8 This people^[a] honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
⁹ They worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines human commands. (Matthew 15:8-9 CSB)

I have always said, whether it is something someone writes or what they say, bear it against scripture. Test the truth of it through prayer and scripture.

In our social media driven world there is no end to what is being said. I recognize the judgement I bring upon myself by saying this. These devotionals must ring true for them to have any positive effect. I expect everyone who reads them to test me against scripture and call me out if any message runs counter.

The problem is that there are far greater writers and speakers out there who can lure people in with the turn of a phrase. There are many who twist the scripture to bend it to their will and their message.

This is why every Christian must have a discerning heart and why the scriptures true meaning, I believe, are not open to us until we believe. Even then many are not meant for us to fully understand on this side of heaven.

In similar form we cannot honor God with our lips when our hearts are far from Him. We may not be teaching doctrines from human commands, but we are living from our human will. Thus, we must too test ourselves, our motives, for what we say and do.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.