Today’s
Passage: Matthew 7:15-19
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…A good
tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Words
of Devotion
Some people simply are gullible. Desiring to think the
best of others, they find it hard to believe that others may be deceptive.
Ignorant about the power of evil, they think everyone has good intentions, and
have a hard time distinguishing truth from lies.
We see this pattern, for example, when we realize how many people were fooled
into believing Adolf Hitler, that master of deception. In spite of his actions,
they continued to believe his deceitful promises.
In 1936, a French newspaper wrote, “Hitler has torn up a treaty” and “broken
all his promises.” Yet, amazingly, the paper concluded, “We must take him at
his word.” After meeting with Hitler in September 1938, British Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain recognized his “hardness and ruthlessness.” But he
concluded, “Here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his
word.”
Hitler and his cronies were amused by this gullibility. Hermann Goering said,
“I should like to discuss these things with Mr. Chamberlain some time, but I
suppose all he would want to talk about is peace.”
Jesus warned us to “beware of the false prophets,” realizing that people may
appear to be innocent and harmless. Ideas we hear may seem safe and acceptable,
yet this is how evil can infiltrate our lives.
Today, make sure that you are careful about what
you allow into your mind and what you believe. Remember: The devil constantly
seeks to spread confusion, to attack, and to bring death, discouragement, and
disease. Be on guard, and be careful who you allow to influence your life.
Today's
Prayer: Father,
help me to be on guard against false prophets in sheep’s clothing. Thank You
for discernment. Help me to be free from the influence of evil. Thank You. In
Jesus’ name Amen
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