Sunday, June 1, 2008

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Matthew 24:15-31  

PSALM OF THE WEEK: Psalm 46

HYMN OF THE DAY: CH#65 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm

VERSE OF THE DAY: “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Lo, here is the Christ’ or ‘There he is’ do not believe it.” Matthew 24:23 RSV

 

In the 1960’s several young people wrote home to say they had discovered Jesus was living in southern California and going by the name of Charles Manson.  You know what happened when they followed him. Manson was just one of many false messiahs and false prophets (see verse 24) that have led people astray.  There will be plenty more, and some even worse.  Jesus said so.  He even said that he said so (see verse 25).  We the “elect” (see verse 24) are warned not to follow any of these people, for they can only lead to death and destruction (see verse 28).  True prophets and the True Spirit always point the way to Jesus and put the Lord ahead of themselves.  False prophets and false messiahs always put themselves and/or their teachings ahead of Christ.  Part of our responsibility as Christians is to use that discernment to weed out the falsehoods fostered toward us and to teach each new generation how to do the same.  False messiahs and false prophets will continue to come, but there is only one real one.  Follow Him!

 

PRAYER: O One and Only Lord; help me to reject all the false gods, be they people or things, that might want to pull me away from you.  May my life in you be a beacon of truth to those who are being led astray so that they may also know the eternal life I have in you forever. Amen.

 

See you in Church Sunday,

Pastor Sandy

 

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