Monday April 18 - A Wrong Reading

The first point of wisdom is to know the truth; the second, to discern what is false.

Read: 1 Timothy 1:18-19

William Scoresby was a British seafaring explorer in the 19th century who responded to God’s call to the ministry. An interest in the working of navigational compasses stayed with him during his work as a clergyman.  His research led to the discovery that all newly built iron ships had their own magnetic influence on compasses.  This influence would change at sea for various reasons  - leading crews to read the compass incorrectly.  Often this led to disaster.
There is a striking parallel between the misread compass and false biblical teaching.  In 1 Timothy 1, Paul warned against “fables and endless genealogies”, vs 4  -  man-made changes in the doctrines of God's Word.  People who teach false doctrines “have suffered shipwreck”, Paul concludes, vs 19.  Two people who opposed the Word of God by placing false teaching in its place, and who thus face spiritual shipwreck, were Alexander and Hynmenaeus vs 20,

Biblical truth is being questioned and in some cases even replaced in the church today.  Our opinions must never replace the truth of God’s Word.  The Bible, not man’s erroneous opinions about it, is the ultimate guide for our conscience in navigating life’s changing seas.  Beware of wrong readings.  - Dennis Fisher

God’s words of pure, eternal truth

Shall yet unshaken stay,

When all that man has thought or planned,

Life Chaff has passed away.  - Anon

PRAYER:-

Easter is drawing near. Pray that we won’t be too busy to share our faith with people we meet. Pray that we will all saddle up to a non believer at church this weekend and share our faith. Pray that God’s Holy Spirit will be poured out upon us and that many will come to the faith.