Friday: The Perils of Progressive Prophets

BIG IDEA for the week:  No matter how sincere someone might be in "THEIR TRUTH", it should always be weighed against GOD'S TRUTH.

Scripture: 1 Kings 13:11-17  

"Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. Their father asked them, 'Which way did he go?' And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. So he said to his sons, 'Saddle the donkey for me.' And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it and rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, 'Are you the man of God who came from Judah?' 'I am,' he replied. So the prophet said to him, ‘Come home with me and eat.’ The man of God said, 'I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. I have been told by the word of the LORD: "You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.""

Reflection:  

The conflict between the old prophet and the man of God warns us of the danger of being misled by those who profess spirituality but deviate from God's design in Scripture. Our culture wants to change who God is rather than being changed by God.  The old prophet’s persuasion represents the ultimate challenge believers face today—voices that appeal to our senses but lead us away from divine truth.

Even with his convictions, the man of God is eventually swayed by human words and a so-called angelic experience rather than remaining steadfast in the divine command. This illustrates the critical, ongoing need for discernment. Our foundation must be solidly anchored in God’s Word, ensuring we are not deceived by persuasive arguments that cater to our comfort rather than our conviction.

This passage strongly urges us to weigh all personal ‘truths’, teachings, prophecies, and spiritual experiences against Scripture, our ultimate authority. It calls us to uphold God’s truth in every interaction and decision, no matter how convincing or sincere the opposing voice might be.

Action Step: Commit to setting aside time each day this week to reflect and study God's Word, asking Him for discernment in distinguishing truth from deception.

Prayer:  

Lord grant me discernment to recognize Your truth amid deception. Ground my beliefs and actions in Your Word, that I might not stray from Your path. Amen.

Song of the Day:   Hope Darst - Mighty Name Of Jesus - Live (Official Video)