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BE A CAREFUL HEARER
TUESDAY, MARCH 10
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
Proverbs 19:27
 
“For if he that cometh
preacheth another Jesus …”
 
BE A CAREFUL HEARER
 
Why was Paul concerned that the Corinthians might be deceived? It was because the Corinthians had shown a propensity for loving to hear falsehood. In their naivety, they had acted no differently from the Galatian Christians who were taken in by the false gospel of the Judaizers. This caused Paul to exclaim in Galatians 1:6, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel” (Gal 1:6).
 
Sinful man is disposed to love hearing falsehood and wickedness rather than the truth. Thus, the prophet Isaiah wrote of the children of Israel that “this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isa 30:9-10).
 
Proverbs 19:27 gives good advice on how we must be careful hearers: “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” The call is to exercise discernment. If a teacher or speaker is found to speak things that seek to tear us away from God’s Word, then we must quickly dissociate ourselves from hearing his speeches, as eloquent as they may be. This is the principle of Biblical Separation applied to hearing.
 
The Bereans were a good example of careful hearers. When Paul taught them, they were careful to search the Scriptures daily to check if what they were taught was consistent with God’s truth. Once they knew that it was, they gladly received it as God’s Word with all readiness of mind. Alas, today there are those who seek multiple teachers in order to satisfy their itching ears and fleshly lusts. When faithful preaching demands them to confront their sin, they get angry and turn away till they find a speaker that satisfies them. It is such that are fooled and are moved by deceit. Beware!
 
THOUGHT: What does it mean to be a Berean Christian?
PRAYER: O Father, help me to be discerning in what I hear.

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