But test everything; hold fast what is good. – 1 Thessalonians 5:21
The culture would steer you to acceptance and tolerance of behavior and beliefs that are wrong; the devil is an expert at mixing error with truth to bring confusion. A godly pastor will encourage the congregation to test his words against the truth of God’s Word.
Some churches will offer the “sparkle creed” as an updated statement of their faith, while others will begin to question certain characteristics of God the Father, calling them a hindrance to faith. Sin has brought new developments into the church… but these things are not really new.
The apostle John, Peter, and Paul all warned the early Christians of false teachers that abounded in the new church. John wrote, “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” (1 John 2:24). Jesus encouraged the disciples that the Holy Spirit would “teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). The new believers had the preaching of Jesus and His disciples. You have the whole of God’s written Word!
D. Edmond Hiebert, a seminary professor, once remarked that “the thing that irritates me most about students is an attitude of indifference toward the Scriptures.” He believed, based on 2 Peter 1:8-11, that the “acuteness of the believer’s spiritual perception is dependent upon the spirituality of his daily walk.” Therefore, test all things. Hold on tightly to what is true. Read, study, and meditate upon the Bible so you may be a discerning follower of Christ. Intercede for the people and governing officials of this nation to come to the true knowledge of God through Jesus Christ, the Living Word (John 1:1-5; John 14:6).
Today’s Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:21
but test everything; hold fast what is good.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 10-16
2 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
