1 John 4:6-7
But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Each January, countless people resolve to lose weight, get in shape, and improve their health. By the last day of this month, a good number of them have succumbed to all sorts of outside persuasions and temptations…and those good intentions have gone out the window.
Every day, we are bombarded with thoughts and ideas from a myriad of sources. Some of these are “healthy” views…but many are not. Try as we might to stay focused and headed in the right direction, the surrounding arguments and temptations often get the best of us. Just as there are no quick and permanent “fixes” for our health and fitness, our Spirit-filled fellowship with God requires continual “maintenance” as well. We will be bothered on all sides by those who wish to tempt or sway us toward their way of thinking…both unbelievers and those who believe in Jesus but do not listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. And honestly, it can often be hard to discern who is Who!
I know this is a confusing passage. I’ve read it and studied more than a dozen commentaries just to try and get a handle on it for myself. And the conclusion I have drawn is that we are to continually seek God…through prayer, Bible study, fellowship with Spirit-filled believers, and genuine efforts to emulate the teachings of Jesus. We are to constantly strive to abide in God…to feel His presence and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This will help to insulate us from deceptive voices.
I find it amazing that we are already one month into this New Year! The time surely flew by for me! But there is still time to get on track…physically, mentally - and most assuredly – in a Spiritual sense. We can redouble our efforts to abide in Jesus and listen for His voice each and every minute of the day. We can tune out the noise and chatter of deceptive spirits…and strive to truly understand that we are children of God and belong to Him! He is with us…His love surrounds us! Our job is to embrace it. Are you ready to do exactly that? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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