DISCERNING TRUTH FROM ERROR
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
1 John 2:26-27 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be our teacher and lead us into truth. Since Jesus is Truth then we know, the Holy Spirit is going to lead us to a greater understanding of Jesus. In the early Church—as today—there were some who taught false doctrine. Some who were even teaching things to build up themselves. The apostle John writes to warn the believers not to be led astray. He reminds them the Holy Spirit lives in them to help them discern truth from error. I believe that every follower of Jesus has the Holy Spirit living in them. He is our Guide and Teacher. He wants to warn us about what is right and what is wrong. It is called discernment. There have been times when I heard someone share something with lots of scriptures, but my internal Guide let me know they were in error. It is possible to quote the Word of God and yet twist it together in such a way that you come to a false conclusion. This is why we need to learn to listen to the Spirit. We need the gift of discernment, so we don’t fall victims to false teaching. Not everyone who quotes scripture is under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Some put their confidence in their human logic and understanding rather than accept by faith God’s truth. It is dangerous to try to limit the understanding of God’s Word to human intellect. To be a follower of Jesus we must be faith people. That means I accept there are some things in God’s Word that my human intellect can’t fully understand, but that doesn’t mean I reject what I can’t understand. That means by faith I accept it as truth and invite the Holy Spirit to quicken my understanding. I have found that the simplest interpretation of the Word is often the most accurate. The more we incorporate human wisdom into the equation the easier it is to miss the simplicity of the truth.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit I want to grow in my sensitivity to You. I want You to be my Teacher and Guide. I need You to help me discern truth from error. I want to live in truth because I know freedom comes with truth.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”