Fri.’s Devo - Discernment

Read: Jeremiah 6:15-8:7; Colossians 2:8-23; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 24:26
God held the prophets responsible for leading the people even further astray. They told them lies and things that they made up in their minds to sound right and holy. God was bringing judgment and they didn’t even warn the people because they didn’t know the timing of their days. Jeremiah gave them one more chance to repent and change God’s sentence on them. He pointed out all their sin, how they have been deceived, and what their end will be. If only they had listened and repented.
Paul warned the church in Colossi about the same deceitfulness that was trying to come into the church. People were teaching philosophy which depended on tradition and principles in the world. They were teaching formulas and works as opposed to walking in the spirit and walking in grace. Paul reminded them that there has never been any power greater than Jesus who had the Father and the Holy Spirit in him.
Some men had had experiences with angels who told them things contrary to the Spirit and the people were being deceived by them. The supernatural is very exciting but we have to test the spirits to make sure we are experiencing God’s supernatural and not Satan’s. Satan mimics everything God does so we have to have discernment. Every bright light is not God. Satan can appear as an angel of light.
Our Psalm reminds us of all God did for his children. I can’t help but pray that we not be like the tribe of Ephraim that even though they had bows, they turned back in the day of battle. We have been given the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Let us not lose the battle because of fear. Let us be people that live by the Word.
If there was ever a day we needed discernment it is now. Lord, open our spiritual eyes to see and discernment to know what we are seeing and whether it is from You or not.