Word - this guide. We do not need to be stumbling along, uncertain of our way in this world. Here You tell us to be discerning. We are not to trust everyone and everything that comes along. We are to "prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God."
No, we are not to be gullible. You tell us to "pay attention and weigh and discern what is said" (I Corinthians 14:29). You even give "the ability to discern and distinguish between the [utterances of true] spirits [and false ones]" (I Cor. 12:10).
You gave us the Bereans as an example of how we are to handle Your Word. For they were "searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
Today it is greatly frowned on to be intolerant of all belief systems. Yet, Lord God, You tell us You only are Truth, You only are the Way. "For I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6). Yet, there is another side to this. We must be careful to judge rightly. "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement" (John 7:24).
John Armstrong wrote a book, Your church Is too Small that addresses this issue. It is so easy for us to get comfortable in our own church settting and how we do things. We then become skeptical of everyone else. Help me to not be close minded in that way. Help me to recognize You in others and be open to their way of doing things. I may not agree with all that others do but the main thing is to not stray from Your word. It isn't worth fighting about the small stuff!
John goes on in verse two to give us the best test ever. "By this you may know (perceive and recognize) the Spirit of God; every spirit which acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [actually] has become man and has come in the flesh is of God."
So we do have the tools to be discerning, alert and aware followers of You. You do not expect us to "test the spirits" on our own. You will aid us if we call on You for help. Thank You for that.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: I John 4
My Verse: "Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world" (4:1).
Dear Lord God, thank You for Your Word - this guide. We do not need to be stumbling along, uncertain of our way in this world. Here You tell us to be discerning. We are not to trust everyone and everything that comes along. We are to "prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God."
No, we are not to be gullible. You tell us to "pay attention and weigh and discern what is said" (I Corinthians 14:29). You even give "the ability to discern and distinguish between the [utterances of true] spirits [and false ones]" (I Cor. 12:10).
You gave us the Bereans as an example of how we are to handle Your Word. For they were "searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
Today it is greatly frowned on to be intolerant of all belief systems. Yet, Lord God, You tell us You only are Truth, You only are the Way. "For I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6). Yet, there is another side to this. We must be careful to judge rightly. "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement" (John 7:24).
John Armstrong wrote a book, Your church Is too Small that addresses this issue. It is so easy for us to get comfortable in our own church settting and how we do things. We then become skeptical of everyone else. Help me to not be close minded in that way. Help me to recognize You in others and be open to their way of doing things. I may not agree with all that others do but the main thing is to not stray from Your word. It isn't worth fighting about the small stuff!
John goes on in verse two to give us the best test ever. "By this you may know (perceive and recognize) the Spirit of God; every spirit which acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [actually] has become man and has come in the flesh is of God."
So we do have the tools to be discerning, alert and aware followers of You. You do not expect us to "test the spirits" on our own. You will aid us if we call on You for help. Thank You for that.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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