DECEMBER 27 - Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
3-Year-Bible Reading: Proverbs 30:32–33; 1 John 4:1–4; 1 Thessalonians 1–2; Revelation 13
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3-Year Bible Devotional Book Available on Amazon
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“If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.” — Proverbs 30:32–33
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” — 1 John 4:1
“For our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:5
“It performs great signs… and by the signs that it is allowed to work… it deceives those who dwell on earth.” — Revelation 13:13–14
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Have you ever been tricked by something that looked good on the outside but turned out to be bad news? Like a flashy ad for something that ends up being a scam, or someone who seemed super nice but had shady motives? Life’s full of voices trying to lead us—some to truth, some to lies.
The Bible warns us that not everything spiritual or powerful is from God (1 John 4:1). Sometimes it’s just noise—or worse, deception. Whether it's pride bubbling up inside us (Proverbs 30:32), pressure from people around us (1 Thessalonians 2:4–6), or even supernatural signs (Revelation 13:13), we’ve got to stay grounded in truth. God doesn’t want us to fall for what looks impressive—He wants us to know Him and live from His Spirit.
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THINK ABOUT IT
1. Test the Source: Not every “spiritual” thing is from God. How can you tell what’s true? Use God’s Word as your filter. If something contradicts the Bible or glorifies anything more than Jesus, it’s not from Him.
2. Watch Your Heart: Pride and anger can be subtle traps. Are you acting from a place of humility or just trying to prove something? Proverbs reminds us that unchecked emotions lead to destruction.
3. Be Rooted in the Real: Paul told the Thessalonians that the gospel didn’t come with just words, but with power and the Holy Spirit. When you truly walk with God, there’s a depth and conviction that fake faith can’t imitate.
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BOTTOM LINE
Stay sharp—just because something looks spiritual or powerful doesn’t mean it’s from God. Anchor yourself in His Word, stay humble, and let His Spirit lead you.
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PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help me to recognize Your voice in a world full of noise. Teach me to test what I hear and see through the lens of Your truth. Keep my heart humble, my spirit grounded, and my eyes focused on Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
