Daily Devotional July 20 - What Have You Been Taught?

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

• Have you been taught that you must obey the ten commandments in order to be accepted by God?
• Have you been taught that only those who tithe are blessed financially?
• Have you been taught that you must never sin in order to go to heaven and if you do sin that you must ask for forgiveness for that sin before you die or you will go to hell?
• Have you been taught that after you are saved your salvation is kept sure by your works?
• Have you been taught that you must be baptized in water or you won't be saved?
• Have you been taught that you must speak in tongues or you aren't saved yet?
• Have you been taught that you must receive a second blessing in order to be saved?
• Have you been taught that if you eat meat you are a lessor sort of Christian than those who do not?
• Have you been taught that Jesus was the Lord, but is not God?
• Have you been taught that the Holy Spirit is the power of God, but not God Himself?
• Have you been taught that you should only read from the Old Testament?
• Have you been taught that you should only read from the New Testament?
• Have you been taught that Paul's teaching supersedes other books of scripture?
• Have you been taught that what Paul taught is not to be considered as divinely inspired?
• Have you been taught that crossing the Red Sea was just an allegory?
• Have you been taught that there are many ways to heaven and Jesus is only one?
• Have you been taught that you must be a member of the one true church to be saved?
• Have you been taught that if you take the wafer unworthily, you have to re-earn your salvation?
• Have you been taught that you need a human mediator between you and God?

These are false teachings and God is not pleased that many of His dear children are being led by those who would use you as exploits. Many things are taught to keep people in line and to create in them a sense of duty, but causing in you a sense of guilt by coercion is not a godly motivator, nor will it produce godly fruit. Pastors are so afraid to preach the truth, for loss of numbers, that they start reaching out with extra biblical teaching to pacify newcomers and placate parishioners. What a waste of good talent. The Holy Spirit operates through truth, only.

"Faithful is He who calleth you, who also will do it." If you are going to worry about something, worry about something that is true; something that can really cause you grief, but don't worry about God being able to finish what He started in you, "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."  (Hebrews 12:2a)