By Katy Mariotti

Test the Spirits

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1 English Standard Version

On the whole, I like deer. They’re pretty. They’re gentle. I especially enjoy seeing deer with big antlers, or tiny babies in the spring. But I also live in the forest among them, so I have learned that they are not to be trusted. Shortly after or before this moment caught on our doorbell camera, this deer chomped off the buds of my flowers in the garden, breaking my daughter’s heart in the process as she had planted some sunflowers from seed and was thrilled at how tall they were getting. Also, anyone who has encountered deer on the roads knows how dumb they really can be. They frequently walk right in front of cars; in fact once a buck ran directly into the side of the car my husband was driving!

I’ve never been a fan of hero worship in general. With human connection so much easier these days through the internet, we also need to beware of what and whom we are trusting. There is so much information out there, and it’s easy to hear someone faithfully and emphatically spouting what seems to be truth, and then hear the exact opposite information or opinion expressed the same way. This is the problem: we are all human, and humans are inherently sinful. So putting any human on a pedestal is dangerous, as they are always, sooner or later, going to fall.  The 1 John chapter warns against this, and there are other moments in the Bible, such as Matthew 7, which says to watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing.

So let us be on guard for those who speak with charisma, who seem knowledgeable. The only human that we can rightfully put on a pedestal is Jesus Christ. Unless the message comes from Him, it is always right to question and “test the spirits.” And what do we do with the others? Do I hate deer because they eat my flowers? I don’t! But I know to be wary of them and to guard against them. The rest of 1 John 4 talks about how God is love. We can trust Jesus, test the spirits, and love and forgive one another all at the same time. What a beautiful way of being!

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado