Fred was very much alive but was convinced he was dead. When his psychiatrist asked him if dead men bleed, Fred said no. The doctor promptly stuck Fred’s finger with a needle, causing blood to come forth. “Wow!” said Fred. “Dead men really do bleed, after all!”
Fred’s lack of discernment has a parallel among Christians, though often the falsehoods enticing believers are subtler and usually are embraced by society at large. Christians need to be like the sons of Issachar in the Old Testament, who understood the times and knew what Israel needed to do. Sending His followers out as sheep among wolves, Jesus told them to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Also, Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Pray for wisdom and discernment, including the ability to recognize Satan’s lies.
Proverbs 2:1-9
1 Chronicles 12:32
Matthew 10:16
Romans 12:2
Philippians 1:9-10
James 1:5-6
Copyright © 2014 by B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.