VERIFIED SOURCE
Dylan Blanton
Today’s Scripture: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:15-16, ESV
Theme: Beware of charismatic, flashy Christians (including yourself) who don't live humble lives, filled with spiritual “fruit.”
FACT OR FICTION
Growing up, my mom used to go crazy when my dad and I popped our knuckles. I can still hear her saying, “You are going to give yourself arthritis!” She was genuinely concerned for us! For a long time, I thought this was true. So, when I found out that this was not true, it was difficult for me to grasp that what I had “known” for most of my childhood wasn’t reliable. I asked my mom where she learned that, and she couldn’t point me to a single publication that stated this was a medical fact. However, there are hundreds of medical research journals and articles that disprove the theory. It was just something my mom had heard from someone else and believed! This is a lighthearted example, but we can fall into a similar situation with our faith.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
It is so important in your faith to check your sources. Just because someone is a big-time speaker doesn’t mean that they are right! It can be easy to fall into the trap of seeing someone’s success and assuming that they have the answers. In our Scripture today, Jesus describes these people as ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. I want to be very clear when I say this; there are people who intentionally use their platform to push a message that is not from God. They are intentionally leading people astray to benefit themselves. They intentionally twist the Word of God in a way that makes it look like it supports them, but it actually refutes their teachings. It is important to learn to recognize these people when you see them. If we are inadvertently listening to them, being deceived, and sharing what they teach, then we contribute to this problem.
LOOK AT THE FRUIT
Jesus also said that we would recognize these wolves by their fruit. In Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV), Paul says that the Fruit of the Spirit are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...” If we don’t see these attributes directly reflected in the lives of our leaders, then we are following the wrong people.
This applies to us also. Are we modeling these "fruits” in everything we do? Each of us is an example to the world around us. Are your actions a reflection of Jesus’ clearly reflecting the good fruit in your life?
Make it Personal: My challenge for you today is to check your leaders and yourself. Take some time to think about those you allow to lead you and teach you. Can you see the Fruit of the Spirit in their lives? Then take a look at yourself. Can you truly say that your actions are producing good fruit? Take time to stop and pray and ask God to help you evaluate these things!
Pray: God, thank You so much for sending Jesus to be the example for us. Help us to look at ourselves and those around us and see the fruit that we produce. We ask for guidance as we continue to learn and grow closer to You. Help us as we live our lives to be a good example that others can follow. In Your Name we pray, amen!
Read: Galatians 5:16-26
Weekly Memory Verse: “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” Matthew 7:20, NLT