Have you ever been part of a mob? Maybe you’ve never grabbed a torch or a pitchfork and marched in outrage with a group of other crazed individuals also carrying torches and pitchforks toward some perceived threat. But there are many modern day equivalents and not all of them are online.

It’s very easy, when I find myself part of any group, to lose sight of my own values and to give in to the loudest voices, to become swept along with the flow of the mob.

This happens in churches too. That’s why the Bible is critical. It is our grounding truth, and our only valid measure of righteousness and description of God’s character. It’s easier to listen to this “preacher” or that “theologian” than it is to study God’s word myself. But therein lies the enemy, just waiting to trick me and lure me from the truth.

“There are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
‭‭(Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭7,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

It happened in Paul’s day, and it happens today because there is tremendous power to be had when commanding an unthinking mob. Paul urged the church not to be part of a mob, to remember the one true Gospel: Jesus loves me so much that He died for me, and in return, my purpose on earth is to love Him back by loving other people. Anything beyond that is a distortion and earns a curse.

“If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!”
‭‭(Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬, CSB)‬‬

Dear God,

Thank you for the Bible which is readily available to me in my language. Forgive me for taking it for granted. Remind me of its sacred value and guide me in its careful, frequent, and thorough study so that I can correctly evaluate messages I hear from people who claim to be speaking for you.