Archive for March, 2009
Priorities
What takes first place in your life? What guides your decisions? What occupies your mind? The current economic situation has a lot of people thinking – hard – about how to provide for themselves and their families. Investments have tumbled and jobs have been lost and folks are scrambling to take care of basic needs. In the middle of all this it’s easy to lose sight of our priorities. Read the rest of this entry »
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Who’s voice?
1“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. John 10:1-6
There are many voices competing for our attention today. There are many who are promising all kinds of rewards if we will but follow them. So how does one recognize the Voice of the Master? How does one recognize the Voice of the Shepherd? Read the rest of this entry »
Some thoughts on “prophets”
15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:15-23
This scripture makes it clear that not all who call themselves “prophets” ARE prophets in the Biblical sense. It’s quite evident – when one loves the truth – that not all who claim to be of God ARE of God. When our Lord said “Watch out for false prophets” it is clear that a false prophet is someone that one can spot. And by spotting him or her one is not judging, one is merely doing what the Lord said to do, “Watch out for false prophets.” Read the rest of this entry »
