1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

Suppressing is to put an end to the actions of something, in this case, the spirit of God.  Stifle is to end by force, and in this case it’s talking about when someone has a word from God for you.  Both suppress and stifle are verbs, requiring an action or decision on our part if we do them.  Gullible is not a verb, it’s an adjective meaning “easily deceived”.  Check out, keep and throw out, are also verbs, requiring an action on our part.  How would this verse read if we changed these words to their opposites?  “Suppress the spirit, stifle those who have a word from the master.  Also, believe everything you hear.  Don’t question anything, throw away only what is good.  Keep whatever has a hint of evil.”  Either way you read this verse, the real way or my made up opposite way, it is kind of frightening.  Is it right to think that if we believe everything we hear, not only are we being deceived easily, but it also translates into the action of discarding what is good and keeping what is evil. 

Why is it that our human nature is so adept at not believing in God’s ways, but ready to swallow hook-line-and-sinker the ways of men?  Actions require more effort than something that just is, for example “gullible”.  The way to not be easily deceived is to not be lazy, but to take action and do research, talk to people, check your facts, but also, to relax in God’s presence, to allow Him to move, to invite Godly people to speak into your life.  What do I do with my own personality that believes the best in people? That wants to encourage and bring out people’s strengths?  How do I do this and not be deceived?  Well I guess this verse answers that.

Lord, I sort of wish I’d had this revelation about 16 years ago.  Help me to keep your spirit moving in my life, to welcome godly insight from people, to not believe everything I hear, to check things against your word, against your voice, against your spirit that lives in me.  Help me to keep only the good things and to chuck anything that even has the slightest hint of evil as far away from me as I can.  Help me to teach this to my children.  Better yet, teach us together through your revelation and wisdom.