Thought for August 18

 History:

• 1840: American Society of Dental Surgeons founded
• 1972: First mail-order catalogue --A M Ward
• 1894: Bureau of Immigration created
• 1920: Tennessee votes to ratify 19th Amendment--Women's right to vote
• 1930: Eastern Airlines begins operation
• 1955: Hurricane Diane kills 400
• 1958: Lolita published
• 1962: Peter, Paul and Mary release "If I Had a Hammer"
• 1963: James Meredith graduates from Ole Miss
• 2017: Stephen Bannon fired by President Trump
• Born: Virginia Dare [1st English child born in America], Antonio Salieri, Meriwether Lewis, Marshall Field [retailer], Max Factor, Shelley Winters, Rosalynn Carter, Gene Bartow, Roman Polanski, Roberto Clemente, Robert Redford, Patrick Swayze, Denis Leary, Christian Slater, Cameron Smith, 
• Died:Genghis Khan, Josiah Spode [pottery], Walter Chrysler, BF Skinner [psychologist], Christopher McCandless [Into the Wild], Elmer Bernstein, Robert Novak, Don Pardo [announcer], Jack Whitaker [sportscaster], 

Thought:

Continuing to look at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus' teaching on making good choices. Yesterday, He taught us to choose the right path. Today, I am reading Matthew 7:15-23. When we are trying to follow the right path, there will be false prophets who will try and divert us, deceive us and distract us. Reminds me of Psalm 1--be careful:

• Don't walk in the counsel of the wicked. Be careful who you choose as your counselor, your adviser. Beware who you walk through life with. They will lead you on the wrong path.
• Don't stand in the path of sinners. When we walk with the wicked, we tend to stop where they stop and do what they do. It seems harmless, let's just stop here for a few minutes. No harm in this. 
• Don't sit in the seats of scorners. As long as we are here, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable. Now we can criticize those walking on that narrow path, we can make fun of them and make jokes about them. 

Notice what Jesus says about these false prophets who are trying to lead you off the right path:

• They claim to be sheep. They have the appearance of a sheep, but are really wolves. Their external appearance may seem harmless, but beware. They may even be a religious figure, a preacher, a teacher, a politician who claims to be for the right things. Read Acts 20:29-30 where Paul tells the church at Ephesus that after he leaves, men will arise from within the flock saying perverse things designed to draw people away from the truth. And in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul reminds us that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, so his followers will do the same thing.
• You will know them by their fruit. [7:16, 20] Are they producing the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control?
• They will tell you there is another way--glory without the cross. Victory without suffering. Reward without obedience. 
• They will say yes you need Jesus, but you need one more thing--a second blessing, speaking in tongues. 
• They will tickle your ears. [2 Timothy 4:3] They will say peace when there is no peace [Jeremiah 6:14]. They will offer superficial cures for sins. [Jeremiah 8:11]
• They will give you false assurances--don't worry, God loves you too much to send you to hell. [Jeremiah 23:16-22]. Reminds me of Dietrich Bonhoffer's statement about "cheap grace"--Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate." 
• They may call Jesus Lord, but not serve Him as Lord. Even the demons knew who Jesus was and knew He was Lord. 
• They may have some works--but works without faith and faith without works are both false. 

Lord, help us discern false prophets and seek Your truth. 

Blessings

Larry