Don’t Just Take Their Word…

Verse of the day: 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

What greater source for God’s truth do we have than the Word of God? If this be true, then why do we not go to God’s Word to see if what we are taught is true? Why must we be a generation of Christians that is spoon fed whatever anyone who claims to be a man of God wants to feed us? With so many false teachers in existence, looking to use God’s Word for selfish gain, why are we not diligent to search the Word of God to prove whether or not we are being told the truth (God’s truth, not man’s version of it; which in essence is not truth at all)? 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that ALL Scripture was given by the inspiration of God. In other words, it was God-breathed. It was NOT made up by man (2 Pt 1:21). Therefore, it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. The Word of God teaches us who God is and how He wants us to live. It is used by the Spirit to convict us. The Word of God is used to correct our wrong thinking and ways, put us on the right path, and teach us how to stay on that path. God has given us many pastors, teachers, and preachers that teach the Word of God for what it is. However, none of us are perfect, and we are all apt to make mistakes. As God’s people, especially those given the desire to teach God’s Word, by the Lord, we must use the utmost care to not teach falsehoods or use the Word of God for our own, wicked, devices. As those who receive those teachings, we must be diligent to check out what we hear for ourselves. God commended the Bereans, who heard the Word of God preached by the Apostle Paul, received the Word with readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily. For what purpose did they search them? To see whether the things they heard were so (Acts 17:10-11). We must not be lazy Christians who take the Word of every person who claims to be bringing us the truth of the Word of God, without confirming that with the Scriptures themselves. The first place that we begin, even before we search the Scriptures, is to find out what the person says about who Jesus is. Anyone who denies that Jesus came in the flesh and dwelt amongst us is not of God (John 1:14; 1 John 4:2-3). The bottom line is that there is absolutely no excuse for the child of God, who has the ability to own and read the Bible, to be led astray. If he/she does, it is because of their own laziness and unwillingness to search the Word of God themselves. God has provided us with the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit, who indwells us and teaches us (Jn 14:26). Along with the Word of God, today we have an abundance of good resources that will help supplement the study of God’s Word. However, we must learn to rely primarily on the Bible as our primary source of learning God’s truth, and learning who God is, as we walk with Jesus, not based on ours or someone else’s version of “truth”, but God’s truth alone.

Jesus was born into this world as Man, and gave His life in order to offer us eternal life, that can only be found in Him. Today, He extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).