MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL
Devotion for Sunday May 17, 2020
Topic: Are You Known For Integrity?
Text: Matthew 7: 15 – 20
One
thing that prevents men from choosing the strait and narrow way that leads to
heaven is false doctrine that guarantees them freedom to do whatever they like and
to live the carnal life. We have so many of them today who believe that the
teachings of Paul, Peter, John, etc, against homosexuals were wrong. Some of
these false prophets brought the gay movement into the Church of God and even teach
that masturbation, sex toy and pre-marital sex is not a sin.
This false
teaching is the reason behind the warning Jesus gave in Matthew 7:15. You will
know these false teachers by the way they drift from one position to another on
doctrinal issues and the effects of their doctrines on growth in morality.
We
cannot know the nature of a man, but his fruits (his deeds) will express and
expose that nature quite clearly for us to understand. Therefore, the way to
detect false prophets is by their deeds. The person’s speech will not always
correspond to his true nature, as it is implied in Matthew 7:21.
Good
teachers consistently exhibit good behaviour, integrity and high moral
character as they attempt to live out the truths of Scripture. Every one of us
is subject to sin, and we must show the same mercy to others that we need for
ourselves.
When
Jesus spoke about bad trees, he meant teachers who deliberately teach false
doctrine. We must examine the teachers’ motives, the direction they are taking,
and the results they are seeking. Those who should not be teaching will be
recognizable by their fruit.
As
Christians, we are teachers of the Bible by our words and action. Do we show
integrity in all we do? That will give credence to our confession of faith. Let
us be known for integrity and not falsehood and deceits.
Food for Thought: Matthew 3:10
Memory verse: Matthew 7:20
Prayer: My
God and my Father, help me to develop virtue of integrity in my words and
action before you and men in Jesus name.
