FILL US WITH COURAGE AND BOLDNESS TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

Acts 20:28-31. NCBV

28 Be careful for yourselves and for all the people the Holy Spirit has given to you to oversee. You must be like shepherds to the church of God, which he bought with the death of his own son. 29 I know that after I leave, some people will come like wild wolves and try to destroy the flock. 30 Also, some from your own group will rise up and twist the truth and will lead away followers after them. 31 So be careful! Always remember that for three years, day and night, I never stopped warning each of you, and I often cried over you.

Jesus warned His Disciples to beware, He said to the people that false prophets would arise“Be careful of false prophets. They come to you and look gentle like sheep. But they are really dangerous like wolves. You will know these people because of what they do. Good things don’t come from people who are bad, just as grapes don’t come from thornbushes, and figs don’t come from thorny weeds. In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. You will know these false people by what they do\”. (Matthew 7:15-20).

Paul is doing the same thing according to our passage today. It is important for us to heed to this warning as well. The devil works in ways that always seem reasonable. Lies are made to look like truth, and division weakens the whole entity. Paul goes on to warn that some of those false prophets will come from within the group. One would think that it is easy to distinguish truth from fiction, but it\’s more difficult than we think.

Usually, these lies are hidden seemingly in few drops of truth shrouded by huge lies. We think that if part of what we are told is true, then the rest of it must be true as well. Media is a perfect example of how this works whether the lie is hidden in a picture, music or written message. Sometimes the message is subjective. As shown in an old western movie I once watched, all the good guys wore white hats and the bad guys wore black. The message there seems to portray White as being good while black is bad.

If you open some of the media these days you hear all manner of preaching, some even claim that the bible is old fashioned therefore what was considered as sin is no more sin, Therefore the ten commandments are old-fashioned and we are free to indulge in every desire for pleasure whenever and wherever we find it.  We spoke of freedom; Freedom is given so that we can love; it is not license to do whatever we please.  Let us be careful to stay close to Jesus and not follow false prophets who wants to tear Christianity apart.

When Paul noticed the danger brewing amongst Christians in corinth mostly brethrens in the household of Chloe; he warned them against the consequences if it is allowed. He advised them not to be carried away by the actions of their leaders or those who are the vehicles of bringing the word of knowledge to them rather their focal point should be Jesus Christ not on the preachers of His words.

\”Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul\” ? (1Corinthians 1:10-13).

PRAYER

REFLECTION

Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love.  You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.  There is one body and one Spirit, and God called you to have one hope.  There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. 

BIBLE READING:- ACTS 20

May Goo bless you as you read. SHALOM! Blessing Onugha ❤️