23 JAN 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.” Galatians 1:6b-7
A few years ago I spent a good deal of time working in neighborhoods that were pretty hardcore. Even in the midst of a high crime apartment complex, more issues were afoot in the realm of spiritual warfare. It is manifest in various false religions and cults that have made deep inroads such as Jehovah Witness, Mormon (LDS), and Black Hebrew Israelites.
Those are the straight up wrong, but the ones that are just as problematic are the subtle peddlers of false gospel on television. If it is on TBN or bookshelves at Walmart, it is probably a health, wealth, and prosperity messaging which is “not” found in the Bible. Paul stresses that even in his day, false teachers were having a terrible effect on the church and the surrounding communities. They needed to sure-up their understanding of Scripture.
The challenge for the church is regular training and equipping in the truth of the gospel and orthodox doctrine in order to recognize and defend the faith against these false gospels and teachings. The more that you interact with people in the church and the world, the more you will realize your own gaps of knowledge and experience. This is how you grow deeper as these gaps are filled with God’s truth. The next time you encounter people from false religions you might be able to impart truth that will set them free.
Do you recognize the false religions and teachings today? Are you prepared to give an answer?
Reading Plan: Psalm 41, 52; Isa. 48:1-11; Gal. 1:1-17; Mark 5:21-43
Daily Office Year 1
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