A Peace of Wisdom

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Peter 2:1 (NIV)

Doesn't that sound like what is happening today? We are bombarded with messages from friends, news, TV shows, movies, magazines. It seems that many, if not most, of those are opposed to the Truth; indeed, many are designed specifically to move us away from the Truth to what may be convenient for the moment but destructive in the end (Proverbs 14:12).

We need to be careful, then, in choosing the voices we attend to and let influence us; at the same time, we need to be aware of what is going on around us and of what others may be listening to. What is important is to find a standard by which to evaluate those messages we hear every day to know if they portray Truth.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. John 10:27-29 (NIV)

The key, then, is to know the Lord's voice. The way to know His voice is to know the Word: to read it, to study it, to memorize it, to meditate on it. We must measure what we hear and see and read--as well as our thoughts--against the Word. If the messages are counter to the Word, they are not His voice and not Truth.

How we respond to those "false" messages may vary. In some cases, we may choose not to read or listen to the messenger. In others, we may need to counter the message in some way, but always in grace and in love. In some, we may need to adjust our thinking. The Holy Spirit will guide us in knowing how to respond in any situation.

Lord, thank you for Your inerrant, infallible Word, that always speaks Truth and life and leads me in Your way. Please help me to be faithful in investing time in the Word and in prayer so that I won't be tugged around by the views of the world but will be anchored in the Truth and can stand firm. Amen.

     34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
     37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV 1984)

My current Bible study is on the Gospel of Matthew. When we came to the reading including the above section, we were asked to read also from Deuteronomy 6:1-12, especially focusing for one question on verse 5: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

The question following this reading was:

     What does it mean to love God with all your heart? 
     With all your soul? 
     With all your mind? 
     With all your strength?

Have you ever stopped to look intently at each of these individually and to try to explain what each one means? I had not, and I found it to be extremely humbling and convicting, realizing how far short I fall in all four categories. How I need a Savior and the strength of His Holy Spirit.

My next task is to see what practical changes I can make to keep this, the commandment Jesus says is first and foremost among all. I'm giving some time to work on that one.