Ephesians 4: 14-16 - Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Paul…how his heart must have burned inside! He had such a passion…a passion to preach and teach others…the truth...the bible… he had been taught. Paul’s heart must have also broke many times for these new Christians...for he also saw how the cunning and deceiving Devil was twisting the words of the scripture…trying to make men believe things that were not sound…were not part of the truth of the gospel.
Paul knew that we must strive to learn the truth for ourselves...to read…to study…to know in our heart the truth….cause God revealed to us the truth as we read and prayed for its wisdom. Paul knew that we must be confident in our faith...so God could prepare us to be teachers…and preachers…and evangelists…and apostles …and prophets ourselves. Paul is calling us to ‘grow up into him’ … and learn the truth of God’s Holy Word…by DAILY study…..by Daily prayer….so that we will not be tricked by Satan…and the men that teach his false doctrines.
Some claim the Mayan calendar….or some numerology pattern will predict the end of the world….sometime this year! The scripture I have read…says we will not know the day or the hour…Jesus’ personal words to the disciples were recorded in Mark 13. We will see signs…much like the world has seen this year…but as Matthew recorded the words of Jesus in 24:8 …“these are the beginnings of birth pains.”
Oh how we deceive ourselves when we believe something that can not be found in the bible. God has inspired many people to explain and write commentaries on our inspired word of God…but no one is allowed to add or detract from it. We are warned in Deuteronomy 4…Deuteronomy 12….Proverbs 30…and Revelation 22…..not to alter or add to the divine book of God. The truth is the truth…nothing more is needed…and if you believe in a book that ‘claims’ to contain a new revelation from God…be careful…it is not from God…it is a trick of Satan…meant to keep you from the truth. Paul….is calling us to speak the truth…in love…to all those we know….so that God can break the chains of deceit…so that God can reveal to them the truth.
Father…I want to grow into you…to grow in knowledge of you daily….to drink in all I can of your great word. Help me daily to become stronger in you because I have prayed for your wisdom to be revealed…because I have studied and become mature in my faith. Help me to be able to discern your truth…as it is written in your bible. Help me to apply it to all that I do and say to others. Thank you father for these words of Paul that remind me to be careful…to convict me of my need to grow up in Christ and receive my calling…to help your body be more unified….to stop the spread of false doctrines that divide your precious children. Thank you for these words of Paul that help me to discern your truth as it was recorded for us in the bible. Amen.
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