 |
 |
Devotions Archive
Archive:
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
To tell the truthMonday, January 3, 2005
1 John 4:1-6 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Two thousand years later his words remain, as does the Holy Spirit, as do evil spirits, as does Jesus Christ and also the spirit of the antichrist. Our need to discern truth and falsehood, and the spirit of those who bring it, is as great now as it was then. I have been a spiritual seeker as long as I remember. Many religions appealed to my senses and intellect. At one time or another, so many seemed true. When I was 26 years old I joined Rev. Moon's Unification Church, whichTime magazine and many others called a cult. For me it was a return to at least part of the Bible, a renewed interest in Jesus (albeit as perfect man, not God), and a new life of prayer. After two years, however, I left the Moonies and, back in my home town, joined a Bible study with Mom, Dad and Margaret (we had just met). We studied Hebrews. It didn't take long for me to challenge the words we read. Hebrews 1:2 says: "In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe." Jesus, the Bible says in so many words, is God. There was no getting around that, and I did not believe it. Several months later I was snowed in at a Kogudus retreat. Great music, great food, great teaching ... and something better even than all of that. I spent several solitary hours in the silent snowy woods, following paths more or less traveled, talking to God. During one of those hours I became convinced that Jesus was who the Bible said he was. As happened to CS Lewis on a city bus, I went into the forest believing Jesus was not God and came out believing he was. That "experience" could have been a short-lived inspiration, but instead it birthed a deepening confidence and peace that, 26 years later, only continues to grow. Jesus is alive, and because He is, so am I. Lord, the words you speak through your messengers are true. Give me ears to hear, day after day.
|
The young man John who stood by Jesus' mother and was one of Jesus' favorites wrote the Gospel of John, the book of Revelation, and three letters to other followers of Christ. He wrote about love, about the God-ness of Jesus, and here he wrote about antichrist and how to discern evil spirits.