Day 7: Testing the Voices We Hear

Opening Scripture

1 John 4:1

​¹ Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (NIV)

Devotional Reflection

To be devoted to the teaching of Scripture, feedback is important—but we cannot forget that the devil has a loud mouth too. He delights in offering deceitful and unwise feedback. Though Peter truly believed Jesus was the Messiah sent from heaven, he still attempted to give Jesus feedback. Even believers can be used by the enemy at times. In our devotion to the teaching of Scripture, we must not blindly follow whatever is said to us simply because the person speaking is a Christian.

Christians must walk in step with the Spirit, and this is done gradually, step by step. Sin is evidence of being out of step with the Spirit. Any Christian may drift from the Holy Spirit at any time. They may not drift so far that obvious sin results, but even the slightest movement away from the Spirit can lead a person to give unwise counsel.

Pilate also gave Jesus feedback. While Jesus was being tried to determine whether His actions warranted crucifixion, Pilate attempted to persuade Jesus to retreat from His claim to be God. He asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” This was a political maneuver meant to get Jesus to shift away from His divine identity, which would have been perceived as a threat to Caesar, who was believed to have divine status. It may have seemed like a wise solution that could spare Jesus from the death penalty. But had Christ recanted, His entire ministry would have been undermined. Who could believe He was the Son of God if He quickly recanted simply to save His physical life?

The enemy can place people in our lives who seem to have our best interests at heart, yet operate from a different worldview. What appears wise and good on the surface can lead us to dismiss or ignore our Savior. Therefore, we must bring all feedback to the Word of God. We must allow Scripture to examine the motive and posture behind the feedback to discern whether it should be received or rejected.

The Examen

Where am I most tempted to accept feedback without testing it against Scripture?

Whose voice has the greatest influence on my decisions, and how aligned is that voice with God’s Word?

Lectio Divina Scripture

Proverbs 13:20

Walk with the wise and become wise,

 for a companion of fools suffers harm. (NIV)

Read the passage slowly, out loud, several times. With each reading, emphasize a different word or phrase. Notice what stands out and why.

Prayer Prompt

Lord, help me to follow You more than people, so that I bring everything I am taught and all the feedback I receive back to Your Word to test whether it is from You. Amen.