Can We Identify the Truth?

Can We Identify the Truth? – Devotional – January 15, 2024

Years ago, I served as a juror on a murder trial involving war between two gangs. As jurors, we were heavily guarded by New York State Troopers and escorted through an underground tunnel. The trial was long. We heard many testimonies, pre-meditated perjury, and a Defense Attorney who skillfully defended his client for 4-6 hours, giving us 2 hours to deliberate. At the end of the trial, we could not distinguish the truth from the perjured testimonies due to overwhelming discrepancies.

Spiritually, Can We Recognize God’s Truth versus Deception?

Plan A: Satan develops customized distractions to prevent us from thinking clearly and to wear us down. Adding distractions to our crammed schedules leaves us searching for quick remedies. The busyness that we succumb to has decreased our ability to recognize that something is not right. As a result of the rapid pace, we are too exhausted to focus on God and worship Him in spirit and truth. There is no free time for meaningful personal worship. We know that prayer and studying the Bible provide knowledge and give us spiritual renewal, so we tell ourselves hopefully, we will have time tomorrow.

Satan’s Plan B: The quick fix of social media has become the pastor and church for many who proclaim Christ as their Savior. Watching a 1 to 3-minute reel is easier than taking the time to pray and study the Bible. We scroll to gain Biblical principles from people who appear to be credible. Yes, it sounds as if they are speaking the Truth. Once we establish social media as our main resource for Scriptural knowledge, the Deceiver has lured many into the web of accepting convoluted or false beliefs. If we decide to let social media content feed our souls then we will be deceived.

Test the Spirits—”Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” —1 John 4:1

Companies use celebrities and sports figures to endorse their products. They are fully aware the person’s name and reputation will increase their profit margins. Satan uses believers whose hearts are filled with pride to deceive others. Social media attention can become addictive. The majority of comments posted are giving praise to the presenter. Presenting the Scriptures as suggestions instead of requisites makes it easier to increase followers and likes, but undermines God’s Righteous standards.

We live in an unprecedented era of hearing spoken words from never-ending voices. Satan is aware that it takes minimal effort to deceive the spiritually unlearned. Without the Holy Spirit, and self-study of the Bible, we cannot discern the difference between the truth of the Holy Scriptures and false doctrines blended with a little truth designed to entice and deceive.

Not everyone in the media is intentionally mismanaging the Word of God. Still, we have become too comfortable with trusting human knowledge and interpretation of the Scriptures. How can one tell if they are hearing God’s Truth if they do not possess Biblical knowledge and receive discernment given by the Holy Spirit?

Obvious Red Flags: Giving opinions without Scripture, Deviating several times from the main point, choosing one Scripture to justify the presenting “truth,” never mentioning the name of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, and the once saved always saved concepts. The lack of Bible study has many Christians asking the same question as unbelievers, “What is Truth?”

We should study the Bible every day. Always pray, search the Scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s Truth so you will have knowledge of God’s expectations for the righteous. If a spoken message does not coincide with the Scriptures then you know that it is not God’s Truth. Thankfully, we have God’s Righteous Standard—the Holy Scriptures for comparison. Be certain that your beliefs are Biblical truth.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” —John 14:16-18

From our desire to grow closer to God, we can receive the same spiritual power as those in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. As believers who are living in Perilous Times, we desperately need the Divine empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live righteously. Not only are we facing an escalation of worldly temptations, but the warfare of false doctrines has invaded the Christian community.

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path.” —Psalm 119:105

Studying the Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is spiritually refreshing and uplifting. We receive God’s Truth which sustains our minds, bodies, and souls. Studying the Bible every day is the human effort required to receive spiritual transformation and have a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ. Daily we commit ourselves as a living sacrifice to God through personal worship. Allow uninterrupted time for prayer, Bible study, and reflection on the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead who gives us the deeper meaning of God’s Truth and teaches us how to apply the Scriptures to our lives. God has provided all that we need to abide in Christ, to live righteously, overcome temptation, and recognize false teachings. Through His Spirit of Truth, we receive the gifts of knowledge, wisdom, discernment, and the spiritual ability to recognize God’s Truth.

Prayer: God, we pray for wisdom and discernment as we study Your Holy Scriptures. We ask You to guard us from the many deceptions designed to make us fall. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

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