Dear Daily Message Readers,
Today's devotion will a re-submission from the archives.
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READ: Matthew 7:15-22
Matthew 7:15 (NLT) "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart."
"Marathoner Loses by a Mustache." So read the headline of a historic Associated Press story. It appeared that Abbes Tehami of Algeria was an easy winner of the Brussels Marathon--until someone wondered where his mustache had gone! Checking eyewitness accounts, it quickly became evident that the mustache belonged to Tehami's coach, Bensalem Hamiani. Hamiani had run the first seven-and-a-half miles of the race for Tehami, then dropped out of the pack and disappeared into the woods to pass race number 62 on to his pupil. "They looked about the same," race organizers said. "Only one had a mustache." It's expected that the two will never again be allowed to run in Belgium (Christianglobe.com)
We have all heard similar stories to the one above. Perhaps these stories were what has occurred in churches and in the homes of people watching certain religious television programs. Somebody opens a Bible during a sermon, pulls verses out of context, and robs people in the congregation or in the viewing audience of the truth or their money. While claiming to speak for God, these preachers are really only speaking for their own self-serving purposes and greed.
Deception, both in and outside of the Christian realm, has been a problem since the early days of the church. When speaking on false teachers and prophets, Jesus warned His followers about wolflike false teachers who would disguise themselves as innocent sheep (Matthew 7:15). Jesus clearly understood that there would be those who claim to be true Christian teachers and would cause many to stumble with their sugar-coated words and doctrine.
The church's passion--our collective passion--should be to help people who don't know what the Bible teaches about God, Jesus, salvation, and the Christian life. This includes steering those around us from false doctrine, especially those that are directly opposed to the Bible. Not only does right belief create right thinking, but when applied to our life here on earth, it also produces right living.
Faith Lesson: The best defense against deception is to be familiar with the truth of the Bible (1 Peter 3:15).
In Christ,
Darin Smith
Today's devotion will a re-submission from the archives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
READ: Matthew 7:15-22
Matthew 7:15 (NLT) "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart."
"Marathoner Loses by a Mustache." So read the headline of a historic Associated Press story. It appeared that Abbes Tehami of Algeria was an easy winner of the Brussels Marathon--until someone wondered where his mustache had gone! Checking eyewitness accounts, it quickly became evident that the mustache belonged to Tehami's coach, Bensalem Hamiani. Hamiani had run the first seven-and-a-half miles of the race for Tehami, then dropped out of the pack and disappeared into the woods to pass race number 62 on to his pupil. "They looked about the same," race organizers said. "Only one had a mustache." It's expected that the two will never again be allowed to run in Belgium (Christianglobe.com)
We have all heard similar stories to the one above. Perhaps these stories were what has occurred in churches and in the homes of people watching certain religious television programs. Somebody opens a Bible during a sermon, pulls verses out of context, and robs people in the congregation or in the viewing audience of the truth or their money. While claiming to speak for God, these preachers are really only speaking for their own self-serving purposes and greed.
Deception, both in and outside of the Christian realm, has been a problem since the early days of the church. When speaking on false teachers and prophets, Jesus warned His followers about wolflike false teachers who would disguise themselves as innocent sheep (Matthew 7:15). Jesus clearly understood that there would be those who claim to be true Christian teachers and would cause many to stumble with their sugar-coated words and doctrine.
The church's passion--our collective passion--should be to help people who don't know what the Bible teaches about God, Jesus, salvation, and the Christian life. This includes steering those around us from false doctrine, especially those that are directly opposed to the Bible. Not only does right belief create right thinking, but when applied to our life here on earth, it also produces right living.
Faith Lesson: The best defense against deception is to be familiar with the truth of the Bible (1 Peter 3:15).
In Christ,
Darin Smith
