February 16, 2025
All that glitters is not gold!
Read: Leviticus 3, 4; Psalm 47; Matthew 24:1-28
Scripture: Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you... 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
Observation: When Jesus' disciples asked him about the signs of the end days, Jesus warned them about the dangers of deceptions of the end days. Here, the word "watch out" calls us to see, perceive, and discern what is right or wrong to protect ourselves from any deception. In his Olivet discourse about the end days, Jesus spoke about the internal and external struggles of a believer. Among these struggles, attempts to deceive a follower of Christ would cause more damage than any other disasters he mentioned in his speech, for it could separate a person away from God.
Instead of blindly or uncritically believing something, we should be alert when propaganda diverts our attention. Even if someone comes in sheep's clothing, it is the responsibility of every believer to discern whether it is from God or not. Jesus informed us well ahead of time about all these dangers of soon-coming and existing deceptions. We need to be alert and of a sober mind.
Application: As a Christian, I need to prepare myself to face everything that comes against me. Christ Jesus already told us about what would happen in the end days. As I watch out for what is happening in the world, I understand that his words are true. His words are sufficient to feed my spiritual hunger and to warn me of any dangers. I need no other source other than Jesus and his word to escape the dangers of the world. All I need is open eyes, ears, and a discerning heart to reject anything that misleads or deceives me.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your prophecy and warning about the end days. Help me stand firm in the truth and guard my faith against deception. Amen.
✍️: Arputharaj Samuel
📕: Quiet Time Companion
🗓️ Day – 47