Mark 13:5-6 (KJV)
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Continuing on from yesterdays devotion “Do not believe every spirit – 2024.11.06 https://missioncommunities.network/2024/11/06/do-not-believe-every-spirit-2024-11-06/”. There is so much in the New Testament about being careful not to be deceived. Jesus Christ warns us His people to take heed so that they will not be deceived. As we saw yesterday we are not to believe everyone who claims to speak for GOD but we are to know GOD and His word ourself.

There are at least two areas for us to take heed in. One as we saw yesterday and here today that we are not to be deceived and the other is to be alert against wrongful retaliation under persecution. In Mark 13:9 (KJV) we are told to watch out for ourself “But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.”. Why is that? “Mark 13:13 (KJV) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”. There are people who hated Jesus Christ so we can expect the same. “John 15:18-21 (KJV) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. [21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.”.

How do we take heed? In Mark 13:33-37 (KJV) it tells us to “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. [34] For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”. Just like we learned yesterday. So we need to foster our relationship with the LORD through regular prayer, prayer is a type of watching, we also need to be in the Word of God and make it our endeavour to know it well and anticipate the return of Jesus Christ when He takes us home. This way we will not be surprised. We need to make it a habit to regularly gather with other believers. Also in the meantime Jesus Christ wants us to continue to be His witness despite of the persecution. By doing these things we will not be found sleeping, will not entangle ourself in the world and will not fulfil the desires of the flesh.

Therefore be encourages to keep on keeping on in Jesus Christ and take heed not to be deceived and be wise in how we walk. “Matthew 5:16 (KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”. “1 Peter 2:11-12 (KJV) Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”