ESOCS Devotional 6 January 2026 – The Importance of DIscernment
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you.’” Matthew 24:4 NIV
TEXT: MATTHEW 24:1-14
Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
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Our past does not define us; God’s love does. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation Isaiah 2:3 presents a powerful vision of spiritual hunger and global transformation. People from every nation are drawn to the presence of God, yearning to learn His ways and walk in His truth. This verse speaks to the universal call to discipleship – the invitation for all people to seek God, learn from Him, and live according to His will.Discernment is the ability to distinguish truth from error, light from darkness, and God’s voice from that of the enemy. As believers, we must cultivate this gift if we are to walk faithfully with God in these last days.
Jesus continues in verses 5 and 11 to warn that “many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many,” and “many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” The danger is not just in obvious lies but in half-truths that sound spiritual but are not grounded in Scripture. Paul echoes this concern in 2 Corinthians 11:14, saying, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Deception often looks appealing, reasonable, and even righteous. That is why discernment is not optional; it is essential.
The primary way to develop discernment is by knowing the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active… it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we are better able to identify what is false because we are anchored in what is true. Acts 17:11 commends the Berean believers, who “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” This kind of diligent study guards us against deception, even from well-meaning people.
Discernment also comes through the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised in John 16:13 that “… when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” As we walk with the Holy Spirit, He prompts our hearts when something is off. He gives us wisdom to make godly decisions and avoid spiritual traps.1 John 4:1 further advises: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” Not every message labelled “Christian” is truly of Christ. Discernment helps us test teachings, motives, and influences.
Reflections
- Are there voices you are listening to that may be leading you away from God’s truth?
- How are you cultivating discernment through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit?
- How can you help others grow in spiritual discernment?
Prayer
- Lord, in a world full of noise and confusion, give me the gift of discernment. Help me to know your truth, hear your voice, and reject anything that does not align with your Word. Keep me alert and faithful so I may walk securely in these last days. Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 3:1-8; 24:1-End; Revelation 20:1-11
ESOCS Devotional 6 January 2026
