Daily Reading: 8-15-16
1 John 4:1-6 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The message of Christ, the Son of God, coming in human flesh and dying on the cross is the message of Truth. Christ died so that we could live forgiven and in fellowship with the Father. The Spirit was sent so we could know the liberating power of God that lifts us out of dead living due of sin. We can know vibrant life in Christ Jesus. Voices that speak of anything else are not from the Spirit of God; in fact, it is the spirit of antiChrist.
Don’t believe everything you read or hear. You can identify someone who is telling the Truth from someone who is telling a lie based on whether their ways line up with Christ’s message. Some leaders tell people what they want to hear; they do not denounce sin nor encourage a change in behavior. They do not confess or promote the ways of God. Rather, they promote the spirit of antiChrist.
God Is Love
1 John 4:1-6 Dear friends, don’t believe everyone who claims to have the Spirit of God. Test them all to find out if they really do come from God. Many false prophets have already gone out into the world, 2 and you can know which ones come from God. His Spirit says that Jesus Christ had a truly human body. 3 But when someone doesn’t say this about Jesus, you know that person has a spirit that doesn’t come from God and is the enemy of Christ. You knew that this enemy was coming into the world and now is already here.
4 Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world. 5 These enemies belong to this world, and the world listens to them, because they speak its language. 6 We belong to God, and everyone who knows God will listen to us. But the people who don’t know God won’t listen to us. That is how we can tell the Spirit that speaks the truth from the one that tells lies.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the many warnings I find in your Word. I need these reminders, Lord. I will remember the leaders you send denounce sin and promote your will for humanity. Help me to listen and identify your sons and daughters based on their witness of Christ’s message. In Jesus’ name. Amen.