Daily Devotionals
July 4, 2017
Test the Spirits
July 4, 2017
Daily Reading
This week’s sermon text: Exodus 20:8-11
Field Notes
Happy 4th of July!
What word from God does our nation need right now?
In our scripture, John tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (4:1) He talks of the Spirit of Christ versus the spirit of the antichrist.
Who is the antichrist? Through the years, people have identified Roman emperors, political leaders, Hitler, the Pope, non-Christian religions, and others as the antichrist.
Antichrist means “against Christ.” To test the spirits we ask: are the things, thoughts, words, and deeds of our lives reflecting our being with Christ or against Christ? If we are for Christ, we need not worry about the antichrist.
We can ask if our leaders are reflecting Christ or the antichrist. The strength of our nation, our community, our families, and our lives depend upon whom we reflect.
Today, this 4th of July, I am asking, “Is what I’m doing for Jesus or against Jesus? Does what I say to people reflect Jesus or not reflect Jesus?”
Our freedom as a nation, as for any nation, depends upon its people reflecting Christ, not the antichrist.
Questions for the Field
- What are some things I can do to better reflect Christ?
- What are some things I might stop doing which do not reflect Christ?
Family Field Talk
- Where have you seen Jesus in other people?
- How can we improve being Jesus to each other?
Prayer Guide
“Day by Day, O dear Lord, three things I pray: to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day, by day, by day.” – “Godspell” by Stephen Schwartz (Based on a prayer by Richard of Chichester around 1250 A.D.)