LifeLink Devotions for Friday, October 2, 2026
One of the most common questions that I get asked as a pastor is, “What do you think of this preacher?” The world is filled with people who claim to know the latest and best way to interpret scripture. But over and over again in the Bible we are warned by the Holy Spirit that the world will be filled with false teachers. It is imperative that we don’t get sucked into the emotionalism or the materialism of people who interpret the Scripture only for personal gain, either their own or promises of yours.
The book of Zechariah has such a warning for us And it includes a guarantee of the destruction of all such false teachers. Back in the 11th chapter of Zechariah we read these words Starting in verse 16.
“For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs. “Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!”
The Lord has allowed such worthless shepherds to exist for two reasons I believe. First, so that his followers will learn discernment of his truth. And second, so that he can reveal his power and authority over all those who claim it for themselves. There is a day coming when all false teaching will pass away and only the truth of Jesus Christ will stand.
We see that day and the fulfillment of the promise to strike down all false teachers in chapter thirteen. Three times in the first four verses we hear the Lord say, “on that day.”
- God will provide a fountain of forgiveness for all those who have been deceived by false teachers. (verse 1)
- God will remove all false religions from the land, never to be remembered again. (verse 2)
- Every false teacher will be ashamed of what they have taught and never again seek to deceive people. (verse 4)
Then starting in verse 7 God declares that these false teachers, who have claimed that they stand right next to Him and are worthy to be heard, will be struck down as the Lord stretches out His sword and kills them. Then, in a marvelous promise for those whom He has preserved, He declares, “They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
My friends, do not be deceived by the false teachers of today. They are slick and appeal to your fleshly desires for self-gratification, self-fulfillment, and self-acknowledgment. Each of those pursuits is idolatry. Stay focused on Jesus. Read His Word. Trust His Presence in you through the Holy Spirit. Do not get sidetracked by personal preferences or opinions. There is only one truth, and it’s source is God alone through Jesus Christ. Stay focused my friend.
Pastor John
