Turtles and Ostriches

Okay, brace yourself – I’m going to say the word –here it comes  – ‘doctrine’. Whew! There, I said it. All jesting aside, when some Christians hear the word ‘doctrine’ they become as turtles drawing their head back into their shells, or become as ostriches hiding their heads in the sand – thus, the title for today. We become so fearful, we tell ourselves that we don’t want to ‘offend’ anyone, we don’t want to ‘hurt anyone’s feelings’, we don’t want to ‘get into an argument’ because we wouldn’t know what to say or what scriptures to use. Yet we are commanded as Christians to know our doctrine, and the reasons why, and to teach it to all generations. Do you know what you believe, and does it align with Scripture? Or is it just what you’ve always been told to believe; what you’ve always been taught; or what you’ve always heard? There is a difference. The hard reality is that not all doctrine taught in modern churches is founded in Scripture.

The Simple Truth:

1 Timothy 4:16 and 6:20-21 (NIV) ^4:16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. ^6:20...guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

1 Timothy 4:16 and 6:20-21 (NLT) ^4:16Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. ^6:20...guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussion with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. ²¹Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.

 

Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father,

Forgive our negligence of your Word. Forgive us for believing everything we hear without seeking your Word for guidance. Renew within us a heart for knowing you through your written Scriptures.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional Turtles and Ostriches appeared first on Write From My Heart at  

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.