Test everything. Hold on to the good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Tourists whose money and time are limited have to be discriminating about where they want to go and what they want to see. A wise traveler does not neglect what is historically and culturally important.
In “Gulliver’s Travels” Jonathan Swift expresses biting sarcasm concerning the human inclination to start controversies over little things. He has the Big Endians wage war against the Small Endians because they can’t agree on what end of an egg one opens to eat it.
“Gulliver’s Travels” are “gullible’s travels” for people who go through life thinking that all things are equally important, equally good. They suppose that all religions are basically the same and lead to heaven. They think it makes little difference what a person believes, just so he is sincere. They are inclined to swallow everything others tell them, not recognizing priority. Jesus said that some “strain out a gnat but swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24).
The apostle Paul reminds us: “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” The Bible makes it clear that we should examine all religious teachings before we accept them. Then, having verified them from the written Word of God as true, we are to hold them fast. Jesus tells us that we are truly His disciples when we continue in His Word. If in doubt about anything, check it out!
PRAYER: Lord God, grant me the help of the Holy Spirit that I may prove all things and cling to what is good. Amen.
(Taken from “Our Journey with Jesus,” (out of print), copyright 1976, International Lutheran Laymen’s League.)
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 119:89-176 2 Thessalonians 1
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