Message summary: Today we pray for each reader and also for ourselves, the messengers, that we will be Biblically wise, full of discernment and understanding so that we will walk righteously in the ways of the Lord for the rest of our days here on earth.

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"Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them" (Hosea 14:9).

The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk has revealed the diametrically opposed world views in our country and even around the world. Of course many of us saw him as a brave warrior for truth taking on the philosophical nonsense of our age. But many others saw him as a dangerous, hateful person. It seems now it's hateful to even express the truth in the public square.

A quote I've often heard is "Truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth". But Todd Wagner @wordsfromwags adds "but it is hateful to love being loved more than being willing to speak truth".

This illustrates the vital need for discernment. John wrote, "For many deceivers have gone out into the world" (2 John 1:7). And they are still out there!

Deception has existed since the time Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden. Jesus warned His followers “Watch out that no one deceives you" (Matthew 24:4). Paul warned the Thessalonians "Let no one deceive you in any way" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

The antidote to deception is discernment and today like never before we need to be discerning. The means of deception are greater and more versatile than ever, especially due to artificial intelligence. The day is coming soon when it will be virtually impossible to know who is lying to us. This will lead to a time of great confusion.

Someone wants to besmirch or even destroy their political opponent? An AI generated video can do that. What about a competing product in the marketplace. AI can trash that. Have a beef against a preacher (or anyone else)? Make a fake incriminating video. Even an unfounded allegation can bring ruin.

Today let us consider the powerful last words of Hosea (written in the Biblical book bearing his name). This is an epilogue or conclusion to his book, extracting the general moral lesson which underlies it all. The tone and language of this passage reminds us of the Book of Proverbs.

"Who is wise? Let them realize these things." Bible teacher David Guzik writes, "The wise man will see the message throughout the book of Hosea. He will understand that in His mercy, God offers a wonderful opportunity for repentance and restoration, and it is dangerous and foolish to neglect that invitation."

"Who is discerning? Let them understand." Discernment is the ability to properly discriminate or make determinations. It is related to wisdom. Being a discerning person is vitally important in light of all the deceptions we face in life, especially in the spiritual realm. Psalm 92:6 bluntly states, "Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand".

"The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them." This is a timeless truism. The term ‘the righteous’ occurs nowhere else in Hosea. Even in the midst of promised judgment, the wise and understanding man sees that the ways of the LORD are right, and that every announcement of judgment is an invitation to repentance. That is still true today!

"But the rebellious stumble in them (the ways of the Lord)."  They did so during Hosea's time and they still do so today. The apostle Paul wrote, "But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Today we pray for each reader and also for ourselves, the messengers, that we will be Biblically wise, full of discernment and understanding so that we will walk righteously in the ways of the Lord for the rest of our days here on earth.

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber