Fake news and good news
by Pastor Jim Strelan
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned’ (Romans 16:17).
How discerning are you? The term ‘fake news’ has become much used. Are you able to discern what is true, reliable, and factual, or are you easily swayed by what sounds good or what appeals to the way you see things? In a time when there are so many news sources, it’s hard to distinguish between what is true and what is false.
How discerning are you when it comes to the truth about God, who he is, and what his will is for us? A persuasive speaker or a charismatic presenter can easily sway us. How do we figure out what is valid and what is just an obstacle in our way?
There is one sure way, and Paul has spent the previous 15 chapters spelling it out: the gospel, the good news encapsulated in Jesus. It is that news that liberates, frees us from the treadmill of having to meet impossible demands, and unites rather than pulls apart. It is whatever speaks of Christ and highlights Christ – Christ, who accepts the one cast out, doesn’t condemn but sets free, and brings healing where there is sickness, inclusion where there is exclusion, and life where there is death.
There is fake news, and there is news that is reliable and factual. There is bad news and good news. A lot of bad news says ‘you can’t’, ‘you shouldn’t’, and ‘it’s not right’. It enslaves us, binds us, and keeps us in what is perceived to be our proper place. Good news liberates us. It allows us to take risks, step out in faith, and go down a new path. It puts us under Christ, and there’s nothing more refreshing than that. It’s the filter we use for discernment.
God of us all, give us the gift of discernment. Saturate us with the liberating gospel of Jesus so that it becomes the starting point in our search for your truth. In and through Jesus, we pray, Amen.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
